tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post7487278909611852613..comments2024-03-28T17:44:07.653+00:00Comments on TPQ: Unionism Needs To Form A Single PartyAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00559413440743290550noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-7676748062241868552017-03-10T15:44:13.372+00:002017-03-10T15:44:13.372+00:00I know what the bould HJ can be like on an off day...I know what the bould HJ can be like on an off day LOLAMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00559413440743290550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-71046550238443753482017-03-10T09:58:10.731+00:002017-03-10T09:58:10.731+00:00There's a Francie Brady in each of us ... curr...There's a Francie Brady in each of us ... currently you're just meeting 'HJ the not so bad bastard' ^_^<br /><br />Totally agree with your comments on critical thinking AM.<br />If the 'Quill' were to become a mere echo-chamber it'd be time to say goodbye!Henry JoYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04161613445053833181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-1838340420150256392017-03-10T08:51:35.183+00:002017-03-10T08:51:35.183+00:00you all must be on the drink or something - being ...you all must be on the drink or something - being so generous to me!<br /><br />Critical thinking is a social exercise. We draw on the strengths of each otherAMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00559413440743290550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-20178631897583273082017-03-09T22:38:21.425+00:002017-03-09T22:38:21.425+00:00HJ/AM,
Thanks, and I agree HJ, Anthony is someone...HJ/AM,<br /><br />Thanks, and I agree HJ, Anthony is someone with considerable testicular fortitude!Steve Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670990166576346966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-43577284095920976932017-03-09T17:56:40.038+00:002017-03-09T17:56:40.038+00:00Niall,
agree about the excitement but best not to...Niall,<br /><br />agree about the excitement but best not to get caught up in our own hype. I remember talking to a guy in jail when I was in the cages and I made the point to him that Denis Faul had made: when the numbers on the blanket reach 500, that will be one in ever five Northern Catholics on the protest. He looked at me and said "what about the 499 that are not?" <br /><br />I AMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00559413440743290550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-9816773267923276272017-03-09T17:51:29.664+00:002017-03-09T17:51:29.664+00:00Steve R,
the part about no UI has been something ...Steve R,<br /><br />the part about no UI has been something I have thought and openly discussed for quite some time.<br /><br />The part about not being taxed - passing of time, my misgivings about all forms of nationalism and while I retain a strong preference for it over unionism, I don't believe in obligatory nationalism any more than I do in obligatory Catholicism; a view that it is not AMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00559413440743290550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-67543526216675887812017-03-09T11:24:01.615+00:002017-03-09T11:24:01.615+00:00Steve,
well said, respect for doing your best to ...Steve,<br /><br />well said, respect for doing your best to overcome you confirmation biases and to see things for what they are rather than how one might like them to be. In the outworking of our histories, in the outworkings of what's been conditioned in we need to bring a painful honesty and a burdensome pragmatism to our considerations. Those are the challenges which continually face us.Henry JoYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04161613445053833181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-14706955883385796032017-03-09T10:13:42.754+00:002017-03-09T10:13:42.754+00:00AM,
Ah you're right of course....we do tend to...AM,<br />Ah you're right of course....we do tend to get caught up in the excitement...I was talking to a fella the other day who hadn't voted in years and said something interesting,<br />Foster is now publicly portraying herself in as nice a face as possible, DUP affable and conciliatory in the meetings and using all the right cliches to imply that she adn the DUP are co-operating as Niallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06013400649117430986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-43597894982390264492017-03-08T22:46:04.329+00:002017-03-08T22:46:04.329+00:00Niall,
I was talking about that very thing this e...Niall,<br /><br />I was talking about that very thing this evening on the way back from Dublin. Many of them did throw their vote back in. More fool them. One of the reasons that SF imploded any semblance of republicanism is that many in Tyrone facilitated them. Michelle is not there because she might oppose she is there because she won't. I wish people with years of experience would get awayAMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00559413440743290550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-77818868837930065922017-03-08T22:30:06.824+00:002017-03-08T22:30:06.824+00:00When it comes down to it this is still an election...When it comes down to it this is still an election in a British frame, put in context this is Sinn Fein celebrating an electoral improvement within NI. This is not a border poll.<br /><br />One thing that is for sure is that Unionism is now spooked as it's hegemony is no longer, one wonders what the outcome of another election would show.<br /><br />But speaking hypothetically about a UI via Steve Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670990166576346966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-77273260107439458402017-03-08T21:43:13.506+00:002017-03-08T21:43:13.506+00:00AM,
Much to my surprise quite a lot of Republican...AM,<br /> Much to my surprise quite a lot of Republicans that I know who left the mothership threw their vote back in behind them again as they felt a change coming from grass roots in this election and such was the turnout. The public change of leadership to O'Neill was one reason and it has been made very clear to her what is expected. She is answerable to her grass roots irrespective whoNiallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06013400649117430986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-38899675811689303662017-03-08T20:12:22.414+00:002017-03-08T20:12:22.414+00:00HJ
I think the UK will do well enough out of Brexi...HJ<br />I think the UK will do well enough out of Brexit. The govt has already said that subsidies from Europe will be continued using the monies saved from the annual contribution. We will see soon enough if they keep to their word. I don't think the Scots will go for another ref, I think there will be a devomax fudge there. And as I said above the south can't afford the north without a Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15027470398152153427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-43967605899532314832017-03-08T17:35:33.260+00:002017-03-08T17:35:33.260+00:00Niall,
we know with a great deal of certainty wha...Niall,<br /><br />we know with a great deal of certainty what way unionism will go and wish being father to the thought will not change that. It is nationalism that we can be much less certain about. Sinn Fein don't represent a major push towards a united Ireland but a lowest common denominator against unionist bigotry and which is much more hostile to unionism than it is to Britain. After AMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00559413440743290550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-73063357692914247222017-03-08T12:38:15.659+00:002017-03-08T12:38:15.659+00:00Peter I am a southern citizen and I certainly do w...Peter I am a southern citizen and I certainly do want a reunified Ireland including all the children of Ireland Catholic Protestant and the dissenter and especially those who identify as Unionist or loyalist for the same reason as the three colors in our flag because you were always seen as a part of the vision of a Unified Ireland. We are all part of shared history on this island and together wePatrick Mooneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01912745948523790308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-71882147400593235642017-03-08T11:07:03.762+00:002017-03-08T11:07:03.762+00:00Peter,
is it possible, in the midst of all the un...Peter,<br /><br />is it possible, in the midst of all the uncertainty around Brexit, that some sort of unification may be closer than many of us may have anticipated or even wanted?<br /><br />Is it possible that the Union will hold regardless of circumstances? Is it probable its going to hold if the Scots get their tails up? Is it probable that the Ulster farmer is going to give up the 75% of Henry JoYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04161613445053833181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-11304940062523878562017-03-08T10:56:56.307+00:002017-03-08T10:56:56.307+00:00Peter,
I wasn't referring to you personally as...Peter,<br />I wasn't referring to you personally as I know you wouldn't think of lifting a weapon just a you did during the conflict in the back of your UDR landrover. No, 'You' was in reference to Unionists in general. <br />You're correct, the Southerners aren't that fond of Unionists but with unification comes the baggage and not all of it of the asset variety, there Niallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06013400649117430986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-50177573053468019662017-03-08T10:56:53.010+00:002017-03-08T10:56:53.010+00:00Larry
The NHS being ran into the ground? Now that ...Larry<br />The NHS being ran into the ground? Now that is just silly. Spending has increased year on year for the last decade or more. The NHS is much superior to the system in the south and the thought of having to pay for a GP appointment is a serious turn off for anyone voting in a border poll. If a border poll was to happen and the people of both countries are forced to confront the cost and Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15027470398152153427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-44337602824347398632017-03-08T07:29:15.562+00:002017-03-08T07:29:15.562+00:00Niall
Germany is a powerhouse because it manipulat...Niall<br />Germany is a powerhouse because it manipulated the Euro to its massive advantage. Google it. It was also extremely rich at the time of unification. The RoI has a massive debt and cannot afford unification without a lot of help and guarantees. You say the English don't want us? I don't think the southerners are mad keen on us either. Also I don't like your pronoun "you&Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15027470398152153427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-64676995100807551612017-03-07T23:29:21.138+00:002017-03-07T23:29:21.138+00:00Peter,
is it possible, in the midst of all the un...Peter,<br /><br />is it possible, in the midst of all the uncertainty around Brexit, that some sort of unification may be closer than many of us may have anticipated or even wanted?<br /><br />Is it possible that the Union will hold regardless of circumstances? Is it going to hold if the Scots get theirs tails up? Is it probable that the Ulster farmer is going to give up the 75% of income that Henry JoYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04161613445053833181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-72867496062009299352017-03-07T21:43:05.314+00:002017-03-07T21:43:05.314+00:00Peter
You have mentioned the NHS twice recently a...Peter<br /><br />You have mentioned the NHS twice recently as an asset in the 6 counties compared to the 26. This is silly. Unemployed and low income families / people here have a medical card which covers all treatment. The NHS is being deliberately ran into the ground in the UK in preparation for being privatised by the Tory party which I believe you also said given a binary choice between it larry hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09837849309156970989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-24629166272406752112017-03-07T21:22:33.700+00:002017-03-07T21:22:33.700+00:00Given the level of MI6 and MI5 penetration of the ...Given the level of MI6 and MI5 penetration of the Republics Government in the South, a UI just seems like more of the same to me!!Steve Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670990166576346966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-90931030242861794552017-03-07T20:34:58.014+00:002017-03-07T20:34:58.014+00:00Peter,
Interesting comparison that of Germany....I...Peter,<br />Interesting comparison that of Germany....I disagree with your economic analysis of the economic impact of unification....but, if you are correct, they still went ahead and Germany today is an economic power house....the cost didn't put them off and I'm sure it won't here either.<br />Funny that you mention the threat of violence...yesterday's Democrat is tomorrow'Niallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06013400649117430986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-57968777377952844052017-03-07T20:25:53.522+00:002017-03-07T20:25:53.522+00:00You can dig deep in any argument and appear to hav...You can dig deep in any argument and appear to have made a conclusive reasoning to support your view be it pro Union or pro Unification but the momentum is traveling towards an "agreed" Unification, the clauses of which we will debate as the defeat of Republicanism and Unionism equally.<br /><br />Let's watch some history repeat itself when many of the Protestant asscendancy as in Patrick Mooneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01912745948523790308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-64242276284479785482017-03-07T15:27:05.964+00:002017-03-07T15:27:05.964+00:00Peter
I think there is a bit of a paper tiger whe...Peter<br /><br />I think there is a bit of a paper tiger where unionism is concerned.larry hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09837849309156970989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807238897188927967.post-47421656758163239302017-03-07T09:33:02.960+00:002017-03-07T09:33:02.960+00:00Larry
There isn't going to be a UI and if ther...Larry<br />There isn't going to be a UI and if there is it will be the biggest fudge in history. Unification nearly bankrupted Germany, who's going to pay for the North, the lost jobs, the restructuring, benefits, the NHS? Are the Southerners willing to pay for all this? To take on our share of the national debt? Are they willing to fight against any insurgency? I've said on here manyPeterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15027470398152153427noreply@blogger.com