If decisons are based on an underlying theory then there is a greater chance that the decisions will be consistent and serve the goals of the political body.

The last General Election showed a remarkable lack of theoretical background for the main parties in British Politics.

New Labour is somewhere to the right of the Conservative party in rhetoric and action, far removed from their traditional base of support of the labour movement. In Idealogical No Man's Land. The Conservatives are caught like deer in the headlights of an endless leadership crisis and the Lib-Dems can't decide whether they are to the right or left of Labour. Hardly surprising since Labour don't know where they are. Even the Scottish Nationalists can't decide whether they are for or against independence, now, never or later.

With a theoretical framework, it is possible to analyse any new situation in terms of theory and arrive at a position that fits with party policy. Flip flops on tuition fees shouldn't happen. Political expediency shouldn't happen.

At the 2005 US Grand Prix in Indianapolis, Michelin who supplied tires to 14 cars in the 20 car field had a problem with the tire construction. This happened during practice on Thursday and Friday. The FIA and the teams spent the rest of the weekend in discussions and by race time on Sunday had been unable to agree on a solution. The race started with six cars and has been universally viewed as a farce.

By coincidence this crisis happened at Indianapolis which had just hosted the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day at the end of May. A dramatic contrast of political stuctures, leadership and understanding between a European based culture (Formula 1) and American (Indy Car).

In simple terms, Formula 1 is too many Chiefs, no Indians. Indy Car is one Chief, many Indians.

In Indy Car terms, it is the fans on the seats - The Indians - who pay the bills. The race must go on. The fans paid to be entertained and the entire effort is geared to that end.

In Formula 1, the Chiefs couldn't agree on an interpretation of the rules which would allow all of the teams to race, the 120,000 fans at the race track and countless millions watching on TV didn't get to see a race.

Scottish society evolved over history into an association of related individuals or a clan. Early clan leaders were chosen for their leadership ability and skills in battle. When that leader fell another was appointed in his place as the best from within the clan for the role. Around the sixteenth century, a son succeded his father and then a grandson. Hereditary leadership had been invented. And the clansmen were screwed. There was no going back, for as everyone knows - Turkeys don't vote for Christmas.

Our fine hereditary Chieftains became more powerful, build grand castles, discovered the fleshpots of London Society, squeezed the clansmen scratching a poor living from sparse highland soils and invented the Highland Clearances when it was more profitable to raise sheep than people. In the Scottish experience, hereditary leadership is not a pretty thing.

European society is based on powerful leaders supported by the toil of the peasants. Society of the Middle Ages has slowly morphed into the Europe of today. In general, it retains embedded within its fabric the idea of powerful leadership and weak workers. The ideas of the leaders are all consuming. The rules and regulations must be obeyed, damm the consequences. It was that mentality which was evident at Indianapolis on Sunday 19th June 2005.

The full arrogance and stupidity of European minds denied the paying public their rights.

America was founded by free men. Many the clansmen cleared off their highland crofts. The American Declaration of Independence is based on an entirely different set of values:- "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it"

It is this background that guides decisions in American racing. European racing is dictated by obedience to the Rules and the Rules are made by the powerful. However, the paying public have a right to be entertained. Indy Car and Formula 1 are in the entertainment business. The leaders forget that at their peril.

Scotland is a superb country, rich in it's vast changing tapestry of spectacular scenery, rich in the myriad tales of it's colourful history and rich in the talents, energy and imagination of it's people.

But Scotland as a Society doesn't work. Two millenia of rules, regulations, habits and practices are grinding and abrading and constraining any efforts to get things done. Nothing in this country works the first time. It requires application, determination, effort and emotional energy to accomplish simple basic things in Scotland today.

There is a constant refrain from on high about the lack of entrepeneurial spirit in Scotland. Entrepeneurs, by definition, are thinking people. Any thoughtful person would leave the country and set up business elsewhere. Setting up a business in Scotland is like driving down a straight road with road works every half mile. A sensible person will decide that the journey isn't worth the effort and turn back for home. Anyone who does reach their destination will be exhausted and drained by the experience. Effort which should have gone into more productive activities.

There are too many rules and regulations and people who follow the rules without thought. The Clan system still dominates Scotland though in a derived form. Any organisation becomes a surrogate clan and membership of that organisation requires obedience and loyalty to the organisation and its leader. Organisations include businesses, government departments, banks etc. The result is that the purpose of the organisation and its members is to serve the ends of the organisation and leader. Customers are not part of the organisation. Customers are a nuisance, an impediment to the proper functioning of the organisation and are tolerated rather than served.

If Scotland as a Society is to make any progress, we must stand this view on it's head.

In any business, it is the Customer who pays the bills. The Customer Rules.

In the Public Sector, the same rule holds. The government and the public sector exist to meet the needs of the people. In the Public Sector, The Citizen Rules.

The Unifying Theory of the Scottish Jacobite Party is that The Citizen Rules.