Peter Hain and Heledd Fychan, two sides of ...

... the same coin, and that coin is Political Wales.

I'm not a fan of Peter Hain, in fact there is little I like about him, except when he voices the opinions of the general public, the electorate, "le grand public".

And today he hit the button concerning the electoral system in Wales, in particular the recent debate about the "Alternative Vote" and "First Past The Post", I voted during the referendum for AV, but my neighbours voted for FPTP and won the contest, democracy in action, Hain believes our Assembly election method should be brought into line with the referendum outcome.

It seems that our electoral boundaries will change to accommodate the smaller number of MPs suggested by the government, 30 in total, the numbers are perfect when you considfer we have double the number of AMs, a total of 60.  So there is the option to have enlarged Assembly constituencies with two representatives, all elected using FPTP, I wonder why it hasn't been thought about before.

What would be the outcome if  Hain puts his point of view and the Secretary of State Cheryl Gillan agree, first it seems a further referendum would not be necessary, so changes to our future elections could happen in time for the next Assembly election.

Will there be opposition from the current batch at the Welsh Assembly, not enough, the Labour Party will undoubtedly be winners, but only as a reflection of how electorate vote, at the last election they would have commanded two thirds of the seats without a doubt, the Conservatives are far more comfortable with FPTP, so the proposal will get support from there, particularly if Hain can get cross party support at Westminster.  The other two will complain to the people of Wales, the Liberal Democrats are a lost cause in Wales, we preferred their radical Liberal traditions of the past, Peter Black can be radical but is constantly in the shadow of his leader, Plaid Cymru and its "Separatist Agenda" will return to the dark corners where the political destitute reside, probably to fade away during the next couple of generations, so no matter how vocal its support are they will not gain an inch.

And Heledd Fychan, the other face of Wales political coin, read her here, all I wanted was to take part in the conversation about S4C and £100 million of taxpayers funding ........ there are many others who might wish to contribute to those things that are important to society.

Update ....

After discovering that the Bethan Jenkins post at WalesHome had been published the same day on the Plaid Cymru website I left a further comment ...

July 14, 2011 at 10:01 am

Browsing the Plaid Cymru website I note the article in question was published in English and Welsh 11/07/2011 …
http://www.english.plaidcymru.org/the-slate/2011/07/11/a-revolution-needed-in-s4c/ for the English version,
http://www.plaidcymru.org/llechen/2011/07/11/angen-chwyldro-yn-s4c/ for the Cymraeg version
… the very same day it was published here.
I would be very surprised if Plaid Cymru had not published the contribution by Bethan Jenkins simultaneously in English and Welsh, it is not the way Plaid Cymru operates …

... and for a blast from a very real past, Julian Ruck.

The silent Welsh Assembly, a place set ...

... in a state of intellectual decline, so set in the politics of Keir Hardie that if a good idea bit a member on the arse there would be no reaction to the pain.  And yesterday an idea was put to the Assembly ...

Public Services can be reformed.

Naturally the left wing of Wales Politics, Labour and the "Separatist Agenda" (Plaid Cymru), are sufficiently aghast at the thought that out there in the real world that is Wales, there exists a pool of wonderful talent, a talent if set free from political control has no boundaries.

Unfortunately for the peoples of Wales we will not have the oportunity to establish free schools, or have a John Lewis Hospital, we will have the left wing dragging its knuckles along the political corridors in Cardiff Bay.

I think Julian Ruck has the rights of it when he writes ... "How frightfully embarrassing ... "

... solipsism and S4C, ...

... a common affliction of politicians, pressure groups, and those businesses that probably wouldn't exist without political patronage; solipsism is found amongst those who surround themselves with people especially selected to agree with them, in business we look for the best fitted for the job in hand, which brings me to S4C and a presentation that Iestyn garlick ...

... delivered at the Cyfrwng conference earlier this month, it is published here, ...

He presents a case for further taxpayer support of a failing organisation that has supported the many adventures of media luvvies who cultivated a lucrative niche amongst a minority with a political agenda.

The final paragraph of the presentation reads ...

...The BBC will no doubt offer a strategy that benefits both them and S4C. But any deal must also be beneficial to the Welsh language and culture, since protecting them is one of S4C’s core principles.

It is an admission that S4C is a manifestation of nationalist politics dressed up as entertainment, it has the sole aim of protecting a dying language from extinction and the image of pastoral Wales of the 18th century projected as culture.  The question is simple, why should we keep the clock of Wales turning backwards in a world that marches relentlessly forward.

When Julian Ruck writes ...

I’ve decided I’m going to become a recluse and learn the Welsh language – after all Welsh is the only language one can learn in order to speak with fewer people!

... he voices the opinion of many living in Wales.

Whereas Iestyn Garlick writes in conclusion ...

The financial and editorial independence of S4C is essential if there is any kind of future to broadcasting in the Welsh language.

... he really means "... the financial and editorial independence of S4C is essential if there is any kind of future for me and mine ... all large fish in a very small television pond, where viewers are few and far between we need taxpayers largess without public scrutiny.