Edmocracy error

This states quite clearly the aim is to “build a modern democracy” founded on a written constitution.

Surely the fundamental legislative and moral building blocks would be the Scotland and Human Rights Acts.

It would seem proposals for democratic socialism entail a huge expansion in the role of the state. Isn’t it less state intervention in people’s lives that should be the aim of a modern democracy?

Arguably, the rhetoric of “the radical Left” is redolent of the student politics of the 1960s and 1970s.

Ellis Thorpe

Old Chapel Walk

Inverurie

I want a Christmas present from both the Aye and Nae camps.

I want the Dear Leader to admit that Nova Caledonia may be required to re-apply for EU membership, and if so 28 countries hold a veto, some of which could exercise it (for domestic reasons), although he thinks that unlikely.

I want Alistair Darling to admit that even if an independent Scotland is required to re-apply, then it is possible that the application will be unopposed and fast-tracked – does he really think that the EU will turn away six million of its current citizens?

Either of these endgames is possible, but the EU issue cannot be resolved before the event: it must be put to bed.

At present it suits both camps to stall it, in order to discourage wider discussion of currency, shipbuilding, banking, overseas trade and Nato – now they are genuine bones to scrap over.

David Fiddimore

Calton Road

Edinburgh

The letter submitted by Dr Michael Paraskos from the Cyprus College of Art (3 December) is an absolute gem, and shows, more succinctly than any correspondence relating to the independence debate hitherto published by The Scotsman, how the first casualty of the vexed question of Scottish independence is a sense of humour.

The caller who was so irrationally irate about the alphabetical arrangement of the students’ nationalities obviously has an inferiority complex buried so deeply in his psyche that he is unable to recognise it, to the extent it has robbed him of his reason.

A defining difference between an opinion and a prejudice is that the former can be expressed without anger.

The difference between a confident Scot and an insecure one has been highlighted by Dr Paraskos in a most delightful way.

Carolyn Taylor

Wellbank

Broughty Ferry

Dr Paraskos’s question reminded me of the annual ethnicity survey our primary school carries out. The categories, in order, are Scottish, White British Other, Irish, Welsh, Pakistani, Polish.

So, probably sorted by population size, but can anyone guess what “White British Other” might be code for?

John Mitchell

Wallace Road

Dunblane