A couple of weeks ago, I came home to discover two pamphlets upon my doormat - one from Her Majesty's Government, apparently offering "Information about the referendum on Scottish independence", and one from the Scottish Government, entitled "Scotland's Future". I found it quite striking - indeed, amusing in a dry kind of way - to see them side by side.
To start with the front cover. The HM Government pamphlet, in spite of being pro-Union, states in bold letters "Make sure you have the facts when you decide Scotland's future on 18th September". I found this somewhat misleading as, of course, it implies that "the facts" can be found within, and doesn't clearly indicate to the reader that the pamphlet most certainly does take sides (although of course that becomes apparent within). On the other hand, the Scottish Government pamphlet makes it quite clear that it is pro-independence with its sub-title of "What Independence Means For You".
The images chosen also make for an interesting contrast. The HM Government pamphlet shows a multi-generational family - parents, children, and grandparents - tramping happily through a Highland scene. "Scotland's Future" features a chequerboard of different scenes and faces: an older man in a flat-cap standing in front of a shed; a group of teenagers laughing together; a man in a hard-hat; a woman in a business suit looking out from the page, as if addressing a boardroom. Individuals of multiple ethnicities are represented.
Within, the HM Government pamphlet opens out to a single A4 sheet, headed "Here are five ways we'll benefit by staying in the United Kingdom". Scotland's Future runs to 10 internal A4 pages. The "Information about the referendum" pamphlet features two footnotes pointing the reader to the original source of facts and figures quoted. Scotland's Future contains 14, many of them including a web address. In terms of directing the reader towards further information, the HM Government pamphlet points to its website, a Twitter feed, and a Facebook page ("Youdecide2014"), adding that a reader "can request more information by writing to Scotland Office, 1 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 7HW". Scotland's Future provides a web address to access the full, 670-page White Paper of the same name, whilst also gesturing to its own relevant Twitter feed and Facebook page.
I know, of course, that I am biased. I've already made my decision regarding the referendum this September. But, for those that haven't, I think they should take a close look at both of these pamphlets. For me, Scotland's Future represents a future I aspire to, and comes, I believe, from the hands of people who understand Scotland and Scotland's people. Simply put, it speaks to me in a way the HM Government pamphlet does not. To return to the front covers, life isn't always an idyllic family holiday: life is about work, about play, about laughter. And Scotland is more than one, homogenous family, it is a country of diversity: of people with different skills and aspirations, of different ages, colours, and creeds. The front cover of Scotland's Future alone tells me that the Scottish Government can and does look beyond the romantic and idealistic to the reality of real life.
And inside, Scotland's Future is full of information, arguments, and footnotes allowing the reader to confirm any claims for themselves. The HM Government pamphlet urges its readers to make sure they have the facts - but then fails, I think, to provide them with the means of corroborating them. (To be brutally fair, digging on their website does produce an HTML version of the pamphlet with further references - but they do not put them directly at a reader's disposal in the paper copy).
But, the HM Government is right about one thing. More than anything else, regardless of which way you vote, it is vital to make sure that vote is an informed one - which is why I have provided links above to representing both sides of the debate. A PDF of the HM Government pamphlet can be found here, and a PDF of Scotland's Future: What Independence Means For You can be read here. And then, for the final in the titular trio of pamphlets, there is the Electoral Commision Voting Guide, which fell through my letterbox today, and which provides vital information about how, when, and where to vote on September 18th 2014.
To start with the front cover. The HM Government pamphlet, in spite of being pro-Union, states in bold letters "Make sure you have the facts when you decide Scotland's future on 18th September". I found this somewhat misleading as, of course, it implies that "the facts" can be found within, and doesn't clearly indicate to the reader that the pamphlet most certainly does take sides (although of course that becomes apparent within). On the other hand, the Scottish Government pamphlet makes it quite clear that it is pro-independence with its sub-title of "What Independence Means For You".
The images chosen also make for an interesting contrast. The HM Government pamphlet shows a multi-generational family - parents, children, and grandparents - tramping happily through a Highland scene. "Scotland's Future" features a chequerboard of different scenes and faces: an older man in a flat-cap standing in front of a shed; a group of teenagers laughing together; a man in a hard-hat; a woman in a business suit looking out from the page, as if addressing a boardroom. Individuals of multiple ethnicities are represented.
Within, the HM Government pamphlet opens out to a single A4 sheet, headed "Here are five ways we'll benefit by staying in the United Kingdom". Scotland's Future runs to 10 internal A4 pages. The "Information about the referendum" pamphlet features two footnotes pointing the reader to the original source of facts and figures quoted. Scotland's Future contains 14, many of them including a web address. In terms of directing the reader towards further information, the HM Government pamphlet points to its website, a Twitter feed, and a Facebook page ("Youdecide2014"), adding that a reader "can request more information by writing to Scotland Office, 1 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 7HW". Scotland's Future provides a web address to access the full, 670-page White Paper of the same name, whilst also gesturing to its own relevant Twitter feed and Facebook page.
I know, of course, that I am biased. I've already made my decision regarding the referendum this September. But, for those that haven't, I think they should take a close look at both of these pamphlets. For me, Scotland's Future represents a future I aspire to, and comes, I believe, from the hands of people who understand Scotland and Scotland's people. Simply put, it speaks to me in a way the HM Government pamphlet does not. To return to the front covers, life isn't always an idyllic family holiday: life is about work, about play, about laughter. And Scotland is more than one, homogenous family, it is a country of diversity: of people with different skills and aspirations, of different ages, colours, and creeds. The front cover of Scotland's Future alone tells me that the Scottish Government can and does look beyond the romantic and idealistic to the reality of real life.
And inside, Scotland's Future is full of information, arguments, and footnotes allowing the reader to confirm any claims for themselves. The HM Government pamphlet urges its readers to make sure they have the facts - but then fails, I think, to provide them with the means of corroborating them. (To be brutally fair, digging on their website does produce an HTML version of the pamphlet with further references - but they do not put them directly at a reader's disposal in the paper copy).
But, the HM Government is right about one thing. More than anything else, regardless of which way you vote, it is vital to make sure that vote is an informed one - which is why I have provided links above to representing both sides of the debate. A PDF of the HM Government pamphlet can be found here, and a PDF of Scotland's Future: What Independence Means For You can be read here. And then, for the final in the titular trio of pamphlets, there is the Electoral Commision Voting Guide, which fell through my letterbox today, and which provides vital information about how, when, and where to vote on September 18th 2014.
DLH.