tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post8081787101440292876..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: The problem of averagesJohn Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-80492421085608168752020-05-06T19:27:48.376+01:002020-05-06T19:27:48.376+01:00Here's the oddity about borders. The English t...Here's the oddity about borders. The English think shock/horror or mock you if you say Wales could have borders. "Ho, Ho! Customs posts along Offa's Dyke? Where? Buttington Cross? Monmouth? The very idea...!" Or, as Dafis says, - "We do not divide our United Kingdom" etc. Well I don't like borders either, being a Schengen sort of person. But. When I flew from Kairdiff to Edinburgh a while ago I had to show my passport. And just the other day, over Easter, the Welsh police WERE patrolling Wales' borders. Or at least stopping travellers somewhere, close to their boundaries, which is the same thing if you're the Dyfed-Powys Police or Heddlu'r Gogledd. But not strictly the act of a Welsh Government, its true. As I've said before, its the right to have a border that counts for a country/State. Wales need not apologise for declaring its own border. Doesn't mean you need a hut, rising barrier and "Papers please!" 24/7. Just in certain circumstances........Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05937342201811857738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-12954995270765266522020-05-04T16:21:40.851+01:002020-05-04T16:21:40.851+01:00"The weakness arises when we take into accoun...<i>"The weakness arises when we take into account the amount of travel between regions."</i> Precisely. Like Jonathan, I favour doing it by areas, but recognising that the differentiating factor is the progress of the virus rather than convenient administrative boundaries between jurisdictions. None of the options is problem-free, and that is nothing at all to do with boundaries between the nations of the UK. I do not believe, however, that centralist English nationalists are capable of adopting the necessary mindset. Whether the Welsh government has the courage to insist has yet to be seen.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-19637869806374803052020-05-04T16:02:41.114+01:002020-05-04T16:02:41.114+01:00Given that various regions are "enjoying"...Given that various regions are "enjoying" different levels of the virus, some past their peak while others may still be escalating,there may be a case for easing the lockdown in a similarly differentiated pattern. The weakness arises when we take into account the amount of travel between regions. For instance we don't want a repeat or any increase in the rush of 2nd homers, caravaners and BnB visitors just because lockdown is eased in say Birmingham but not in Gwynedd. <br /><br />Would Drakeford &Co have the backbone to put up the no entry signs at County borders or would they defer tamely to the "needs" of our tedious neighbours? dafishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04216920242825385976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-35054805830820546812020-05-04T12:29:32.079+01:002020-05-04T12:29:32.079+01:00"should we ease the lockdown as soon as the o..."should we ease the lockdown as soon as the overall picture improves sufficiently, accepting that it will be too early for some; or should we vary the decision according to circumstances in different areas?" Do it by areas. The US illustrates why. Of the 50 States 35 are now actively working on opening up. My wife is from South Dakota which never felt the need to close, being all prairie and Black Hills. But home is now N.Carolina where the decision is on a knife edge. Moderate State, at least 2 big urban centres. Any decision to re-open NC will have consequences at the ballot box when they come to re-elect the Governor (or not). NC has 100 Counties, so one way forward may be to open Carteret County (beach) and keep Wake County (urban) closed for longer. The point is that the system allows for flexibility. Important when circumstances vary but (key) so do attitudes. The bolder souls can open. The more timid ones can stay closed and watch how bold works out. Wales has the administrative structures (Devolution, Counties) to experiment but it still comes down to attitude. For heaven's sake Wales could open Garden Centres and DIY shops even if England does not. But treating the virus like the Blitz (singing "We'll meet again" on Friday?) means no. Welsh Labour could score big time by going it alone. But they won't, will they.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05937342201811857738noreply@blogger.com