Get ready for a Conservative/DUP coalition

How about not voting along sectarian lines or campaigning using fear tactics then we will really see democracy win.. But for now, nothing changes.

qwert_yuiop wrote: »

That's the bind we're in. IRA supporters or free Presbyterians. Is that representative of the population?

But how do we ever get out of that situation. Its depressing

CEON44 wrote: »

But how do we ever get out of that situation. Its depressing

We already are. In 5-15 years time nationalists/catholics will be in a majority of similar percentages (5-15%)
Depending on how Brexit goes will determine how quick the border poll comes along and the DUP etc know it. The DUP also know why we are getting out of the IRA/Sinn Fein Free Ps question as well.
The IRA decommissioned 12 years ago, now there are arguments about this and that and all sorts but the 18-24 year olds were 6-12 back then. 20 year olds voting now were born after the final ceasefire.
Thats why they appeal to the youth, even the latest batch of Sinn Fein politicians have little or no baggage (other than family connections). I know a lot of 40s unionist/protestant people who would vote Sinn Fein on their policies/manifestos if it wasnt for the fact most still remember the baggage from the first half of their life (maybe they do vote that way and dont say - I dont know).

Regarding the DUP, well its well known we all get more conservative/right wing as we get older, hence if you go to the polling stations late morning/mid afternoon you will see minibus loads of DUP supporters getting ferried in from various locations and nursing homes etc. Thats why I bet on Brexit, Ive never seen such a turnout and knew we were all doomed then ;-)
Thats why we have apparently polarised when in fact we are approaching left wing/right wing politics albeit in our own peculiar way. If it wasnt for Brexit we would probably see a normalisation of politics here in the next two elections.
Its primarily the Brexit debate which has reignited the border poll debate, something Id not heard tell of in years apart from hard core older republicans. Now its common talk in all age ranges and in all political left and centrist conversations. Its primarily not wanting to belong to a small isolated country run by morons (rather joining a smaller not so isolated country also run by morons, but not Tory ones).

The DUP did miss a trick with going for Brexit and putting it as a union thing, it could be argued they have singlehandly done more to destabilise the union and polarise opinion by going against what most people wanted (and again a lot of the vote here was influenced by political parties, if the DUP had voted in instead of out a sizeable amount of their core vote would have done the same). Of course they saw the pound signs...
The deal they do with the Tories now will speak volumes, will it appeal to the 'unionists' in them (lots of balls that means nothing outside of the 1.8million people here) or their current real core support of the older 50+ demographic. The 'new' queens speech will tell all. A lot of the older folk here are also reasonably wealthy (ex prison officers, ex-ruc, ex-whatever) on really good pensions (which makes up a lot of the block grant - so if you want to cut something...) and thats now their core support and the people who will respond quite well to fear so will be interesting to see if they do anything for them or see it as an opportunity to line their pockets (or get westminster to fund RHI and keep all those chickens warm!).

Interesting times but the polarisation does mark a change in politics even though it may not be obvious. Brexit and more importantly its aftermath will be key.

Why would it wreck our economy?

Average salary in the south is 50% higher. GDP is probably around 300% more.

Or do you mean the removal of the block grant would wreck our economy?

English parliament can remove that at anytime

The demographics suggest nationalists will have a majority in 8 years. It really is as simple as waiting for the "ones to die off".