Stormont Assembly Elections 2017

[vallankumous]

I know of no catholic nationalists that live in republican areas that voted unionists political parties...

If NI people did vote based on jobs economics health education welfare then we'd have a different leading party at Stormont... all I heard from this election was stop the nationalists from getting power and equality and corruption from the others. Not once did I hear about jobs education etc etc

Yes, catholics in the north tend to be Nationalist and/or Republican. Of course they didn't vote for Unionist parties when there are options between Nationalist and/or Republican parties.
That's not sectarian.


It's no different than left or right. I know no left wingers that vote FG as they are left wing. They vote for Lab/SF/ Socialist?PBP etc. Working class people tend to vote left and middle class tend to vote right. These are ligitimate political positions. Now, if working class people tended to be old and middle class people tended to be yong pundits would call it an agism vote even though it's not.

[vallankumous]

I would say it is the same thing in their eyes.

That's were we disagree.

Unionist nowadays like FG & the Tories have always, have no fear of Catholicism. They have a fear of Republicanism.

[seafoid]

I know of no catholic nationalists that live in republican areas that voted unionists political parties...

If NI people did vote based on jobs economics health education welfare then we'd have a different leading party at Stormont... all I heard from this election was stop the nationalists from getting power and equality and corruption from the others. Not once did I hear about jobs education etc etc

Yes, catholics in the north tend to be Nationalist and/or Republican. Of course they didn't vote for Unionist parties when there are options between Nationalist and/or Republican parties.
That's not sectarian.


It's no different than left or right. I know no left wingers that never vote FG as they are left wing. They vote for Lab/SF/ Socialist?PBP etc. Working class people tend to vote left and middle class tend to vote right. These are ligitimate political positions. Now, if working class people tended to be old and middle class people tended to be yong pundits would call it an agism vote even though it's not.

If it wasn't sectarian, right wing catholics and right wing Protestants would vote for the same party.

[vallankumous]

If it wasn't sectarian, right wing catholics and right wing Protestants would vote for the same party.

Why would a right wing Catholic Unionist vote for a Republican Party?
Or, why would a right wing Protestant Republican vote for a Unionist party?

I accept that Republicanism and Unionism are the major factors in deciding whether to vote Republican or Unionist. I do not accept voting Republicanism as an attack on protestantism is a factor.

[Milltown Row2]

I know of no catholic nationalists that live in republican areas that voted unionists political parties...

If NI people did vote based on jobs economics health education welfare then we'd have a different leading party at Stormont... all I heard from this election was stop the nationalists from getting power and equality and corruption from the others. Not once did I hear about jobs education etc etc

Yes, catholics in the north tend to be Nationalist and/or Republican. Of course they didn't vote for Unionist parties when there are options between Nationalist and/or Republican parties.
That's not sectarian.


It's no different than left or right. I know no left wingers that vote FG as they are left wing. They vote for Lab/SF/ Socialist?PBP etc. Working class people tend to vote left and middle class tend to vote right. These are ligitimate political positions. Now, if working class people tended to be old and middle class people tended to be yong pundits would call it an agism vote even though it's not.

Before the shinners got into politics there was only one nationalist party and a few independents who were Catholics, even then they didn't vote unionists parties...

you can dress it up any way you want but voting is based on religious lines so in essence it becomes a sectarian head count... and I don't mean sectarian in a bad way just themons and usses

[vallankumous]

Before the shinners got into politics there was only one nationalist party and a few independents who were Catholics, even then they didn't vote unionists parties...

you can dress it up any way you want but voting is based on religious lines so in essence it becomes a sectarian head count... and I don't mean sectarian in a bad way just themons and usses

Yes, as most Catholics are Nationalist and as I'm at pains to get across, Nationalists do not vote Unionists as they are the opposites. Why is that difficult?

There is no good way to call something sectarian.

It seems to me that some people seem to lose the concept of political norms as soon as you through in an extra issue.

[imtommygunn]

I would say it is the same thing in their eyes.

That's were we disagree.

Unionist nowadays like FG & the Tories have always, have no fear of Catholicism. They have a fear of Republicanism.

I would strongly disagree where the dup are concerned. They have a strong fear and that is what their rhetoric is based on. Nationalists and catholics would be synonymous in their eyes from anything i can see.

I can't remember the exact thing they said to sdlp the other year but i remember thinking how little these guys have moved on at all.

Not sure how you don't see this to be honest.

[vallankumous]

I would strongly disagree where the dup are concerned. They have a strong fear and that is what their rhetoric is based on. Nationalists and catholics would be synonymous in their eyes from anything i can see.

I can't remember the exact thing they said to sdlp the other year but i remember thinking how little these guys have moved on at all.

Not sure how you don't see this to be honest.

I have more faith in Unionism and the electorate. I know how politicians can sometimes lower themselves to the lowest common denominator and the DUP do this often but I also believe that most unionists and protestants do not choose to vote on that and see through it as I do.

[Avondhu star]

I would strongly disagree where the dup are concerned. They have a strong fear and that is what their rhetoric is based on. Nationalists and catholics would be synonymous in their eyes from anything i can see.

I can't remember the exact thing they said to sdlp the other year but i remember thinking how little these guys have moved on at all.

Not sure how you don't see this to be honest.

I have more faith in Unionism and the electorate. I know how politicians can sometimes lower themselves to the lowest common denominator and the DUP do this often but I also believe that most unionists and protestants do not choose to vote on that and see through it as I do.

How much Dutch Gold have you had today? You better get home before Mammy comes looking for you.

[Take Your Points]

Does anyone know the number of MLAs needed for a party to be included in the D'Hondt allocation of the ministries?

[imtommygunn]

I would strongly disagree where the dup are concerned. They have a strong fear and that is what their rhetoric is based on. Nationalists and catholics would be synonymous in their eyes from anything i can see.

I can't remember the exact thing they said to sdlp the other year but i remember thinking how little these guys have moved on at all.

Not sure how you don't see this to be honest.

I have more faith in Unionism and the electorate. I know how politicians can sometimes lower themselves to the lowest common denominator and the DUP do this often but I also believe that most unionists and protestants do not choose to vote on that and see through it as I do.

I have no doubt not all do but unfortunately quite a few would. If they didn't then why would they have to lower themselves to the lowest common denominator?

The way the dup have lowered themselves this last while the mind really boggles as to why any right thinking person would vote for them.

Not all unionism is the same brand as the dup so i don't equate what they stand for to what all unionists stand for.

[red hander]

It is no coincidence that SF's increase in votes came when they stood up to the Dup and collapsed Stormont. Most Sinn Fein voters don't believe that NI should exist let alone that republicans should take a part in ruling it. Their vote was shredding previously as their voters were sickened by them constantly being treated with contempt by unionists, accepting insults and arrogance whilst turing the other cheek. Only when they grew a pair and stood up to the arrogance did they reverse the trend of a shrinking nat/rep vote. IMO their role is to demonstrate that NI is ungovernable and is an unsustainable entity. Pity it took the Dup to, unwittingly in their arrogance, demonstrate it for them.

If they roll over post this election I forecast that they will kiss goodbye to the gains made now at any futture elections.

That's it in a nutshell.

+2

[vallankumous]

How much Dutch Gold have you had today? You better get home before Mammy comes looking for you.

Here was me enjoying a decent discussion.

I have no doubt not all do but unfortunately quite a few would. If they didn't then why would they have to lower themselves to the lowest common denominator?

The way the dup have lowered themselves this last while the mind really boggles as to why any right thinking person would vote for them.

Not all unionism is the same brand as the dup so i don't equate what they stand for to what all unionists stand for.

My issue is with it being referred to a sectarian head count and in so casting a massive shadow over the good people of the north who deserve better.

I know that if I called someone sectarian they would be insulted and deny it genuinely. Yet, it gets bandied about without question when applied to voters (people) in the north. I have major issue with that.

Anyone who voted SF or DUP are being described as sectarian. There are many posters on here who probably did vote SF. I honestly believe tey did not do that with a sectarian motive. I think they did it for political motives. Nationalism, Republicanism, United Ireland, Corruption, Irish Language, LGBT stance etc. Not one of them will say they voted SF because SF are catholic. Not one will say they didn't vote UUP because UUP are protestant. I believe that and I also believe it of Unionist voters.

I didn't vote but I would have voted SF. And I'm sick of people like the UUP the SDLP and RTE claiming it would have been for sectarian reasons.
I would say that all the posters on here that voted SF, when they hear it being described as a sectarian vote, think - Well it is but it's not me they're talking about it's some voters somewhere else that voted SF. I say it is you they are talking about and they are wrong.

[Eamonnca1]

No one including Sinn Fein have made the good economic case for a United Ireland.

Au contraire:

http://www.irishexaminer.com/business/united-irish-economy-could-deliver-boost-of-36bn-388959.html

[OgraAnDun]

If the north of Ireland was not split into Catholic and Protestant areas, with Catholic and Protestant schools, sports organisations, etc, then it wouldn't be called a sectarian headcount. But Catholics almost exclusively vote nationalist because they are brought up in an inter-meshed catholic/nationalist identity and way of life (and vice versa for protestants). The day that Catholic does not almost definitely mean nationalist, and likewise for protestant/unionist, will be the day you can say it's not a sectarian headcount.