We see the widening gap of poverty between Wales and England. Britain, one of the richest countries in the western world suffers from poverty, with the gap increasing every year between the rich and the poor, and this is under a Labour government, a government which is no longer socialist, but which adopted the principles of Thatcherite Conservatism and called it "New Labour". It is not surprising that the Prime Minister welcomes the Iron lady into his new residence in Downing Street. She is his mentor. Across the Celtic Sea lies a land where poverty has been eliminated within one generation. That country is Ireland. When I visited Ireland in 1964 people, many of them children, were begging on the streets of Dublin. It was as if the clock had been put back a hundred years. Today, along with Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Ireland is free from poverty and wide discrepancies in income and wealth.
What have these countries in common? They are all relatively small, egalitarian and industrious. They do not all have natural resources but they have enterprise. They are a fine example of what Wales could achieve once the political shackles are removed. In answer to those who say "Wales cannot afford it" (independence) I put it to you that Wales cannot afford not to.
"The Nineteenth century saw a great Springtime of Nations as the revolutions of 1848 saw new countries created the length and breadth of Europe. In our world today we are now seeing our own Spring Awakening with people and cultures that have long been dormant and subdued asserting their right to exist, their right to dream." Adam Price MP
Not true.
ReplyDelete"The proportion of Irish people at risk of poverty, after pensions and social transfer payments were taken into account, was 20% in 2005. This was one of the highest rates in the EU 27. The effect of pensions and social transfers on reducing the at-risk-of-poverty rate was low in Ireland compared with other EU 27 countries (Table 4.5)."
http://www.cso.ie/newsevents/pressrelease_measuringirelandsprogress2006.htm
As you say those figures are for 2005. Also it cannot be one of the highest rates in the EU27.
ReplyDeleteOne of the good things about Ireland is that neither of the major parties is in thrall to outdated socialism. Socialism really is a weight around the neck of Wales, what a pity that Plaid is also wedded to this nonsense.
ReplyDeleteOnly temporarily, mark my words.
ReplyDeleteUntil Plaid is in government as a majority party. It is just gaining useful experience. Strategy, my friend.
So Plaid's 'Socialism' is just a temporary measure.
ReplyDeleteI wonder which way they'll turn next?
How can these people be trusted?
They have never swerved from the path towards Parliament and Independence.
ReplyDeleteIdeological considerations belong to the British parties. Plaid is the Party of Wales, for Wales.
It pays not to be blinkered.
Plaid is the Party of double-faced deviousness.
ReplyDeletePolitical whores, devoid of any principle, who adopt whichever political stance suits the day.
This may be your opinion but it is not based on fact. We are talking about working together for the good of Wales and this is the highest principle.
ReplyDelete