Wales is UNDEMOCRATIC

What is a democratic deficit? Is it Trinity mirror's way of saying we should not be reading about Welsh politics from an alternative view, we should only be reading Welsh politics through the monocle of Trinity mirror groups perception of Wales? Perhaps it is the BBC, that fair and just news outlet that covers items in such a balanced and considered way.

I mean, Labour and Plaid's policies in Wales are all about cod liver oil: 'take it it's good for you', why should we question our illustriuos leaders? They are only doing their job to provide a better future for us. Unfortunately their future seems to be rooted firmly in 1820.

References

Low Welsh media consumption creates “democratic deficit.” (2016). Retrieved April 28, 2016, from http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-35984859

Eradication of English Medium Education in Wales

Back in 2011 Carmarthenshire closed Ysgol y Gwendraeth and merged it with a Welsh medium school and so opened Maes y Gwendraeth. Many people were affected and articles were written in the local press to complain about the merger.

Now we read about another example of the policy to eradicate English medium education in Carmarthenshire. Glasnost (2016) has written a piece comparing the policy to George Orwell's 1984 and the overly burdensome state interfering in all that we do. Parents are once again complaining about the intolerant policy of coercion.

Why would Carmarthenshire want to close one school and open a Welsh medium school only? It is simply down to Labour's policy to increase the number of people that speak and use Cymraeg. There is absolutely NO mandate for this policy. How many people actually vote for Labour? 16% of the population according to one commenter. In the last election, only 41.8% of people actually turned out to vote for anyone. Yet Labour pursues its' devastatingly damaging policies with nowhere near a majority.

In this election, the collusion between Plaid and Labour is evident here

The parties are so concerned that an alternative view exists to their coercive oppressive hegemony they collude to extinguish the hope of dissenting voters.

I watch with eager anticipation at the result of the election and I hope for a new voice to be heard across Wales. Labour's complacency has for far too long been left unchecked. It is time for those with an alternative opinion to be heard. But not just heard, to be treated fairly and to be given back the freedom to choose a language to learn, if bilingualism is the panacea for all ills Labour would have us believe it is. Children and families need to be able to choose the path that is best for them. If a child is great at languages then let them explore this field in a class with like-minded individuals. However, if they are great at art or coding let them freely explore that area unhindered. After all, with the prevalence of MOOCs and online courses and training, parents and children will opt out of formal coerced education in favour of a tailored suite of instruction sensitive to the needs of the individual. Time is up for Labour's hollow folly.

End Cymraeg coercion.

Updating this story: (May 2016)

Dalling, R. (2016, April 27). Llangennech parents unanimously vote against controversial Welsh-medium school plans. Retrieved May 3, 2016, from http://www.llanellistar.co.uk/Llangennech-parents-unanimously-vote/story-29186401-detail/story.html

There is also a very interesting blog on this issue:

Keep Llangennech Primary Dual Stream. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2016, from https://keepllangennechprimarydualstream.wordpress.com/

Update May 24th

Journal, C. (2016). Plans to make Llangennech a Welsh school passes first stage despite parents' protests. South Wales Evening Post. Retrieved 24 May 2016, from http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Plans-make-Llangennech-Welsh-school-passes-stage/story-29308869-detail/story.html


References

1984 for real: Death of English Medium Education for primary school pupils in Wales | Glasnost. (2016). Retrieved April 25, 2016, from http://www.glasnost.org.uk/2016/04/1984-for-real-death-of-english-medium-education-for-primary-school-pupils-in-wales/

Dalling, R. (2016, April 27). Llangennech parents unanimously vote against controversial Welsh-medium school plans. Retrieved May 3, 2016, from http://www.llanellistar.co.uk/Llangennech-parents-unanimously-vote/story-29186401-detail/story.html

Keep Llangennech Primary Dual Stream. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2016, from https://keepllangennechprimarydualstream.wordpress.com/

Shipton, M. (2016). 10 days to go: The latest polling on the battle for the Assembly. walesonline. Retrieved 25 April 2016, from http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/what-latest-polling-shows-battle-11237413

South Wales Evening Post: discussion by Penyfai. (2011). Retrieved April 25, 2016, from http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/discussions/Carmarthenshire-County-Council-want-eradicate-EM/discussion-13871749-detail/discussion.html

Watch as parents launch protest over plans to make Llangennech Welsh medium primary school. (2016, February 23). Retrieved April 25, 2016, from http://www.llanellistar.co.uk/Parents-launch-protest-plans-make-Llangennech/story-28792826-detail/story.html

Welsh Assembly elections turnout rates | 1999-2011. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2016, fromhttp://www.statista.com/statistics/284390/welsh-assembly-elections-turnout-rates/

Coding in Welsh Schools

Will Wales enter the 21st Century 16, 17, 18, 19 years later than most? Welsh Labour has finally included a reference to a new curriculum that incorporates 21st C skills, but, has not set a date for its inclusion or its effectiveness unlike its target for Cymraeg.

Labours says it will:

• Develop a new Curriculum for Wales
• Develop a new system of accredited Initial Teacher Education and Training
• Work towards establishing teaching as an all-Masters profession
• Support the rollout of digital competence in our schools and develop coding skills in our young people

Do you trust them to enact these priorities?

I know which I would prefer my children to learn, but will I have a choice? 

When will "you can take a horse to water, but you can not make him drink" dawn on Welsh Labour?

Reference

Coding skills in schools to exploit the digital economy

Coding skills in schools to exploit the digital economy. (2016). Welsh Labour Manifesto. Retrieved 24 April 2016, from http://www.togetherfor.wales/coding_skill

I think Wales needs a new ###### (censored)

So, the UK including Wales is 38th, yes 38th, for freedom of the press! Lithuania, Chile and Ghana all have more freedom of press in their nations than the UK. South Africa is 39th and Tonga is 37th.

The criteria for arriving at this ranking is described here http://rsf.org/en/detailed-methodology

I wonder if Wales would be even further down the scale if it was analysed on its own since the majority of the press in Wales is owned and operated by
Trinity Mirror PLC which operates

1. The Daily Post
2. Western Mail 
3. South Wales Echo 
4. South Wales Evening Post
5. Wales on Sunday

and nationally

1. The Daily Mirror / The Sunday Mirror
2. Daily Record / Sunday Mail
3. The People
4. The New Day

It is no wonder that the electorate in Wales disengaged from the political process when the press, well Trinity Mirror PLC, sustains the status quo and props up a failing Labour dictatorship. 

38th in freedom of press ranking, I posit Wales would be 58th.

References

Classement de la liberté de la presse 2016 | RSF

Classement de la liberté de la presse 2016 | RSF. (2016). RSF. Retrieved 24 April 2016, from http://rsf.org/en/ranking_table

Who stands up for a better foundation?

Discussion here

http://walesopinionslive.freeforums.org/post19027.html?hilit=anthem#p19027

http://walesopinionslive.freeforums.org/post18884.html?hilit=anthem#p18884

Wales is not a soup kitchen

Dragons to be made illegal