Wales is the poorest of the UK nations. indeed the poorest of the UK regions. Wages less than the UK average, productivity lower and profitability of Welsh businesses lower. Wales so poor that it has handouts from Europe.
Never mind it could be worse.
Well not much. 200000 Welsh children in poverty. 30000 in extreme poverty. Education standards below average. Local councils closing amenities. Homelessness and rough sleeping. The problems with the health service and social care.
I know, but its the economy. What can you do?
Doesn't it drive you crazy.
Well we have had this state for so long its a way of life. Its the norm.
Also its been a long time since Wales has demonstrated resistance.
Yes, we have had miners strikes and steel strikes. But the have been about community not nation.
Not a Welsh effort, about Wales.
The French take to the streets in their hundreds of thousands, to protest at the government changing their benefits.
Hong Kong , hundreds of thousands protest at threats to their democracy.
The Catalans in Spain demonstrate in tens of thousands over self determination.
Even in Glasgow 100000 took to the streets in support of National Independence.
In Wales, a hundred people protested over wheely bins. People in Blaenau Gwent, the most deprived area in the UK, children in poverty, low education standards, high unemployment, low wages. Waved their banners against the imposition of wheely bins. You could not make it up.
Yes. I know irate, passionate people, will point to the 5000 ( Welsh population 3.2 million ), who took part in the Independence rallies. The same irate, passionate people, who then fold up their banners until the next time. As long as its on the weekend.
In spite of these shows of strength, Blaenau Gwent still has its wheely bins, and Independence is no closer.
So why is Wales in such a state with barely a murmur of dissent. Is it perhaps a legacy of its history.
Wales hasn't had a decent resistance for about 600 years, so we are a bit out of practice.
The fact is Wales has been subservient since that time.
Within the last century Wales has been an industrial powerhouse. Industries making huge profits.
The means of making those profits were the workers in Wales. The profits themselves went elsewhere.
Where in Wales is the legacy of this powerhouse of industry?
Still today in the spoiled environment and the poor health of the people.
Where is the legacy of the wealth Wales created. Where are the great centres of learning, the hospitals and clinics, the centres of social care, paid for from this great wealth from steel, iron and coal?
Nowhere. They don't exist.
There is a legacy of this wealth for all to see. The great houses and estates built for the egos of wealthy owners.
Hospitals, universities and healthcare in Wales, was created largely by the efforts, sacrifice and generosity of the workers. Not by wealthy owners.
People in Wales have been conditioned to being exploited and to being the original worker philanthropists.
Perhaps now we should do something about it. Find out whats still keeping Wales down in this position. Then we can take some action.
Hold on a minute. What action, I hope you don't mean we should be upsetting people. Anyway, how do we find out?
We attend meetings and ask questions. Council meetings, public and political meetings. send questions to our politicians.
It would be a bit awkward though, if these meetings are on Fridays, that's bingo night. Thursday is darts and the weekends would be difficult with Strictly and that Voice programme on.
Bread and circuses is alive and well in Wales.
We may get a Labour Government in Westminster.
We have had Labour Governments in Westminster. Wales was still the poorest in UK.
What about when we had Anthony Eden and never had it so good.?
That's going back a bit and it was Harold McMillan. It wasn't true and didn't apply to Wales anyway. We were still poor back then.
Alright something has to be done. After I've been to the club I will think about it
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