Young people's art - Scotland.
How successful has been the parliament which Scotland was given in 1999?
Scotland's parliament looks after health, education, farming, housing, policing and local government.
Scotland's parliament is not allowed to deal with foreign policy, defence, central economic policy, broadcasting or immigration.
Public trust in the Scottish government is high, with 65% backing it compared with 25% saying they trust the UK government.
Scotland 2017
However, "there's been a lack of big ideas," says Michael Keating, professor of politics at Aberdeen university, speaking about the Scottish government.
Nigel Smith, chairman of the 1997 referendum campaign, said to the BBC that he would award the parliament a "six out of ten - a pass, but not as good as I hoped it would be."
Scottish parliament - Financial Times
We should all look at Switzerland, which is made up of a number of counties (cantons). The central government in Switzerland controls the railways. The cantons control education, labour, economic and welfare policies and so on. Each canton has its own parliament and constitution.
The SNP's policy of centralisation has meant that parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow have done well, but economic decline has continued in other areas.
There have been closures of bank branches, primary schools, post offices, factories and shops.
These factories have all gone, long ago.
Judging the Scottish government's economic impact is difficult.
Scotland has no control over monetary or trade policies and only partial control over tax.
After Scotland got its parliament, growth in gross domestic product per person was less than half what it had been in the 14 years before Scotland got its parliament.
Scottish parliament - Financial Times
This may be primarily due to the 2008 global financial crisis.
The collapse of North Sea oil revenue since 2014 has led to a worsening of Scotland's position.
Economist John McLaren says the Scottish government's impact on the economy is hard to judge but may well "not add up to diddly squat".
"Most of the good things that have happened have happened across the UK," Mr McLaren says.
Scottish parliament - Financial Times
In Scotland, thanks to the Scottish National Party (SNP) government, which came to power in the Scottish Parliament in 2007, most university students do not pay tuition fees.
Scottish parliament - Financial Times
However, fewer and fewer 'poor Scots' are going to university.
"The Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy shows standards of reading, writing and numeracy for 13-14-year-olds all declining since 2011.
"The biggest decrease in both writing and numeracy attainment aged 13-14 has been among disadvantaged students."
It's time the SNP's terrible record in government was exposed - newstatesman.
St Andrews
In 2004, the Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition in the Scottish Parliament decided to make big changes in Scottish school education (the Curriculum for Excellence).
Having come to power in 2007, the SNP foolishly decided it would implement these changes.
Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence is seen as being vague, waffly gobbledygook.
The result is that Scotland has seen declining standards of literacy and numeracy.
What Scotland's schools need is a policy of removing disruptive kids from the classroom and teaching them separately.
Neglected heritage.
The SNP government created a national police force.
This police force has been dogged by scandal.
Crime levels in certain areas have risen.
Violent crime rises / SNP accused of fiddling crime figures
A formerly quiet Scottish town.
The Scottish government has passed laws giving Scots freedom to roam over private land, and has abolished age-old feudal rights, simplifying land ownership.
Five challenges facing the Scottish parliament - Financial Times
The SNP government has quite rightly been reluctant to inject greater market forces into the National Health Service (NHS).
"Our NHS has been more stable over the years and that has possibly been a good thing," said David Bell, professor of economics at Stirling university.
Five challenges facing the Scottish parliament - Financial Times
The big landowners, and the military, are still receiving lots of taxpayer's money.
The SNP government has brought in a policy of free prescriptions for medicine, and, free personal care for the elederly.
Some would argue that the rich folks can afford to pay for their medicines and personal care for the elderly.
Scottish parliament - Financial Times
Scotland 1945.
In Scotland, "the number of working age adults living in absolute poverty (after housing costs) rose by 80,000 between 2010/11 and 2013/14.
"The number of children living in absolute poverty also rose by 30,000, and the number of pensioners by 20,000."
It's time the SNP's terrible record in government was exposed - newstatesman.
~~~
French geographer Christophe Guilluy refers to the rich parts of France and the poor neglected parts of France.
In the neglected French towns, police stations, factories, shops, schools and post offices have been closed.
Christophe Guilluy refers to the neglected parts of France as being "Peripheral France".
He says that 60% of the population live in "Peripheral France".
"Peripheral France" includes the poor, neglected parts of Paris.
Dumfries, a very large town in Scotland, has no town council. It has suffered from the closure of rail links, factories, shops etc.
France, like so many other countries, has caught 'The American Disease'.
In the USA, the good things go to the areas with political power.
Beattyville, in Kentucky, is neglected and poor.
Chappaqua, New York, the home of the Clintons, is well looked after and rich.
Above, we see Singapore in the 1950s, before it became independent.
...
Above, we see how tiny Sigapore has changed for the better, as the result of becoming independent.
When an area has power, it has the possibility to prosper.
...
We have the solution to the question of how an area can become rich.
Daniel Ly, Born and living in Switzerland writes:
"150 years ago Switzerland was a dirt poor country.
"It's landlocked.
"The country is hilly and mountainous with little arable lands - what is flat was once marshy and malarious flood plains.
"Additionally there are few primary resources like ores.
"So why is Switzerland rich?"
1. Switzerland's 26 Cantons have enormous powers, and the central government has limited powers.
Towns have real power.
The cantons control education, labour, economic and welfare policies and so on.
Each canton has its own parliament and constitution.
2. Direct Democracy
"Laws are passed only after extensive consultation with almost everybody."
There are frequent referendums.
...
3. Avoidance of war
4. Education
Switzerland believes in apprenticeships.
5. Cultural habits of the people
"The Swiss are social people ...looking out for the common good."
