tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post8319545961867671628..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: There are no good outcomes for WalesJohn Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-36877957239922568952022-08-05T11:05:03.288+01:002022-08-05T11:05:03.288+01:00Completely agree about the paradigm in which we ar...Completely agree about the paradigm in which we are locked. As a result of Plaid going left, no Nat is engaging with the David Meldings, or Nick Bourne. This is stopping Indy, for no defensible reason. What a shame I can't tempt you into naming a not-too-bad Tory. I will carry on looking. At Cwm-yr-Eglwys yesterday I had a barney on the beach with Baroness Bloomfield of Hilton Waldrist, who has a 2nd home there and is supposedly learning Welsh after several decades of anglicising the place. She (and Cwm-yr-Eglwys, Pembs) are a lost cause, for now anyway. Not given up on Wales, though. Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05937342201811857738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-36794696595546048152022-08-05T08:28:11.105+01:002022-08-05T08:28:11.105+01:00I don't claim any special knowledge or insight...I don't claim any special knowledge or insight beyond the public statements which a small number of Tories have made over the years. I've never understood why independence (or indeed the various options short of that, such as federalism and dominion status) should necessarily be considered a 'left' pursuit; there's no necessary conflict between a 'right' view of the world and a desire for a political expression of nationhood, even if there are very different beliefs about what Wales should do with increased autonomy. The problem is that (and I blame, at least partly, first-past-the-post elections) we have become locked into a paradigm where the Tories seek to condemn independentistas as being rabid lefties whilst Labour want to present any form of nationalism as an essentially right-wing creed. Both do so because it suits their mutual interests to squeeze out electoral competitors rather than as a result of any rational analysis, and members of both parties, as a result, find it often difficult to express more nuanced views.<br /><br />I agree, by the way, that not all Tories are bastards (although the proportion who aren't has dropped significantly following the Brexit-driven takeover of that party by an English nationalist extremist fringe). At local government level, there are always people who have joined parties (and this applies to ALL parties!) not out of any ideological commitment, but because they want to do their best for their communities, and the best way of getting elected is to joint the locally most-successful party. Assuming that they are committed to the national objectives and policies of their party is a huge mistake.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-2082685655692993622022-08-04T10:28:52.516+01:002022-08-04T10:28:52.516+01:00You mention "a few thoughtful and perceptive ...You mention "a few thoughtful and perceptive exceptions" amongst Tories. I am no longer a member of Plaid Cymru and (in my small way) have a free hand. I don't think all Tories are bastards - it depends. I have always had a gut feeling that some/a few in the Tory camp would go for say Dominion Status because it is familiar and nice people like NZ went gently down this road. (And Dominion Status would be a HUGE advance on where Wales is now.) So this is a genuine inquiry, Borthlas. You went round the block a few times and I respect your take on politics which isn't always mine. Fine. <br />But I would like to know the individuals amongst the Tories who you think might be up for a lot more Devo. I always fancied Melding, who is familiar with US history in this field. I am at the point where I want to talk to such people. Please can you supply a few possible names. Craig Williams MP?Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05937342201811857738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-60039023559311547712022-08-03T13:32:00.761+01:002022-08-03T13:32:00.761+01:00A race to the bottom - but I never realised how de...A race to the bottom - but I never realised how deeply these two morons could sink in that quest. That trench in the Pacific is chicken feed compared to the depths these 2 aim to plumb, not just on the devolved nations but on most issues. Dangerous fantasists.dafishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04216920242825385976noreply@blogger.com