tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post2042831806848122052..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: More than a loopholeJohn Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-4358424635372484432020-07-05T16:24:12.204+01:002020-07-05T16:24:12.204+01:00You are far too kind - the Vale Council wasn't...You are far too kind - the Vale Council wasn't even responsible for road signs when I was a member. Bilingual rates bills, however...<br /><br />I agree that any independent state needs to have clearly defined borders, but I also support the Schengen approach; my desire for individuals to be free to travel and move means that I have an aversion to closing borders unless absolutely necessary. It's curious that decisions being taken in England are more likely to lead to a requirement to enforce the Welsh border than anything happening in Wales. It just underlines how far the 'unionists' have shifted to become out-and-out English nationalists.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-19949732300789108392020-07-05T13:21:57.642+01:002020-07-05T13:21:57.642+01:00All credit to you Borthlas for the Welsh on the Va...All credit to you Borthlas for the Welsh on the Vale of Glam roadsigns, back in the day. And for being a solid (under appreciated) Plaid Candidate in Carmarthen/S.Pembs. And for putting some lead in the pencil of Community Councils eg Dinas Powys - underused institutions. And now we have some interesting thoughts on what it takes to be a nation/country/State in International Law. <br />Borders - got to exist, got to enforce them. Them's the rules in international law. Comic watching Drakeford wrestle with this one. Needed for Covid? Messes up Labour's Welfare Union with England ie Wales' life-support? The Welsh need to learn from watching this. NB - the rules of international law don't require rigidly enforced borders, but the potential must be there. Which in practice means enforcing every now and then. Reminds me of how you keep a private road private. Token close it every Xmas Day from 1-2am or whatever.<br />And you mentioned on Thursday "if you believe strongly enough in yourself the rest of the world will accept you on that basis and treat you accordingly." I don't think you accepted this, Borthlas. But there is in fact a lot of truth in it. In international law. If you are trying to assert yourself as a nation/country/State. It is the sine qua non. You aren't going to enforce control of your territory, or your borders, or be autonomous, without this basic assertion, from the guts, of your existence and right to exist. You can overlay it all you like with diplomacy and tact. But that gut animal assertion has got to be there. But is it? In Wales I mean?Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05937342201811857738noreply@blogger.com