tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post1436370437737995300..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: What's the big idea #3John Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-60265444754927382842011-05-05T08:55:27.252+01:002011-05-05T08:55:27.252+01:00Anon,
"why did you take the comments down ab...Anon,<br /><br /><i>"why did you take the comments down about Nerys Evans? We know why, you were told to do so by her friends."</i><br /><br />If you think that I would take a comment down because someone told me to, you know me not very well at all! No-one told me, or even asked me, to take the comment down. I initially published it, and responded to it, and was happy to do so. However, as I explained in my response to Dave Edwards above, I decided on reflection to remove the comment - not because of what it said about Nerys, but because it gave an analysis of the distribution of postal votes between the parties in Carmarthen West & South Pembs. It is my understanding of electoral law that publication of such information is not allowed, and whilst I was not the author of the comment, I am the publisher of this blog. You are entitled to think that I made a wrong call on this, but the call was mine, and mine alone, and was made on the basis that I did not wish to put myself in breach of electoral law.<br /><br /><i>"As chair you didn't have an opinion"</i><br /><br />I most certainly did...<br /><br /><i>"and people were expecting you to join in the discussions internally and to propose ideas."</i><br /><br />...but perhaps I was in the wrong job to express them at all times. In smaller, less formal discussions, I most certainly did express opinions, and regularly provided written feedback on draft documents etc.; but it is difficult for the person regulating and controlling more formal discussion to be an active participant without being seen to be partial. Rightly or wrongly, my view of my role as Chair was to ensure that the party worked in accordance with its own processes and procedures, came to clear decisions, and then implemented them. The Chair's job is about process not content. Certainly, as I've said before, there were times when I found that limiting and frustrating.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-86426175674304998302011-05-04T23:21:01.432+01:002011-05-04T23:21:01.432+01:00why did you take the comments down about Nerys Eva...why did you take the comments down about Nerys Evans? We know why, you were told to do so by her friends. Surprise surprise. John, they will support their friends but will shaft everyone others, as you experienced. But surely it would be better for you to work with people in Plaid that want to see an alternative?<br /><br /> As chair you didn't have an opinion, and people were expecting you to join in the discussions internally and to propose ideas. The party will suffer tomorrow, and I think you know why they will suffer. <br /><br />They cannot judge Labour for dirty dealings, when Plaid does it best, and does it best in the public domain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-27977142082320294962011-05-01T14:22:44.210+01:002011-05-01T14:22:44.210+01:00john
I respect your view and have no complaintsjohn<br /><br />I respect your view and have no complaintsDave Edwardsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-80387014790043855212011-05-01T14:08:25.421+01:002011-05-01T14:08:25.421+01:00Anon 14:51,
"None of these 'managerial&#...Anon 14:51,<br /><br /><i>"None of these 'managerial' policies addresses Wales' root problem - relative poverty..."</i><br /><br />Quite. After decades of arguing that the other parties are merely trying to deal with the symptoms whilst leaving the underlying problems of inequality unaddressed, Plaid's pitch in this election manifesto seems to be more a case of saying that the other parties are right to address the symptoms, but are just incompetent to do so. My own view hasn't changed - that there is nothing wrong with trying to alleviate the symptoms within whatever powers and ability we have, but we should never lose sight of the need to tackle the underlying issues.<br /><br />Dave Edwards,<br /><br />I very rarely moderate any comments out, and then only with great reluctance. I initially allowed your comment, but on reflection have concluded that it would be improper to publish information purportedly coming from the opening of postal ballots. I'm sure that your intentions were sincere, and I don't want to stifle debate on other issues, but have concluded that I should delete your comment on this occasion.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-2401353627692106332011-05-01T09:40:54.424+01:002011-05-01T09:40:54.424+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-67263097617640954552011-04-30T20:37:31.234+01:002011-04-30T20:37:31.234+01:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Dave Edwardsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-28588758019611436272011-04-30T14:51:13.249+01:002011-04-30T14:51:13.249+01:00None of these 'managerial' polices address...None of these 'managerial' polices addresses Wales' root problem - relative poverty resulting from centuries of neglect and bad government. <br /><br />Institutionally, within the UK, Wales has been at the bottom of the pile. I don't blame it entirely on unionist politicians and parties, although the system they work within is part of the problem. It is self-serving and directs wealth in certain directions.<br /><br />Unless Wales governs itself it has no possibility of being raised out of this perpetual malaise. <br /><br />Of course, after self-determination there is no guarantee that prosperity will follow. It's down to the people of Wales, their talents and efforts to ensure it does. <br /><br />We've left it to others, and we can see only too clearly the outcome. In the final analysis we are largely responsible for the state our country is in.<br /><br />To my mind Plaid has to keep the idea of 'self-determination' at the heart of its rationale, regardless of the popularity of the notion. Without that, it has nothing. <br /><br />I'm not inspired with the current leadership and direction the party is taking. Its relative decline in the polls in recent years has been all too predictable. 'Without vision the people perish', as the Good Book says.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-49354903167807133222011-04-30T10:40:25.586+01:002011-04-30T10:40:25.586+01:00John
You are of course right in that based on the ...John<br />You are of course right in that based on the Assembly election materiel to date. there is a drab blandness to it all.<br />I get the general feeling here in Sth Pembs that Plaid and the Conservatives are the best organised by far and that Plaid are improving all the time.<br /> What lets us down is what we say is lost in translation to the electorate at large therefore we need to spell out the greater goal much more clearly and much much more often<br /><br />The key after the election will be Money Money MoneyBoncathnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-87222148487595422472011-04-30T09:19:54.609+01:002011-04-30T09:19:54.609+01:00Boncath,
"this commitment has very little go...Boncath,<br /><br /><i>"this commitment has very little going for it"</i><br /><br />I don't think that's entirely fair. It's a good, sensible proposal. (Anon 19:18: in similar vein, I didn't say that therre was anything wrong with the idea at all.)<br /><br />The point, though, is that it isn't particularly 'bold' or 'ambitious'; nor does it set one party apart from the others. Learning from, and applying, best practice from elsewhere is what I expect any new government will do.<br /><br />The underlying point is that the parties have chosen to fight this election essentially on the question of who would be the best management team to implement what are broadly similar programmes.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-25834258932924402502011-04-29T20:41:32.700+01:002011-04-29T20:41:32.700+01:00The “Big Idea” series you have run is very accurat...The “Big Idea” series you have run is very accurate and revelling. Of course there is no big idea, is the answer and that comes from politicians who have abandoned ideology and based their shopping list from Focus Group returns. That is one reason they all sound the same.Spirit of BMEnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-86080470057215009352011-04-29T19:18:24.103+01:002011-04-29T19:18:24.103+01:00With respect, let's hear your revolutionary id...With respect, let's hear your revolutionary ideas? It seems everyone is wrong but you, who has produced nothing beyond pithy blog posts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-37438217137568975032011-04-29T17:22:43.843+01:002011-04-29T17:22:43.843+01:00John
We are probably facing a generational issue.
...John<br />We are probably facing a generational issue.<br /> Education was traditionally a way out of poverty for many of most Welsh people. fortunately or unfortunately it also offerred a route usually permanently out of Wales<br />This still applies but what has changed is the impact of television, computer and computer games, calculators and plastic money on the education process.<br /> <br />Additionally parents have not been focused on passing skills on to their children and often offload any responsibility in that area to creches, nurseries and schools <br /><br />Much as I support Plaid this commitment has very little going for it and lacks any real visionBoncathnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-57794738427018346502011-04-29T10:20:46.233+01:002011-04-29T10:20:46.233+01:00With your on the ground experience of carmarthen w...With your on the ground experience of carmarthen west who do you think will take it??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com