To my Canadian, Cappadocian, Catalan, Ethiopian, Lithuanian, Georgian, German, Greek, Maltese, Palestinian, and Portuguese readers and friends.
To all from Appignano del Tronto, Carpeneto, Cerreto, Grue, Ferrara, Genoa, Hone, Modica Sicily, Arcole, Nerola, Riano and Venice in Italy.
To those from Aragon in Spain, Beirut in the Lebanon, Constantinople / Istanbul in Turkey, Moscow in Russia, Ptuj in Slovenia, Amersfoort in the Netherlands, and Senjin Croatia.
To the shepherds, butchers, farmers and agricultural workers; crusaders, armourers and equestrians; Boy Scouts, archers, soldiers and knights.
To those who suffer from herpes, leprosy, the plague, skin diseases, rashes and syphilis and all the others that St George represents
But most of all to all my English friends and readers:
Have a Very Good Saint George's Day!
23/04/2009
22/04/2009
Silly Budget
There is not a lot to say about the budget. As all the predictions and forecasts seem to have been based on wishful thinking they are not worth the paper they were written on.
It looks like the Assembly is going to get £500,000,000 less per year as a result of cut backs. A lot of money for a small institution so there will be severe cut backs in things like schools and hospitals and business support - the things needed to help Wales to come through the recession.
There seems to be little to get exited about on the bread and butter issues. Beer and fags and petrol have, as usual, gone up but not by as much as in previous budgets. This, along with the changes in higher rate income tax rates, seem to be a desperate attempt at appealing to Labour's traditional vote rather than having any fiscal significance. But having ignored their core vote for ten years then these attempt will probably fall into the category of the well worn political cliche of too little too late. The 50p in the £ tax for those on £100k or more seems to be a particularly naive bit of political budgeting. O.K. it may give the impression that the chancellor is punishing those rich sods who lead us into the financial crisis, which might please the socialists; but surely it is those who earn or aspire to earn such sums who are going to be needed to turn the economy around.
I am rather sceptical about the £2,000 old banger grant. How many people who currently have to drive 10 year old cars worth less than £2,000 are going to be in a position to sell them and buy a brand new car. Surely the reason people drive old bangers is because they can't afford anything better.
I was just as disappointed with the Conservative response to the budget speech. Cameron spoke well but was let down by his supporters. When he mentioned the possibility that Britain might have to go to the IMF his backbencher's laughed! Having to go to the IMF is no laughing matter. The Conservatives really must stop enjoying the recession. The economic downturn may be causing the Labour party difficulties but it is also causing hundreds of thousands of ordinary voters problems too. Hundreds of thousands of voters who are not going to vote for a party that laughs at their difficulty and sees the recession as a jolly wheeze with which to batter Brown and Darling.
It looks like the Assembly is going to get £500,000,000 less per year as a result of cut backs. A lot of money for a small institution so there will be severe cut backs in things like schools and hospitals and business support - the things needed to help Wales to come through the recession.
There seems to be little to get exited about on the bread and butter issues. Beer and fags and petrol have, as usual, gone up but not by as much as in previous budgets. This, along with the changes in higher rate income tax rates, seem to be a desperate attempt at appealing to Labour's traditional vote rather than having any fiscal significance. But having ignored their core vote for ten years then these attempt will probably fall into the category of the well worn political cliche of too little too late. The 50p in the £ tax for those on £100k or more seems to be a particularly naive bit of political budgeting. O.K. it may give the impression that the chancellor is punishing those rich sods who lead us into the financial crisis, which might please the socialists; but surely it is those who earn or aspire to earn such sums who are going to be needed to turn the economy around.
I am rather sceptical about the £2,000 old banger grant. How many people who currently have to drive 10 year old cars worth less than £2,000 are going to be in a position to sell them and buy a brand new car. Surely the reason people drive old bangers is because they can't afford anything better.
I was just as disappointed with the Conservative response to the budget speech. Cameron spoke well but was let down by his supporters. When he mentioned the possibility that Britain might have to go to the IMF his backbencher's laughed! Having to go to the IMF is no laughing matter. The Conservatives really must stop enjoying the recession. The economic downturn may be causing the Labour party difficulties but it is also causing hundreds of thousands of ordinary voters problems too. Hundreds of thousands of voters who are not going to vote for a party that laughs at their difficulty and sees the recession as a jolly wheeze with which to batter Brown and Darling.
21/04/2009
Have Labour Conceded Defeat in Aberconwy?
It looks like the Labour Party has accepted that they haven't got a hope of retaining Aberconwy after the next Westminster election.
All parties are sometimes forced to put up "paper candidates" just to show that they are on the ballot. These are often people that even their own party hope don't win - but better a crap candidate than no candidate at all! Such candidates are almost never put up in constituencies that a party has a sniff at winning, but such a candidate has been selected by Labour to fight Aberconwy.
Cllr Ronnie Hughes, Labour's chosen one, is a former leader of Conwy County Borough Council. It is no exaggeration to say that he was probably the worst and least liked leader that the council has ever had. Indeed Cllr Hughes is such a maverick that even his own council group members sacked him as leader after last May's elections and even called for him to be booted out of the Labour Party after he accepted a post in the council's rainbow cabinet before his party had agreed to join the rainbow coalition.
Guto Bebb (Con) and Phil Edwards (PC) must be rubbing their hands with glee at the news of this selection. I sincerely hope that one of them wins - the thought of Ronnie Hughes MP is just too horrid to contemplate!
All parties are sometimes forced to put up "paper candidates" just to show that they are on the ballot. These are often people that even their own party hope don't win - but better a crap candidate than no candidate at all! Such candidates are almost never put up in constituencies that a party has a sniff at winning, but such a candidate has been selected by Labour to fight Aberconwy.
Cllr Ronnie Hughes, Labour's chosen one, is a former leader of Conwy County Borough Council. It is no exaggeration to say that he was probably the worst and least liked leader that the council has ever had. Indeed Cllr Hughes is such a maverick that even his own council group members sacked him as leader after last May's elections and even called for him to be booted out of the Labour Party after he accepted a post in the council's rainbow cabinet before his party had agreed to join the rainbow coalition.
Guto Bebb (Con) and Phil Edwards (PC) must be rubbing their hands with glee at the news of this selection. I sincerely hope that one of them wins - the thought of Ronnie Hughes MP is just too horrid to contemplate!
Congratulations Peter
Hearty Congratulations to Peter Black AM on being elevated to the lofty position of Official Censor of the Welsh Political Blogosphere. In his new role Peter has the final say on who may or may not Blog on politics in Wales. He has decreed that two bloggers should be banned forthwith.
Guerrilla Welsh-Fare and Welsh Ramblings are no longer welcome because:
A) They say nasty things about the Liberal Democrats.
B) They support Plaid Cymru
C) They blog anonymously and
D)There are rumors that the authors may work in Cardiff Bay.
How dare they blog! It shouldn't be allowed! Both should close down their blogs and p*** off!
I find it hilarious that Peter should have made his censorship comments on a blog called Freedom Central, and that he has done so without realising the irony that he is trying to restrict these bloggers' freedom of expression.
I haven't got the foggiest who writes these blogs and I couldn't give a damn where they work or who they work for. If they are Plaid staffers as Peter suspects then clearly they are going to be partisan in favour of Plaid. There is nothing wrong with partisan blogs - Peter's own offerings are hardly balanced and neutral. There is nothing odd or suspicious in people who are interested enough in the political process to work in politics expressing a political opinion either, why shouldn't they? The style and content of both blogs make it clear that they are the personal and idiosyncratic views of the authors rather than "official" blogs.
Peter claims that both use their blogs to smear others. I can't say that I have noticed that these two are any worse than other bloggers. However in his criticism of Welsh ramblings Peter draws attention to a post that claims that Paul Murphy has been selective in his choice of people with whom he has consulted regarding the Welsh Language LCO. If this is true then I would expect Peter to join Welsh Ramblings in condemning the Secretary of States actions. If it is not true I would expect Peter to debunk the claim. Surprisingly he does neither. Having complained about others being personal and smearing opponents Mr Black makes a personal attack on the author of Welsh Ramblings without addressing the important issue raised in the post at all!
Lest there be any doubt I should note that I am not employed by any political party, MP or AM - but I might be available for the right fee!
Guerrilla Welsh-Fare and Welsh Ramblings are no longer welcome because:
A) They say nasty things about the Liberal Democrats.
B) They support Plaid Cymru
C) They blog anonymously and
D)There are rumors that the authors may work in Cardiff Bay.
How dare they blog! It shouldn't be allowed! Both should close down their blogs and p*** off!
I find it hilarious that Peter should have made his censorship comments on a blog called Freedom Central, and that he has done so without realising the irony that he is trying to restrict these bloggers' freedom of expression.
I haven't got the foggiest who writes these blogs and I couldn't give a damn where they work or who they work for. If they are Plaid staffers as Peter suspects then clearly they are going to be partisan in favour of Plaid. There is nothing wrong with partisan blogs - Peter's own offerings are hardly balanced and neutral. There is nothing odd or suspicious in people who are interested enough in the political process to work in politics expressing a political opinion either, why shouldn't they? The style and content of both blogs make it clear that they are the personal and idiosyncratic views of the authors rather than "official" blogs.
Peter claims that both use their blogs to smear others. I can't say that I have noticed that these two are any worse than other bloggers. However in his criticism of Welsh ramblings Peter draws attention to a post that claims that Paul Murphy has been selective in his choice of people with whom he has consulted regarding the Welsh Language LCO. If this is true then I would expect Peter to join Welsh Ramblings in condemning the Secretary of States actions. If it is not true I would expect Peter to debunk the claim. Surprisingly he does neither. Having complained about others being personal and smearing opponents Mr Black makes a personal attack on the author of Welsh Ramblings without addressing the important issue raised in the post at all!
Lest there be any doubt I should note that I am not employed by any political party, MP or AM - but I might be available for the right fee!
13/04/2009
Boring-gate
Can some corrupt politician please, please, please start a scandal that is a wall, a fence, a door a window anything other than another bleeding GATE.
The gate tag really has become so abused and overused by now it needs to be got rid of permanently
The gate tag really has become so abused and overused by now it needs to be got rid of permanently
09/04/2009
Banned from driving in prison!?
My local freesheet, the North Wales Pioneer, has rather an odd criminal justice story in this week's edition. I can't find a link to the story in the paper's online edition at the moment, but this is the gist of the story:
A young man had rather a lot to drink and then assaulted his girlfriend. The police intervened, so the man stole the girlfriend's car in an attempt to make a get-away. He was cornered by the police and then used the stolen car as a weapon, driving into police cars and two police officers, before being apprehended.
In court he was sentenced to three years imprisonment for the assault on his girlfriend and the police officers and for stealing the car. He was also given a three year driving ban for the drunk and dangerous driving.
This is what I found odd about the story. My understanding is that prisoners in custody have no opportunity to drive. So if this man serves his full sentence he will not have had a driving ban in any practical sense. He will be allowed to drive himself home from prison on the day of his release! If he is given parole or remission on his sentence the practical time that he is banned from driving will have been shortened by the time that he will have spent in custody.
I can't see any logic in such a sentencing policy. Surely if a person is given both custody and a driving ban for a serious driving offence then the ban should always be consecutive not concurrent. It should start on the day the offender is released from gaol, otherwise the banning part of the sentence is just a nonsense that serves no purpose other than to make the law look like an ass.
A young man had rather a lot to drink and then assaulted his girlfriend. The police intervened, so the man stole the girlfriend's car in an attempt to make a get-away. He was cornered by the police and then used the stolen car as a weapon, driving into police cars and two police officers, before being apprehended.
In court he was sentenced to three years imprisonment for the assault on his girlfriend and the police officers and for stealing the car. He was also given a three year driving ban for the drunk and dangerous driving.
This is what I found odd about the story. My understanding is that prisoners in custody have no opportunity to drive. So if this man serves his full sentence he will not have had a driving ban in any practical sense. He will be allowed to drive himself home from prison on the day of his release! If he is given parole or remission on his sentence the practical time that he is banned from driving will have been shortened by the time that he will have spent in custody.
I can't see any logic in such a sentencing policy. Surely if a person is given both custody and a driving ban for a serious driving offence then the ban should always be consecutive not concurrent. It should start on the day the offender is released from gaol, otherwise the banning part of the sentence is just a nonsense that serves no purpose other than to make the law look like an ass.
07/04/2009
Getting the revenge in first
Apparently the Ukanian King of Blogging, Mr Iain Dale is going to write a critique of Welsh blogging on his site later on today. Because of my nocturnal hours I won't see it before most of the rest of the Welsh blogosphere has either torn it to shreds or praised it to the hilt! So I'm going to follow my great grand dad's advice about possible conflict and get the revenge in first.
The first point is, of course, that the opinion of an outsider, is to some extent unimportant. A lot of the Welsh blogs discuss Welsh issues and are only of internal interest, their interest and appeal to the wider world may be minimal - but so what? Wales needs and deserves a forum in which Welsh issues are disseminated.
The population of Wales is only 3 Million, just 5% of the population of the UK. Wales has more blogs and more readers per capita than any other part of the UK! Simon and I may be sliding down the list on the Wikio rankings, for personal reasons, but Wales based blogs still have more than 5% of the top 100 rankings. So Wales, as Chanticleer, notes is punching above its weight in the blogging ring.
Of course there are certain areas of the blogging scene in Wales that Mr Dale can not access. Thankfully he doesn't see Welsh blogging at it's bitchiest!!!
When I started to get an interest in party politics in the 1960's and 1970's I use to attend public meetings arranged by the different parties. OK I might leave them unpersuaded but at least I heard their argument and considered it before rejecting it.
During the Thatcher-Blair era that element of politics disappeared.
I think that blogging has bought the era of listening to your opponent's point of view back into politics because polibloggers tend to read and respect each other, even when we disagree! We hear what the other side has to say.
Whatever Iain has to say about Welsh blogging, I am proud of being a part of the Welsh political bolgging scene. I doubt if many votes are won or lost by Welsh political blogging, BUT the respect that people of differing parties and opinioins gain for each other through our on line debates must be for the common good!
The first point is, of course, that the opinion of an outsider, is to some extent unimportant. A lot of the Welsh blogs discuss Welsh issues and are only of internal interest, their interest and appeal to the wider world may be minimal - but so what? Wales needs and deserves a forum in which Welsh issues are disseminated.
The population of Wales is only 3 Million, just 5% of the population of the UK. Wales has more blogs and more readers per capita than any other part of the UK! Simon and I may be sliding down the list on the Wikio rankings, for personal reasons, but Wales based blogs still have more than 5% of the top 100 rankings. So Wales, as Chanticleer, notes is punching above its weight in the blogging ring.
Of course there are certain areas of the blogging scene in Wales that Mr Dale can not access. Thankfully he doesn't see Welsh blogging at it's bitchiest!!!
When I started to get an interest in party politics in the 1960's and 1970's I use to attend public meetings arranged by the different parties. OK I might leave them unpersuaded but at least I heard their argument and considered it before rejecting it.
During the Thatcher-Blair era that element of politics disappeared.
I think that blogging has bought the era of listening to your opponent's point of view back into politics because polibloggers tend to read and respect each other, even when we disagree! We hear what the other side has to say.
Whatever Iain has to say about Welsh blogging, I am proud of being a part of the Welsh political bolgging scene. I doubt if many votes are won or lost by Welsh political blogging, BUT the respect that people of differing parties and opinioins gain for each other through our on line debates must be for the common good!
05/04/2009
Sorry!
Some prat has attacked this blog with spam comments on every single post. Whilst I spend a few hours erasing them I have switched off the ability to read or publish comments. This will just be a temporary measure, things will be restored by tomorrow.
Apologies to those regular commentators who's inboxes will have been inundated with "follow up comment information" e mails too.
UPDATE
This is going to take me a lot longer than I thought (especially as I am tempted to read all the old posts and comments as I go through the process! - Did I really write all that crap? Did you really respond to it?)
I have turned the comments and ability to comment back on. Comments on posts over 14 days old will be moderated. Please resist the temptation to click on any of the remaining spamming links - they contain a virus!
Apologies to those regular commentators who's inboxes will have been inundated with "follow up comment information" e mails too.
UPDATE
This is going to take me a lot longer than I thought (especially as I am tempted to read all the old posts and comments as I go through the process! - Did I really write all that crap? Did you really respond to it?)
I have turned the comments and ability to comment back on. Comments on posts over 14 days old will be moderated. Please resist the temptation to click on any of the remaining spamming links - they contain a virus!
31/03/2009
Poems and politics - Penddu's Better Song
Sing another song - why not sing the same one back at them!!
There must be some anti Labour minstrels out there who can sing this on YouTube!
I saw the flight to the right that Blair took new labour,
I saw the hypocrite greed as they wined and dined,
They were my party
And as they deceived me, I watched as they closed down our mine
My, my, my, Aneurin
Why, why, why, Aneurin
I could see , the party was no more for me
But here in the Valley, the Tories the devil you see
On polling day when my doubts cleared away, I was waiting,
I crossed my vote on the form and I thought of the poor,
Hain stood there laughing Ho Ho Ho
I felt the vote in my hand and he laughed no more
My, my, my, Aneurin
Why, why, why, Aneurin
As they failed to service our health,
And plundered our national wealth
Forgive me Aneurin I just cant
vote Labour no more
My, my, my, Aneurin
Why, why, why, Aneurin
So before, they start another just war
Forgive me Aneurin, I just cant vote Labour no more,
Forgive me Aneurin, I just cant vote Labour no more
There must be some anti Labour minstrels out there who can sing this on YouTube!
28/03/2009
Sing a Better Song
Much comment in my absence about the Aneurin Glyndwr video:
Sweet and Tender Hooligan thinks that the site says more about the incestuous, self important blathering of the Welsh blogosphere than it does about Welsh Labour. Maes E corespondents think that it is just a resurrection of the NatWatch blog!
On the whole the Conservatives seem pissed off by the video and Plaid seem to be laughing it off, whilst Labour seems to be torn between supporting the new web way of doing politics and condemning silly insults as counterproductive.
I'm not sure what the fuss is about. The Election Song has a proud history in Welsh politics. In the 1890's the Liberal Party use to have branch male voice choirs to sing songs favouring the local candidate. (Most party branches today would have difficulty raising a duet!)
In the 1960's and 70's the recorded song broadcast on car top loudspeakers was an essential part of every election campaign. Elfyn Llwyd, Elfyn Llwyd 2001 was probably the very last of the type!
Being an old fashioned Old Fart I welcome Aneurin's revival of the political song. It's not amongst the best of it's type, but it is good enough to be the start of a revival of an age old tradition.
Rather than moan about AG's song - the best response by all other parties would be be for them to sing a better song to challenge him!
Sweet and Tender Hooligan thinks that the site says more about the incestuous, self important blathering of the Welsh blogosphere than it does about Welsh Labour. Maes E corespondents think that it is just a resurrection of the NatWatch blog!
On the whole the Conservatives seem pissed off by the video and Plaid seem to be laughing it off, whilst Labour seems to be torn between supporting the new web way of doing politics and condemning silly insults as counterproductive.
I'm not sure what the fuss is about. The Election Song has a proud history in Welsh politics. In the 1890's the Liberal Party use to have branch male voice choirs to sing songs favouring the local candidate. (Most party branches today would have difficulty raising a duet!)
In the 1960's and 70's the recorded song broadcast on car top loudspeakers was an essential part of every election campaign. Elfyn Llwyd, Elfyn Llwyd 2001 was probably the very last of the type!
Being an old fashioned Old Fart I welcome Aneurin's revival of the political song. It's not amongst the best of it's type, but it is good enough to be the start of a revival of an age old tradition.
Rather than moan about AG's song - the best response by all other parties would be be for them to sing a better song to challenge him!
Mrs Clinton stopped my Blog!
I apologise, yet again, for a blogging hiatus. Hilary Clinton is to blame. A few years ago Mrs C started a populist campaign against violent console games - in particular the Grand Theft Auto series. Needing to know, before either agreeing or disagreeing with Mrs Clinton's point of view I bought GTA San Andreas, for the sake of political research, but ended up thoroughly enjoying the game (despite agreeing with all of Mrs Clinton's condemnations)!
I was given a copy of GTA IV a couple of weeks ago and I have spent all my potential blogging hours shooting cops, completing missions, courting whores, avoiding stars and doing all sorts of other evil things other than blogging - shameful behaviour! But if Mrs C hadn't made me aware of this sort of despicable game ......
I was given a copy of GTA IV a couple of weeks ago and I have spent all my potential blogging hours shooting cops, completing missions, courting whores, avoiding stars and doing all sorts of other evil things other than blogging - shameful behaviour! But if Mrs C hadn't made me aware of this sort of despicable game ......
11/03/2009
Benefits Lottery?
Given the Bank of England's super low base interest rate and the growing disillusion with the National Lottery:
Which would be worth most to a 2.5 kids family - a year on incapacity benefit (including all extras) or a year's interest from a typical Wednesday's Lotto jackpot?
I'm not much good at sums, but I suspect that if a two parent two kids family, living in a rented house, won tonight's Lottery Jackpot they may be worse off by wining!
Which would be worth most to a 2.5 kids family - a year on incapacity benefit (including all extras) or a year's interest from a typical Wednesday's Lotto jackpot?
I'm not much good at sums, but I suspect that if a two parent two kids family, living in a rented house, won tonight's Lottery Jackpot they may be worse off by wining!
05/03/2009
Lowen Dydh Sen Pyran
Today is St Piran's Day the Patron Saint of Cornwall.
Here is Dick Cole the Leader of Mebyon Kernow's annual St Piran's day message:
Here is Dick Cole the Leader of Mebyon Kernow's annual St Piran's day message:
St Piran's Day represents a wonderful opportunity for local people to remember what is fantastic about Cornwall and to celebrate its distinct identity and its inclusive traditions.
“As a proud Cornishman, I would encourage everyone to get out there and to do something positive to celebrate Cornwall. But as we celebrate on 5th March, we also need to look ahead and consider how we can work for a better deal for Cornwall all year round."
“2009 is election year and, on 4th June, Cornwall will elect 123 members on the new single tier council. MK opposed the undemocratic imposition of the unitary council on Cornwall, but it will soon be a reality.
“We need it to be a success for the sake of the ordinary people of Cornwall. And that means electing councillors who really do have Cornwall’s best interests at heart.
“On this St Piran’s Day, I appeal to one and all to look afresh at the politics of 21st century Cornwall and support candidates from Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall.”
How Dare He!?
Guardian Arts Corespondent Charlotte Higgins is upset, very upset. Like all Guardianistas she is all for diversity - but sometimes things can go too far! Things like the National Assembly of Wales' Minister for Culture and the Welsh Language speaking Welsh in the National Assembly Building during a concert performed by the Welsh National Orchestra! Clearly not an appropriate situation in which to use the Welsh Language.
How dare he? Shocking Behaviour! - Shouldn't be allowed - sack the ignorant hick. If this sort of insulting attitude towards the English Language is allowed to go unchecked in Cardiff where might it lead? - Italian operas in Glyndebourne? German in Covent Garden? Outrageous!
HT Victoria
How dare he? Shocking Behaviour! - Shouldn't be allowed - sack the ignorant hick. If this sort of insulting attitude towards the English Language is allowed to go unchecked in Cardiff where might it lead? - Italian operas in Glyndebourne? German in Covent Garden? Outrageous!
HT Victoria
02/03/2009
St David's Day Conundrum
Why do Welsh Nonconformist Christians, who don't believe in supplication to the saints, make such a fuss about Saint Davids Day?
Why do Welsh non-believers seem to make even more of a fuss about celebrating Saint David's Day, whilst rejecting Christian sanctity?
Why do Welsh non-believers seem to make even more of a fuss about celebrating Saint David's Day, whilst rejecting Christian sanctity?
28/02/2009
O Dear! Mr Johnston
England Rugby boss Martin Johnston should be aware that some of those viewing games on the tv can lip-read. Although his abusive remarks about his own team were not audible, they were very clearly mouthed. Lip reading foul mouthed obscenities is just as objectionable on Saturday afternoon television as is hearing it!
25/02/2009
S4C and devolution. Incompatible?
I am not a devolutionist I am a nationalist. I believe that Wales should be responsible for the whole of its own governance and the whole of its own national expenditure.
The issue of S4C recently raised by both Prof Dylan Jones Evans and Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas makes the case. S4C costs a lot of money, about £90 million a year.
As Wales pays about £170 million in tv licensing fees and, probably, pays a similar amount of the advertising premiums on goods purchased, S4C is still expensive, but not as exorbitantly so as some would suggest.
In an independent Wales S4C would be affordable.
If S4C was devolved it would not be affordable, because it would take up about 10% of the Assembly budget.
Spending 10% of a national budget on a telly channel used by one in ten of the population could never be justified. The Assembly reneged on the idea of giving just £600K to a Welsh Language newspaper, for goodness sake! - It could never justify spending 10% of its budget on the telly when hospitals and school are in dire need.
There is no other institution in the world as separately Welsh as S4C. If anything should be devolved all logic says that S4C is it! But a devolved Wales can't afford S4C.
The only way that Wales can afford to have control over something as simple as its own telly is by ditching the stupidity of Plaid's policy of the "evolution of devolution" and campaigning for all out independence, which would allow broadcasting to be seen as a small part of a total national expenditure, rather than a huge part of a very limited devolved expenditure!
The issue of S4C recently raised by both Prof Dylan Jones Evans and Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas makes the case. S4C costs a lot of money, about £90 million a year.
As Wales pays about £170 million in tv licensing fees and, probably, pays a similar amount of the advertising premiums on goods purchased, S4C is still expensive, but not as exorbitantly so as some would suggest.
In an independent Wales S4C would be affordable.
If S4C was devolved it would not be affordable, because it would take up about 10% of the Assembly budget.
Spending 10% of a national budget on a telly channel used by one in ten of the population could never be justified. The Assembly reneged on the idea of giving just £600K to a Welsh Language newspaper, for goodness sake! - It could never justify spending 10% of its budget on the telly when hospitals and school are in dire need.
There is no other institution in the world as separately Welsh as S4C. If anything should be devolved all logic says that S4C is it! But a devolved Wales can't afford S4C.
The only way that Wales can afford to have control over something as simple as its own telly is by ditching the stupidity of Plaid's policy of the "evolution of devolution" and campaigning for all out independence, which would allow broadcasting to be seen as a small part of a total national expenditure, rather than a huge part of a very limited devolved expenditure!
23/02/2009
Who is C of C?
I, and a number of other bloggers, have had an e-mail from C of C which is rather nasty about the Welsh Liberal Democrats' new leader Kirsty Williams:
As I have only ever posted on Twitter once, a message that said something along the lines of I don't know what do do on this site, I am in no position to comment on Kirsty's lack of Twittering.
But I am intrigued to know who it is who has the knife pointed in such a vicious way towards Ms Williams' back. It couldn't possibly be Cringe-worthy of Cardiff, could it?
EXACT MOMENT OF KIRSTY WILLIAMS' POLITICAL DEMISE PINPOINTED
All the hype that surrounded the election of Kirsty 'Kleenex' Williams as Welsh Lib Dem Leader, is now just a dim and distant memory.
Thanks to the wonders of modern science, it is now possible to pinpoint the exact moment at which her star, truly began to wane.
Apparently, it was 4:27am on 21st December 2008:
This was the last time the hapless Führer left her mass ranks of followers (30 in total), a message on Twitter:
Ever since that precise moment, the increasingly isolated and remote figure of Williams has proved conclusively, dead-cats don't bounce.
Since being elected she has managed, with consummate ease, to rack-off the Cardiff-based press pack by skipping two press conferences.
Then, in an attempt to breakout from the 'bubble', Kleenex galloped North to make a personal appearance to endorse her candidate in a Council by-election in Wrexham:
The result? Not only did the Lib Dems lose to the Tories, their share of the vote actually fell substantially following her presence 'on the knocker'.
All is not lost for poor Kirsty, however. The wretched Lib Dems have one option left.
Perhaps it's time Kirsty was re-launched as her Party's Leader. Kirsty 2.0 maybe?
I am sure her guru Peter 'The Genius' Black will come up some fascinating ruse to have another crack at re-catapulting his quite positively useless Leader into the electoral stratosphere.
Who knows, after her re-launch, she may even get as many as 35 people following her on her Twitter.
As I have only ever posted on Twitter once, a message that said something along the lines of I don't know what do do on this site, I am in no position to comment on Kirsty's lack of Twittering.
But I am intrigued to know who it is who has the knife pointed in such a vicious way towards Ms Williams' back. It couldn't possibly be Cringe-worthy of Cardiff, could it?
22/02/2009
Paying for crime?
Kezia Dugdale flags up a thought provoking story in the Scotsman today regarding the Scottish Governments plans to make criminals pay for the funerals of their victims - whether that be murder, culpable homicide or something like a dangerous driving offence.
I can understand the reasoning. Why should I fork out for the expenses caused by another person's act of destruction?
But I have a knee jerk reaction of ych a fi to the idea.
I hope that such circumstances never arise, but if one of my nearest and dearest should die as a victim of crime, the idea that the perpetrator of that crime should invade my final goodbyes by paying for the funeral is just abhorrent.
That a criminal should forfeit his/her assets to a general fund that paid out a funeral grant might be acceptable - but a direct link between the perpetrator and the victims funeral is just too horrid to contemplate.
When Wales has responsibility for its own justice system, this SNP policy is one that I hope our National Assembly doesn't follow.
Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, outlined the measures, which will be in the Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill that goes before the Scottish Parliament next month.
He told a victim support conference in Glasgow yesterday: "We aim to give criminal courts more flexibility to award compensation against an offender, and update the remit of compensation orders so they can reflect changes in the means of the offender, and be used to pay funeral and bereavement expenses to the relatives of a deceased victim. If supported by parliament, these important changes will help more victims and their families.
I can understand the reasoning. Why should I fork out for the expenses caused by another person's act of destruction?
But I have a knee jerk reaction of ych a fi to the idea.
I hope that such circumstances never arise, but if one of my nearest and dearest should die as a victim of crime, the idea that the perpetrator of that crime should invade my final goodbyes by paying for the funeral is just abhorrent.
That a criminal should forfeit his/her assets to a general fund that paid out a funeral grant might be acceptable - but a direct link between the perpetrator and the victims funeral is just too horrid to contemplate.
When Wales has responsibility for its own justice system, this SNP policy is one that I hope our National Assembly doesn't follow.
20/02/2009
True Wales, Big Lies #2
This is a sort of addendum to my last post.
One of the things that the anti-devolution group True Wales states is one of its principals is that any application to draw down Legislative Competence Orders from the United Kingdom Government should reflect the wishes of the majority of the Welsh people.
As a democrat I tend to agree with this principal. But it is a principal that raises the age old question of how a democracy can reflect the view of the majority (without oppressing the right of the minority).
The standard practice in these Islands is by electing politicians to act on behalf of those who elect them. Not a perfect system, but one, as Churchill once said is, the worst form of government except for all the others that have been tried.
The democratically elected body in Wales, the body that best represents the wishes of the majority of Welsh people is the Assembly. So according to True Wales' own principals Westminster should NEVER oppose an LCO, because every request for competence reflects the wishes of the majority of those elected to represent the wishes of the people of Wales.
Under the current system the Secretary of State for Wales can block an LCO. Does the current Secretary of State reflect the views of the majority of Welsh voters? Ma by ma by not! However he is not elected to his position by the people of Wales. He was elected by fewer than one in sixty of the total Welsh electorate. (One in sixty more than his shadow, and probable successor, who has only been voted for by the people of Chesham and Amersham).
Under the current system the Welsh Affairs Select Committee can also block LCO's (as it has done and will surely do gain). But the Committee doesn't reflect the majority view of Welsh People, as True Wales wishes, it reflects the make up of the House of Commons, with the Labour Party as the majority and the Conservatives as the second largest party (including the member for The Wrekin to make up for the paucity of Welsh Conservative members). The Liberal democrats and Plaid Cymru only have token members. Plaid's token membership is based on its association with the SNP. If Plaid and the SNP didn't ally themselves to be a single parliamentary group, there would be no Plaid member on the Committee.
Even when Wales decided not to elect a single Tory MP in 1979 the Tories were still the second largest group on the Welsh Affairs Committee! Truly representative of Welsh views? I doubt it.
If True Wales want the Assembly to have draw down legislation that reflects the wishes of the majority of Welsh people they should give the Assembly every competence under the Government of Wales Act and support the YES vote campaign. If they oppose any competence being given to Wales they should say so and stop their lying and their posturing as the democratic voice of Wales that they, most certainly, are not.
One of the things that the anti-devolution group True Wales states is one of its principals is that any application to draw down Legislative Competence Orders from the United Kingdom Government should reflect the wishes of the majority of the Welsh people.
As a democrat I tend to agree with this principal. But it is a principal that raises the age old question of how a democracy can reflect the view of the majority (without oppressing the right of the minority).
The standard practice in these Islands is by electing politicians to act on behalf of those who elect them. Not a perfect system, but one, as Churchill once said is, the worst form of government except for all the others that have been tried.
The democratically elected body in Wales, the body that best represents the wishes of the majority of Welsh people is the Assembly. So according to True Wales' own principals Westminster should NEVER oppose an LCO, because every request for competence reflects the wishes of the majority of those elected to represent the wishes of the people of Wales.
Under the current system the Secretary of State for Wales can block an LCO. Does the current Secretary of State reflect the views of the majority of Welsh voters? Ma by ma by not! However he is not elected to his position by the people of Wales. He was elected by fewer than one in sixty of the total Welsh electorate. (One in sixty more than his shadow, and probable successor, who has only been voted for by the people of Chesham and Amersham).
Under the current system the Welsh Affairs Select Committee can also block LCO's (as it has done and will surely do gain). But the Committee doesn't reflect the majority view of Welsh People, as True Wales wishes, it reflects the make up of the House of Commons, with the Labour Party as the majority and the Conservatives as the second largest party (including the member for The Wrekin to make up for the paucity of Welsh Conservative members). The Liberal democrats and Plaid Cymru only have token members. Plaid's token membership is based on its association with the SNP. If Plaid and the SNP didn't ally themselves to be a single parliamentary group, there would be no Plaid member on the Committee.
Even when Wales decided not to elect a single Tory MP in 1979 the Tories were still the second largest group on the Welsh Affairs Committee! Truly representative of Welsh views? I doubt it.
If True Wales want the Assembly to have draw down legislation that reflects the wishes of the majority of Welsh people they should give the Assembly every competence under the Government of Wales Act and support the YES vote campaign. If they oppose any competence being given to Wales they should say so and stop their lying and their posturing as the democratic voice of Wales that they, most certainly, are not.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)