Pissing in the Wind whilst the Wind is Blowing Against Us

Lifted from the comments page of my last post:

Jac o' the North,

As for Alwyn's point about Plaid Cymru, I don't entirely agree. Because, for me, Plaid Cymru has become the problem. Let me explain: If I was sitting in an office overlooking the river in London and I wanted to stop Welsh nationalism in its tracks I could do a lot worse than come up with the idea of a party like Plaid Cymru. Credible enough to get the votes and be accepted as the voice of Welsh nationalism but never determined enough to make it happen. A pale shadow of the party that once looked to Plaid for advice. I see Plaid Cymru now as a dog in the manger kind of party, unable itself to deliver but still serving as a block on the emergence of a party might.

Plaid Cymru is a failure, and there may be no point in wasting any more time on it. A new party is needed; one that will be a Welsh party rather than a socialist party, a party standing up for Welsh interests rather than environmental concerns and gay rights. So in a way I hope Plaid does lose its Euro seat, because that could mark the beginning of the end for a failed party, and help create the conditions for a fresh start.


Alwyn ap Huw

It would be great if there was a successful, uncompromising, four square, purist, new national party; but it's just not going to happen. How many new ideal national parties have been formed and consigned into oblivion during the past 40 years? Half a dozen - probably more.

New parties take time to build up electoral support – look at UKIP 21 years after its foundation it has yet to get an MP, AM, MLA or MSP elected and despite its huge media exposure only succeeds in low turnout PR elections. Plaid Cymru and the Greens took 40 years to elect their first MPs. Is there really any point in starting a new party in the hope of electing our first MP in 2054?

And what guarantee would we have that the new party won't compromise its self on the way to gaining that miniscule electoral success at a time that you and I will probably just be fond memories of our grandchildren?

We may as well grin and bear it Plaid Cymru (for all its faults and the frustrations it causes us) is the only national party we have in Wales. And the ONLY WELSH NATIONAL PARTY Supporters of the national cause opposing Plaid Cymru are just pissing in the wind whilst the wind is blowing against us.

NOT voting Plaid on May 22, just means that when weighed in the balance, the support for the national cause appears lighter than that for the Union cause -is that what any nationalist wants?
Anonymous

Sion Jobbins has called for rallies supporting Welsh Independence. We should be jumping on the Scottish band wagon and start delivering our country from rule by England. If popular rallies start to take place Plaid Cymru will have to wake its ideas up and get rid of its careerist dead wood.

Alwyn ap Huw
And, in relation to Royston's "new party" comment (above), is probably the best way forward. A civic campaign for independence that will put some backbone into Plaid (and patriots in other parties and none) would probably be much more effective than another new party.


At the end of the day, In THIS Election THIS Month despite the fact that Plaid peeves you, it is the ONLY PARTY standing for the National Cause on the paper. What is best for WALES (not your prejudice)Plaid being shafted or UKIP being shafted in WALES. If your choice is the United Kingdom party; either by voting for them or abstaining and giving extra value to their votes, you will have s**t on Wales, without a shadow of a doubt!

For all your hatred of Plaid; for all your doubts about Plaid for all you efforts in trying to create a new party or a new movement; is not voting for Plaid rather than voting against Plaid in the best interest of the National cause THIS MONTH, isn't a Plaid vote a way to advance the national cause, in the absence of others?

My vote will, probably arrive tomorrow, your vote might not arrive till a week next Thursday. Don't chuck the vote in the bin. Don't take a "can't be arsed" attitude. Vote For Wales - vote for the ONLY Welsh National Party on the paper - even if you need to hold your nose in doing so!