tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post3742987508103903862..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: What are we really missing?John Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-83251573576186419792010-06-10T08:23:13.382+01:002010-06-10T08:23:13.382+01:00Ramblings,
I'm not convinced that it is alway...Ramblings,<br /><br />I'm not convinced that it is always a red herring, I'm afraid. When used to compare different methods of allocating funds in education, it generally is, because it's comparing apples with pears. When used to compare the outcomes of different services it sometimes is, because the nature of devolution is that it enables the adoption of different priorities, so differences are to be expected.<br /><br />But when it comes to basic economic performance, we need to remember that the main argument used by Plaid's opponents is that 'Wales can't afford it', and the relative underperformance of the Welsh economy related to the UK average is a key part of that debate. (Although I accept that comparing Wales with the UK average isn't the same as comparing Wales with England.)<br /><br />We need to tackle that argument, both by showing what we would do to address the gap, and also by drawing attention to the fact that current arrangements are more likely to be the cause of the gap than the solution to it.<br /><br />I entirely agree with you on the house price issue, though. That, like the story which provoked my original post, is an example of how the indicators often used to judge economic 'succcess' aren't necessarily talking about the sort of 'success' that we want to see.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-19555978626196057262010-06-09T19:58:08.399+01:002010-06-09T19:58:08.399+01:00Excellent points there John. Would you agree that ...Excellent points there John. Would you agree that constantly comparing our economic indicators to those of England is also a red herring?<br /><br />There are some indicators where we actually have done better than parts of England of course (not that we'll hear about them in the WM anytime soon!). But it's still ridiculous and smacks of a post-colonial mentality, to constantly be using England as a benchmark for how well we're doing! <br /><br />Just my opinon but i'd like to know if you agree?<br /><br />While i'm rambling away i'll also mention the ridiculous WM headline piece from earlier in the week, 'Wales missing out on high property prices'. Seeing as we've just had a financial crash caused partly by property prices, I think we should be celebrating the fact that property prices are lower here, as well as recognising it will allow more people to get on the ladder!Welsh Ramblingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17585109264200933570noreply@blogger.com