Monday, 18 January 2010

What Kind of Society Does Wales Want?



The kind of society we seek, and the kind which most people want and aspire to is a very different society from the one we have, and which I attempted to delineate in the posting below. In fact it appears to be diametrically opposed to the society which New Labour has engineered over the past twelve and a half years. We know what kind of society we live in as the present Labour government limps on to expiration and we, that is most of us I believe, are thirsting for change, even though the change which is being offered by the Conservatives may not be the kind of change we are seeking. At least they are correct in one respect: "it cannot go on like this!"

In Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Cornwall the days of English supremacy are at an end. England is no different from any nation in the European diaspora of nations. It is a country without an Empire and even its earliest colonies accumulated over the centuries are demanding control over their own affairs. Scotland in particular is easing its way out of links which bound it to its southern neighbour, whose colonies once comprised huge swathes of France. Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark, Herm and Jethou, are the only remnants of England's French acquisitions.

These Celtic neighbours seek to create a society where respect, dignity, fairness, justice and equality are retrieved from New Labour's shredding tray or rubbish bin and are restored to  the people. The French virtues of liberty, equality and fraternity will no doubt play a part in the regeneration of society in the nations of the British Isles.

No more should people be victimised in their own homes, suffer from lack of care and neglect, treated as second-class citizens and potential criminals, spied on by Council officials or fined for minor infringements, abused or ignored by their elected representatives, driven out of their mortgaged homes, forced to relocate from their home environment to find work, denied the opportunity to buy affordable homes and suffer the indignity of means testing in order to claim benefits sufficient only for survival.

The primary considerations which people require are job security, ease of transportation, educational excellence, adequate housing, municipal services, community care, high-class medical facilities, vibrant shopping centres, entertainment and sports  complexes and a clean, safe, attractive environment. The problems of society are basically caused by poverty and deprivation and lack of opportunity. Investment should be directed into the right channels in order to make a real difference in consultation with the people whose lives will be affected by the decisions which will be taken. Think different - think Plaid.


Comment:

Anon.: " I have, however, heard people say "I will be voting Plaid and believe in independence for Wales, but am not a nationalist.""

This kind of statement illustrates the confusion in the minds of those in Wales who feel that being a "nationalist" is some kind of slur on their character. What needs to be inculcated is a sense of pride in being a nationalist. Possibly many people in Ireland did not fight out of a concept of nationalism but out of a feeling of grievance and injustice. This sense of grievance is somewhat lacking in the Wales of today and therefore does not inspire or stir the blood. We no longer have the Black and Tans to terrify the people of the Welsh valleys, as in Ireland. Nevertheless, for whatever reason they vote, political or economic and whether or not they support independence, if they vote Plaid at least they are voting for a Welsh party which will secure home rule.
The nation to watch is Scotland as it is farther along the road, and when their referendum is won the people of Wales will be encouraged to turn in the same direction. Scotland will win the argument for Wales.

(alanindyfed)

Labour's answer to binge drinking:
Smaller glasses in the pubs of Britain and tap water for free.

See it HERE

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