Do not ask, can Wales afford Independence?

Ask instead, can Wales afford the Union?

The perennial question asked, is whether Wales can afford to be Independent.

Less often is the question asked, can Wales afford the Union.

The Unionists in Wales, Welsh Labour and Tories extol the virtues of this relationship, but except for " better together " and " Wales can't manage without Westminster ", very little detail is offered in support.

The coming elections for the Senedd however, somewhat gives the game away.

Both these parties promise great changes.

Thousands of new nurses, doctors, teachers More affordable houses, roads and to increase the wages of low paid workers.

All this however,merely illustrates that they accept that Wales is suffering significant shortages.

Add to this the 10% lower than average earnings of Welsh workers. The 11% lower productivity of Wesh industry, through lower than UK average levels of investment. Twenty five percent lower in transport and infrastructure and research and development.

And then there's the lower than average levels of education standards of Welsh children against UK and international standards.

And let's not forget the 200000 Welsh children in poverty.

I nearly left out the stagnating Welsh economy.

Oh yes and the food banks.

This, as part of the sixth wealthiest economy in the world.

The opposition will lay charges of incompetent government against the Wales government, but that cannot explain such widespread impoverishment. 

The Tories in Wales also call for increases across the board and it will take miraculous redistribution to fulfil their aims from the present budget.

The Welsh Labour government has given a further clue as to the problems. They have taken up with the dreaded Public Private Finance 

Initiative.

The very system that they have derided the UK government over and 

boasted that it wasn't for Wales.

Well it is now.

They have tied a bow around it and given it a different name, but it's the same system where the private part gets rich and the public part carries the cost for years to come.

So why have they done this? Out of the mouths of babes. The First Minister admits that without this arrangement, Wales would not be able to invest in infrastructure projects. 

So, to get to the point.

Independence has played no part in this dire situation. It is a consequence of  the history of Wales only ever belonging to the Union.

How do the Unionist parties intend to resolve Wales' problems?

More of the same it would seem.

The Tories in Wales would continue to rely on friends in high places. Other than, they would work with the UK government, no other clue as to how they would achieve their huge transformation promises.

Welsh Labour aren't quite sure. Some are talking up an as yet, undefined federal system. Others an improved devolution.

Both lead back to the same problem, that control of the essential levers of government, economic and legislative, will lie outside their control.

Both the Tory and Labour solutions have the same problem. These solutions are beyond their influence. Both these approaches are in the gift of the Westminster government.

A Westminster government, not recognized for its generosity to Wales.

It's not as if Wales has not made its contribution to this Union.

It presently sends water and electricity, free of charge, to keep England going.

Revenues from the profits of businesses in Wales are paid to the UK exchequer.

In recent history Wales was an industrial powerhouse. Huge profits were made from mining, slate and iron and steel from Wales.

Where are the great seats of learning, the hospitals and care homes paid for from these profits.

The universities of Wales were as a result of the contributions of the workers, the public.

The hospitals and medical care are the result of the NHS, the contributions of the people and before that by religious and charitable organizations.

The care homes are run by private enterprises.

The benefits from these vast  profits don't seem to have found their way to the Welsh part of the Union. 

Although Wales is suffering the consequence, in long term health problems and a polluted environment.

This is not the result of Independence, but of being in the Union.

So. Those that enthusiastically bang the Unionist drum, would do well to remember that wrapping Wales in the Union Flag, only leads to getting smothered.