ACCORDING to the latest public opinion polls on voting intentions at the referendum in September ("Poll finds dip in support", The Herald, July 2), there are many of the electorate out there who remain in the category of the "undecided".
One way or another, I hope that most of them will turn out in September and exercise their right to vote.
There will not be many left in that group now. Why ? Well, the actor who portrays Alan Partridge and the voice of Shrek have spoken out to say that the Scots should vote No ("Actors Steve Coogan and Mike Myers back a No vote", The Herald, July 3).
It would be helpful all round in this ongoing debate, which has profound implications for the future well-being of Scotland and all who have the good fortune to live in this country, if celebrities, particularly those with no measurable relationship with Scotland and little or no understanding of it, stopped attempting to boost the sense of their own importance by declaring how, in their view, the Scottish nation should approach this epochal event later this year.
Their opinions add nothing to the price of fish, as it were.
It would also be particularly advantageous if Scots who have made the lifestyle choice for whatever reasons - employment, family, or tax avoidance - to emigrate (and good luck to them) did not tell us where to put the cross on our ballot paper, because they will not have to face up to the consequences of their beliefs, being expressed from afar, being implemented.
Ian W Thomson,
38 Kirkintilloch Road,
Lenzie.
THE referendum about Scotland's independence is a showcase for democracy despite some name-calling on both sides. The campaigns are in general conducted in a civilised manner without physical violence. It is encouraging to see that great numbers of ordinary people, rather than just politicians, are engaged in the process and a turnout of more than 80 per cent is expected.
I was, however, upset to hear politicians and others comparing members and policies of the Yes campaign with those from totalitarian regimes. The highest-profile offender in this is Alistair Darling with his comparison of Alex Salmond to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il and his reference to "blood and soil" nationalism.
For me as a German, who has lived happily in Scotland for the past 28 years, the recent comments of Kathy Wiles comparing young people demonstrating against BBC bias with the Hitler Youth was sickening ("Labour candidate resigns over Hitler Youth referendum tweet", The Herald, July 2). She showed an inexcusable ignorance of the terror and cruelty of Nazi rule in Germany.
The casual comparison of the democratic processes in Britain today with the actions of Adolf Hitler and his henchmen belittles the horror and real suffering under the Nazis and is very upsetting for me, whose family suffered under that regime.
Dr Hans J Pieper,
Ottoline Drive,
Troon.
CATHERINE MacLeod, commenting on the effects of poverty on educational achievement in Scotland, clearly recognises this serious problem ("Lessons to learn on tackling poverty", The Herald, July 3). But she then goes on to argue that things "could be worse" if Scotland were independent.
So despite Westminster rule having demonstrably failed Scotland in this area, we are urged to continue with a failed system just because things could be worse if we ditch it.
Of course, this has been the argument against all movements for progressive change throughout history - that we should stick with a failed status quo because going down a different path might make things worse. It's not only a thoroughly negative and uninspiring argument, it's also logically flawed. Yes, ditching a failed system does not guarantee success. But sticking with a failed system guarantees failure, so where's the sense in that?
Independence will not make all of Scotland's problems go away overnight, but it does offer a platform on which to make things better gradually. Independence means that we the people of Scotland can always choose our own governments and our own political priorities. This means crucial issues like child poverty, which are heavily impacted by Westminster policies which attack and demonise the poor, can be dealt with better at home.
The people who live in Scotland clearly know better than Westminster, and indeed care more than Westminster, about what is best for Scotland. So putting ourselves in charge is a better strategy for building a better, fairer Scotland than carrying on allowing Westminster to make our decisions for us.
In her desire to bash the SNP at every opportunity, Ms MacLeod completely misses that bigger picture. The SNP are not on the ballot paper in September; independence is. That's why so many people across Scotland who do not support the SNP, myself included, will be voting Yes.
Angus Coull,
248 High Street,
Prestonpans.
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