The ‘Old Age’ problem of Independence

I read a tweet this morning by the excellent Barrhead Boy which said, and I quote

‘Would any Unionist voter out there please, please explain to me why you would keep supporting a system that literally starves our children?’

I wrote back saying, and I quote

‘Most unionists are protectionists. It’s not queen or UK that stops them voting for independence, its protection of assets’.

When you think about it, that’s exactly what it is.  Protectionism is, in my opinion, defined by someone who doesn’t embrace change through fear of loss (be it control, financial, moral etc.).

That loss can be in many different forms.  If I circle back to my own family situation I can try and describe it better.

My mother and father are in their early seventies.  Both are well off and have been successful business people.  They are both Tory voters and have always been Tory voters, although I will say this, my mother did not vote for Brexit (which I was most grateful for), however my father did.  Both are against independence.

I have discussed many times with them, or at least tried too…nowadays I just don’t talk politics because of the condescending tone in which they refer to independence and the SNP.

On previous discussions with them, independence has been referred to as a ‘threat’, Trump as an ‘excellent person’, Theresa May as an ‘excellent speaker’ and Brexit as ‘good for their grandchildren’.

All of these statements imply protectionism.  They do not imply opportunity.

We all know that the majority of over 55’s do not want independence.  Many unionist supporters may say that it’s because they ‘think we are better together’, the problem is that they don’t think that, they repeat that.  They are not true thinkers, they are absorbers.

The over 55’s are complicit in their way of life and they view their way of life as a life they need to keep control of.  I get that.  I see the argument for not changing it up too much.  They have their children and grandchildren to think of.  They have their pensions to think of.  They are not young and adventurous and able to build that ‘money pot’ back up like they could if they were 30.

The problem is, for me anyway, I would sacrifice any inheritance from them if they were to vote ‘Yes’ to independence.

I am being genuine when I say that.

Money is not what independence is about to me.  It’s about opportunity for my children and grandchildren.  Money only buys choices, not happiness.

Independence is analogous to when you were 18.

Think back to when you were 18, or there about.  It was a liberating time.  It was a time of freedom.  It came with responsibilities but the freedom overruled that responsibility.

Being over 55 certainly comes with freedom, but the sense of responsibility is far greater because you have learned to accept that with freedom comes responsibility.  At 18, you don’t think like this.

This is where the protectionism comes in.

When you are over 55 and faced with the choice of freedom but greater responsibility, or being 18 and faced with the same thing, the 18 year old will accept that freedom more readily because the things they are protecting are not established.

Cracking the ‘nut’ of getting over 55’s to embrace independence as a step to a better life for their children and grandchildren will be an almost impossible task.  I cannot convince my own parents to do it for me and their grandchildren, so the SNP are NEVER going to do it on my behalf.

Brexit will not do it for them, Trump will not do it for them and Theresa May will not do it for them.  The reason nothing will do it for them is because at 70 odd years old, 50 years of indoctrination cannot be overturned if there is even one shred of doubt that their control could be lost.

Why else do you think Brexit, the Tories and Trump are about ‘taking back control’?

They want the aged amongst us who have a greater sense of responsibility to accept that they have been losing control all this time and that there are people who can take it back for them.

The thing is, it is a rouse.  It always has been and always will be.

It’s saddening to see that my parents will not see past this.  The protectionism they put up will not be affected by independence.  They will still own their house, pensions and have control of their destiny.  Taking back control and voting against independence is doing the exact opposite of what they are trying to achieve.

They are protecting the very thing that is stripping them of the things they are trying to protect.

Maybe one day they will vote for independence, maybe…but I won’t hold my breath!

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