Comments on Dancing the Polka with Miss El Cajon: Sympathy for the devil

I agree that Wales would wake up to massive proble...

2011-12-22T16:04:46.264Z

I agree that Wales would wake up to massive problems if it now became independent, but I think it is fair to argue the nationalist line that this situation would worsen rather than improve if Wales stayed in the UK. Wales is one of those areas of the UK where heavy industry was dominant in the economy and, when that industry declined, softer industries and financial services were encouraged mainly in the south-east of England (something which was done as far back as the 1930s). The UK would concentrate on these areas and, in return, would place a disproportionate number of public sector jobs in the areas with a declining industrial economy, like Wales or north-east England. This is the situation which has led to Wales' over-dependence on the public sector, where a more federal state such as Germany may not have written off its industrial base so easily. One could argue along similar lines for infrastructure. Independence for Wales would take us away from a state which prioritises the interests of the centre at the expense of the periphery (though I admit that similar problems exist within Wales). It's not blaming England to say that UK economic policies has been to Wales' massive disadvantage, and that a self-governing Wales would have reacted better to those problems: many areas of England have had their economies sacrificed in a similar way, it's just Wales has a better excuse to govern itself. I'm also of the opinion that a federal Britain could still be dominated by the interests of the south-east, although to a lesser extent, and I've got a feeling it's just less likely to happen than independence. For independence we have to persuade Wales there's a problem, for federalism we have to persuade England.

Keep going with this. Sometimes it takes an outsid...

2011-11-22T05:28:01.722Z

Keep going with this. Sometimes it takes an outsider to write about stuff like this, and I want to hear more.

Excellent points made Chris. 1. People are surpri...

2011-11-21T22:32:26.106Z

Excellent points made Chris.

1. People are surprised that someone like me, a first Welsh Language speaker, is against independence. I support greater powers for Wales (just like American federal states is my model) but independence? No, its a pointless exercise.

Even if you get independence, the room towards policy manoeuvres is very small, all in the strictures of a free market economy. Ireland has done a lot of improving over the last thirty years but there are still problems, housing, education is still sparse.

Its why Alex Salmond riles me so much because he says 'everything will be okay once we would have independence, because its the English fault'.

2. Victim status, its primary basis of nationalist philosophy. Its not until you start reading into context that you get a fuller picture.

Welsh was discouraged in schools, but then Welsh books, hymns, music and general culture operated freely. In fact, Welsh Language blossomed during this time.

Of course being hit for speaking your first language was awful but this was the age of child labour in mines and being sent up chimneys.

I'm pretty sure it was a terrible thing, it...

2011-11-20T23:04:35.049Z

I'm pretty sure it was a terrible thing, it's no wonder a lot of Welsh people get upset by it.

There was massive discrimination against the Welsh...

2011-11-18T17:29:35.178Z

There was massive discrimination against the Welsh until the Act of Union. Welsh people were slaughtered by Anglo-Norman forces along the rich, fertile coastal plains and 'contained' in the poor, unproductive land of the hills/valleys. That divide is at the very heart Wales' problems and the root of our inferiority complex, our neurotic tendencies and the reason we are so hard to define.

Throughout the 20th century most people in Wales lived in a hybrid Welsh/working-class British culture that has been slowly dying since the 1970s. We're not really sure who or what we are at the moment, which can result in a lot of paranoia and insecurity. People want an easy narrative.

However, I think it's resonable argue that since the 70s, the Welsh people have been subject of far more ridicule than the Irish or Scottish. We've replaced the Irish as the butt of the joke. It's hard for the English to make fun of the Gaels these days because the Americans are so fond of them.