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^ It'll only be the same people if nobody better stands and/or the electorate chooses to vote in incompetents. Much of the life of a Councillor these days is a Mickey Mouse job which pays peanuts, hence you get Goofy applying for the posts more often than not, and the smart people who do try to become involved as often as not get entirely scunnered with having to try and make any headway surrounded by Goofy clones and pack it in. The SIC can make a total hash of everything, and life still goes on, not so when you're running a country. If you make a hash of that, not only does the country sink, so does you and yours, and everyone else with you. Such high stakes tends to bring out the better folk, and make those participating take the whole thing far more seriously than happens when all you're doing is tinkering with what the Government or your own hired help tells you to do. Many other island nations, some of lesser populations than Shetland manage to put together a Government composed of residents which appears to govern them quite successfully. From you comments you appear to be suggesting, in their shortest form, that "Shetland residents are too dumb and stupid to govern themselves"?

Exactly Who Knows. Refreshing to see someone else recognise our rights instead of trying to find reasons why we couldn't assert ourselves. Since Wir Shetland is a new organisation and is just gathering support and we are not registered as a political party we were unable to stand a candidate for this election. However the democratic discussion and referendum you speak of is not dependent on said election. If we can get popular support and/or enough SIC councillors on board then this process can begin with or without our MSP. If you are at all interested you should sign up and help us achieve these goals.

Yes, the United Nations recognises the right of people to claim the right for self determination when this is the clearly expressed free will of the people. http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/declaration.shtml Democratic referendum following an open transparent discussion would be the best way to clearly state that claim of right. Currently unclear how Wir Shetland aim to prove there is a significant democratic support to hold such a referendum. The current election would have given Wir Shetland a platform to inform the Shetland electorate of what was being proposed and the opertunity discuss this via a democratic process including hustings what is the best local governance model for the island.

Also had a very similar experience at the chippie in Commercial Road (No names mentioned) so, I'm fast running out of options.. Only one left is the Fort and, apart from the fact that the overall quality is getting poor, they charge you 5p for a PAPER BAG to put your suppers in.. I'm in favour of the PLASTIC BAG "surcharge" but, I was led to believe that PAPER BAGS were EXEMPT as they degrade quite easily. Sticks a bit when you spend £15+ on a few average to poor quality (and skimpy) suppers to get "hit" for an extra 5p under false pretences. Surprised, under the circumstances, that they do not try to make a separate charge for the wrapping paper they use..