Power to the people!

What's the difference between this:

and this?

Well, the first one has been around for a long time. It marches across beautiful landscapes right across Scotland. In fact, there's even one on a roundabout smack dab in the middle of a Kilmarnock housing scheme. I've never worked out if the pylon or the people were there first but it looks odd just sitting there. We've had to live with these monstrosities for so long, nobody sees pylons any more. If we notice them at all, we probably think: power lines. And we need power lines, right? 

The wind turbine is a different matter. Wind turbines are new. Opinion is divided with some people getting very worked up about how awful they look. Not to mention how they sound. Myself, I don't mind them. I've been to Whitelees and I think it's okay: it's got a bike track, offers educational opportunities to local schools, gives tours on a wee bus, has a tearoom - and the turbines look pretty cool. The wind turbine is pretty good advert for alternative energy, which we will have to embrace whether we want to or not. Donald Trump says wind turbines are why our taxes are so high. I don't get that one, but Donald probably has shares in the fracking industry anyway so who cares what he thinks? 

Whenever something new hits Scotland, I sigh because I know what comes next: the Scottish Parliament ten years ago was a shocking monstrosity, an appalling waste of money, etc. Now we love it. A terrific landmark. Beautiful building. Iconic. Tourists love it. The Edinburgh trams? Same thing. Give it a few years and they will be loved too. The new Firth of Forth crossing, the Falkirk Wheel..the Kelpies seem to be about the only thing everybody loves.

I suspect Scotland never used to be like this, afraid of innovation, terrified of change. We used to be proud of big adventurous builds, public statues, daring developments. Not now. 

And moany. Dear gawd, are we moany!When did the Scots turn into a nation of whingers? Nothing pleases us. We host the Commonwealth Games. Bring it in on budget and make it a real success. What do we say? Well done all these volunteers - brilliant! The enthusiasm of the crowds who cheered the athletes on? Do we celebrate that? Not us! A year later, we're moaning there aren't so many people in the east end of Glasgow using the 'legacy' sports facilities. 

I may not live to see Scotland get independence, but I'd sure as hell love us to get off our knees and get back a wee bit of the ambitious thinking that made us famous throughout the world.