Martin Sime considers what impact the third sector can have in the second independence referendum campaign while leaving the EU
Now we know what the next two years of Scottish politics will look like. Brexit meets IndyRef2 may be the only show in town but the permutations are endless. In/out; yes/no; remain/leave; stay/go – it’s amazing that we could end up with such choices from essentially binary propositions.
But while we are trying to understand it all is there a danger that we forget what really matters? I don’t just mean for ourselves and our organisations – there’s more than enough special pleading going on in our culture. It’s the people and causes we serve which matter.
So what does the third sector need most from IndyBrexit?
With the help of our politicians, we can build a stronger society which is the foundation for a more sustainable public service and a successful economy.
Martin Sime
We need a Government or governments we can trust to do the right things but who are humble enough to work with us to tackle our biggest problems.
We need power devolved to where it matters, where people can be supported to take more responsibility for themselves and each other and where community action is nurtured, not controlled.
We want an open and outward looking society where citizens can travel freely and our organisations can learn from each other, across borders, cultures and faiths. In the third sector we have learned that our differences can make us stronger.
With the help of our politicians, we can build a stronger society which is the foundation for a more sustainable public service and a successful economy.
The third sector has no truck with jingoistic nationalism, whatever its boundaries. We want our country to increase its contributions to the world; internationalism strengthens our society
There’s no doubt that all the people who work, volunteer or support the work of the third sector in Scotland will have different views and preferences for the outcome of these momentous events. As the front line of active citizen we have a special responsibility to carry the debate into our communities of place and interest, to animate discussion and to get everyone involved. We can’t leave this to the politicians and the media alone.
In using our phenomenal networks and capacity in this way we need to avoid binary right or wrong, yes or no traps and ask the rather deeper question – what result gives us the best chance of creating the kind of Scotland we all want to see?
