Stormont Assembly Elections 2017

[Take Your Points]

Arlene is hilarious

"It would lead to the sort of #sectarian abuse of power# that has been seen wherever Sinn Fein have been able to do so from the removal of the Union Flag at City Hall, to the glorification of convicted terrorists to the Ministerial abuse of office which has been adjudicated upon by the courts."

Meanwhile...

"Winning 38 seats did not just mean there would be a unionist First Minister, it also meant that we would control the most government departments and have the best choice of those departments.
We used that strength to make sure that Northern Ireland had its first unionist Education Minister in almost 50 years, its first Agriculture Minister since the restoration of devolution, held the enormous and diverse Communities portfolio and retained responsibility for the economy."

Surely what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

She forgot that while she chose Education, Agriculture, Economy and Communities ministries she handed Finance to SF which was strange given that, when her ministers were flip flopping in and out of their posts, she had held onto the Finance ministry and previously said:

"If anybody knows me and indeed knows the Democratic Unionist Party they know that I'm not going to put at risk to the people of Northern Ireland the possibility that rogue Sinn Fein or renegade SDLP ministers are going to take decisions that will harm the community in Northern Ireland."

Did she not specifically say the "unionist community" ?

Here's the BBC article and video with Robinson and Foster making their statements:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34216421

Within a year, she handed the Finance portfolio to SF.

[Applesisapples]

A couple of points. The Adams remarks were framed in a ham fisted way that meant they could be misconstrued, typical of Adams scoring an own goal. Taken in context he was talking about unionist intrangience and a refusal to deal with nationalists on an equal basis. His remarks in that context less the swearing would not have been too far from the thoughts of many nationalists. Like wise Guildernews remarks apart from being crude in expression are on the money, Foster needs to learn humility and manners and O'Neill should be taking shite from her.

I have said ad nauseam that Unionists and voting Unionist in particular do not want equality, OWC can only exist on their terms and claims from the Stoops, Alliance, PbP, Greens etc that they will make a difference are nonsense, a vote for them dilutes the nationalist vote and puts Forster firmly in charge. Only when unionists accept that they must co-exist with the rest of us in equality can a vote for these smaller parties begin to make a difference.

[Take Your Points]

I have said ad nauseam that Unionists and voting Unionist in particular do not want equality, OWC can only exist on their terms and claims from the Stoops, Alliance, PbP, Greens etc that they will make a difference are nonsense, a vote for them dilutes the nationalist vote and puts Forster firmly in charge. Only when unionists accept that they must co-exist with the rest of us in equality can a vote for these smaller parties begin to make a difference.

And yet there is a majority of what is considered the non-unionist electorate that do not and never will vote for SF for a variety of reasons. The murder and mayhem pursued by the IRA until they eventually ground to a halt due to division and informers will always provide the unionist community with a reason not to work with non-unionist parties on the basis of trust.  Shaking hands with the Queen or going to a N.Ireland football match is all well and good but if you are the only one in your party doing these things and not pursuing this as a party policy to the extent of eventually transferring a vote or using your vote tactically in a constituency where your own party cannot win it is pointless and just a gesture.  SF voters are generally as much plumpers as any unionist, they won't even transfer a vote to any other non-unionist for fear of allowing any progress other than for their own party.

Just because the unionist opposition does not share your principles or vision does not mean you have to mirror their methods.  So long as everyone lives in their own silos believing all their own publicity and perpetuating their own myths about themums there never can be any progress towards normalisation of politics on the basis of left/right or socialist/conservative beliefs for the betterment of the people.  See US as a clear example of a large scale divided population and it reflects the N.Ireland silos in terms of the way in which parties and interest groups want to keep people divided.

[naka]

A couple of points. The Adams remarks were framed in a ham fisted way that meant they could be misconstrued, typical of Adams scoring an own goal. Taken in context he was talking about unionist intrangience and a refusal to deal with nationalists on an equal basis. His remarks in that context less the swearing would not have been too far from the thoughts of many nationalists. Like wise Guildernews remarks apart from being crude in expression are on the money, Foster needs to learn humility and manners and O'Neill should be taking shite from her.

I have said ad nauseam that Unionists and voting Unionist in particular do not want equality, OWC can only exist on their terms and claims from the Stoops, Alliance, PbP, Greens etc that they will make a difference are nonsense, a vote for them dilutes the nationalist vote and puts Forster firmly in charge. Only when unionists accept that they must co-exist with the rest of us in equality can a vote for these smaller parties begin to make a difference.

Spot on analysis

Not for me
Stormont has failed with the dup and the shinners in charge
Can't think of one decent piece of legislation brought in
I think it's a sad indictment of both major parties that their main policy is the get one over the other
I can understand why both my kids want to hell out of the shit hole we live in

[Main Street]

A couple of points. The Adams remarks were framed in a ham fisted way that meant they could be misconstrued, typical of Adams scoring an own goal. Taken in context he was talking about unionist intrangience and a refusal to deal with nationalists on an equal basis. His remarks in that context less the swearing would not have been too far from the thoughts of many nationalists. Like wise Guildernews remarks apart from being crude in expression are on the money, Foster needs to learn humility and manners and O'Neill should be taking shite from her.

I have said ad nauseam that Unionists and voting Unionist in particular do not want equality, OWC can only exist on their terms and claims from the Stoops, Alliance, PbP, Greens etc that they will make a difference are nonsense, a vote for them dilutes the nationalist vote and puts Forster firmly in charge. Only when unionists accept that they must co-exist with the rest of us in equality can a vote for these smaller parties begin to make a difference.

Spot on analysis

Not for me
Stormont has failed with the dup and the shinners in charge
Can't think of one decent piece of legislation brought in
I think it's a sad indictment of both major parties that their main policy is the get one over the other
I can understand why both my kids want to hell out of the shit hole we live in

Quite normal for Irish kids anywhere to want to get the hell out of Dodge as soon as they're released from the shackles of what passes for secondary education.
Could even be to do with below par parenting
Regardless, kids should travel. It only takes a day or two for a parent to get over it and appreciate the bonus effects.
Apples' analysis still stands.

[Milltown Row2]

So with that attitude we won't have a population in the North... plenty opportunities here for work, grass ain't always greener, yes money and career can be 100% better elsewhere, but family ties support network can be enough to keep people here...

[ONeill]

SF voters are generally as much plumpers as any unionist, they won't even transfer a vote to any other non-unionist for fear of allowing any progress other than for their own party.

I think that's an inaccurate analysis TYP.

[never kickt a ball]

Not for me
Stormont has failed with the dup and the shinners in charge
Can't think of one decent piece of legislation brought in
I think it's a sad indictment of both major parties that their main policy is the get one over the other
I can understand why both my kids want to hell out of the shit hole we live in
[/quote]


Let's list them: off the top of my head

Free prescriptions
Free bus pass at 60
Abolition of transfer test.............
RHI Scheme
Cutting the Assembly by 18 MLAs
Kerb crawling?

[Hereiam]

The biggest thing is the the brits are happy to let this continue as we r not killin each other so all is good in their eyes. In a way every thing is going to their master plan of
Keep them from killing each other
Keep the place from prospering less than the rest of the UK
Keep the civil service as the main employer.
Keep the Protestants as the main enforcer of law and order.
This is not going to change any time soon.

[Milltown Row2]

Not for me
Stormont has failed with the dup and the shinners in charge
Can't think of one decent piece of legislation brought in
I think it's a sad indictment of both major parties that their main policy is the get one over the other
I can understand why both my kids want to hell out of the shit hole we live in

Let's list them: off the top of my head

Free prescriptions
Free bus pass at 60
Abolition of transfer test.............
RHI Scheme
Cutting the Assembly by 18 MLAs
Kerb crawling?
[/quote]

Free prescription!! Joke maybe if people paid a standard payment we'd have more money for NHS and less people dependent on free drugs


Transfer test still going strong (thankfully)

Kerb crawling? So no prostitution?

Watched five minutes of Spotlight... what has 27 years of voting got me? Tit for tat politics, proper cringe

[naka]

Not for me
Stormont has failed with the dup and the shinners in charge
Can't think of one decent piece of legislation brought in
I think it's a sad indictment of both major parties that their main policy is the get one over the other
I can understand why both my kids want to hell out of the shit hole we live in

Let's list them: off the top of my head

Free prescriptions
Free bus pass at 60
Abolition of transfer test.............
RHI Scheme
Cutting the Assembly by 18 MLAs
Kerb crawling?

[/quote]
Jeez after 25 years it's hardly a roll of honour
Transfer test( a shambles )
RBI scheme( a success if you are the dup)
Cutting the assembly was a necessity

I give you free travel
But I object to free prescriptions as the wealthiest should pay

For meafter 25 years
What about both sides articulating economic policies,tax policies, social healthcare or is that too much to expect
There are so many simple fixes,
But all I hear is RHI,Irish language, and don't let a Debian win

[naka]

Not for me
Stormont has failed with the dup and the shinners in charge
Can't think of one decent piece of legislation brought in
I think it's a sad indictment of both major parties that their main policy is the get one over the other
I can understand why both my kids want to hell out of the shit hole we live in

Let's list them: off the top of my head

Free prescriptions
Free bus pass at 60
Abolition of transfer test.............
RHI Scheme
Cutting the Assembly by 18 MLAs
Kerb crawling?

Jeez after 25 years it's hardly a roll of honour
Transfer test( a shambles )
RBI scheme( a success if you are the dup)
Cutting the assembly was a necessity

I give you free travel and the plastic bags legislation
But I object to free prescriptions as the wealthiest should pay

For me after 25 years
What about both major parties ( who after all are in partnership) articulating economic policies,tax policies, social healthcare provision, review of the health service or is that too much to expect
There are so many simple fixes,
But all I hear is RHI,Irish language, and don't let a Taig win
when you step back and look objectively at Stormont is it worth the hassle in its present form.
[/quote]

[Applesisapples]

I know someone pooh poohed it, but all the issues come down to Unionists failure to embrace change, to cling to outdated notions of British superiority and a denial of equality. For example on education their insistence on testing at 11 despite the detrimental effect on their own voters. Obsession over flags etc... Nothing will change until that all changes.

[AhNowRef]

I know someone pooh poohed it, but all the issues come down to Unionists failure to embrace change, to cling to outdated notions of British superiority and a denial of equality. For example on education their insistence on testing at 11 despite the detrimental effect on their own voters. Obsession over flags etc... Nothing will change until that all changes.

Yep, its abundantly clear when the DUPers keep harping on about Gerry Adams' trojan horse of "Equality" ..... Its not really Adams' wording at all, which is what they try to pretend its about  ... its just equality itself ... they fear equality .. feckin disgraceful 

They've had it all their own way for so long that the very notion of equality disgusts & petrifies them .. A great deal of unionists simply want to go back to Stormont 1950 so thay can walk all over us again and keep the croppy down .. pathetic but unfortunately its true ..

Most Nationalists just want equality but vast swathes of unionism want domination ...   

[AhNowRef]

Big Bitter Arnie Fister needs to go for there to be any hope for the immediate future...  and the DUP in general would need to change tack..

Its disgusting that just because the aul bitch has been caught out (incompetent &/or Corrupt) she and the DUP are prepared to simply put the breaks on and drag the people backwards .... It really is the lowest common denominator .. f**king B**tards when you think about it 

To save their own skin and deflect away from the real issues they are making the place we live in much worse .. much more sectarian and tribal ... its pathetic...

And then ofcourse when you watch GB TV they dont point that out .. back to the old .. "ah sure both sides are as bad as eachother" ... no they're f**king NOT 

it would sicken yer shite  ...