LET'S MAKE A WISH FOR INDEPENDENCE.

So that's how Wales is going to get Independence. It appears that's what many supporters think. This is the way it is going to happen. Wish hard enough, fingers crossed and it will appear.

There is another group who seem to believe that if Westminster treats Wales badly enough, the Welsh people will rise up in  revolution.

A third and enthusiastic group are convinced that through the efforts of Yes Cymru, Independence is inevitable.

We could wait for Scotland to do it and then jump on the bandwagon. That however is out of Wales control.

Of course Independence is not going to happen through any of these routes.

So. I ask myself, what are the thousands, crying out for Independence, actually doing to bring it on. 

The conclusion. Except for a notable minority. Very little.

We see children in poverty, homes bought up as second homes while Welsh people are homeless. We see a potentially vibrant Welsh economy stagnating. We are bullied from Westminster and an impotent Welsh government closing their eyes to it and what do we do. We talk, we debate , we sometimes shout a little, but we do nothing.

Oh yes. You go to these rallies. Well it's a day out, isn't it.

I know.  You would go to the Labour party meeting and tell them what you think, but it's darts night or strictly or celebrity. But you do your bit on Twitter or Facebook.

Yes, bread and circuses are alive and well in Wales.

So what is this, doing your bit, mean?  Telling all who will listen that lots of other small countries do it, so Wales can do it.

It doesn't necessarily follow. That they have different economies, different cultures and different people. That they clearly wanted it more, is disregarded, but then, it's worth shouting about. 

Then,Wales is not too poor, while it's opponents dangle a £13.7 billion deficit in front of the Welsh public. The fact that about two thirds of it will be removed by the act of Independence alone, is rarely explained.

None of these, getting to be almost throw away lines, will wash with the wider Wales public. They don't particularly care about how other countries function. They want to know how Wales will function. Will an Independent Wales be able to pay its way and will an Independent Wales be a better Wales. Will they be better off.

The technicalities will come later, but until you cross this bridge.

So how do you do it, this sharing of a vision. At the moment it's shared with about a thousand others at most, in a Facebook group, or Twitter. 

Only another one and a half million to go.

Here's a tale to help you on your way.

In the constituency of Blaenau Gwent, a Labour stronghold.  The Labour Party attempted to impose a candidate for the election, on the 

constituency and against the wishes of the local party, who had their own local candidate. 

The Labour Party would not relent, so a group left the party and set up their own political party to fight the election. It was to become the People's Voice. It was a single issue party. The right for local people to choose their own candidate.

The People's Voice had little campaign organisation, little money and were opposed by an established political party campaign.

The People's Voice overturned a previous Labour majority of 19000 and turned it to a 9000 majority of their own.

They did it with a small dedicated group of activists who worked tirelessly. They leafleted continuously through letterboxes, town squares, market days and sporting events. They left leaflets at sympathetic venues. Adverts in local papers. All telling a single message. They sought donations for their work. And they won.

The moral of this story. You can overcome great odds, you can win over the public, but it takes real belief, real dedication and real hard work. 

Independence is going to be a roll your sleeves up graft, not the genteel exchanges presently being displayed.

Imagine small groups across Wales, working in the same way as People's Voice, promoting Independence. 

Then you won't need to make a wish.

There is a Part 2.