jm08 wrote: » I seem to recall you saying that you are not an Irish citizen (though eligible to be through family ties, residency, British passport holder etc). If that is the case, maybe you should think twice about advising Irish people what their 'birthright' should be as seemingly you have not shown full commitment to the Irish State or its people and will not have a say in a referendum north or south.
Yeah_Right wrote: » You are willing to pay €5000 a year towards unification. Fair play. I assumed that you one of those nationalists that would shout about leprechauns and shamrocks for everyone but never put any skin in the game. I stand corrected. I don't think the country can afford to join with NI so I expect that they will have to bring in a Unification Tax. Temporarily of course :rolleyes: Would 5 grand from every adult in Ireland be enough? The reality is you have no idea how it will be paid for and you don't care what it will cost everyone. You just want your "birthright" of a united Ireland. Did you have a chance to find that "thorough response" you wrote previously? I'd love to read it. And I did laugh at "getting shirty". Such a quaint phrase. Very British.
gormdubhgorm wrote: » In theory yes. But if the poll is lost what will that do for SF etc another 7 year wait at least. Plus it is on the say so of the Sec of State in the GFA whether to call it. A poll will not be called if it is a tight call.
Junkyard Tom wrote: » Let's say a pro-UI vote passes, what then for the most belligerent Unionists? What would their demands be if they threatened to cause trouble? Be specific and remember Unionists are a minority in Derry, Belfast, Newry and four of the six counties. Have a go.
BonnieSituation wrote: » A successful border poll happens at 50% + 1. Soz.
jh79 wrote: » Never said everybody would live happily ever after. But for NI to remain British only 50 +1 % need to be happy. Same applies for a UI, there is no happily ever after for NI in either scenario.
FrancieBrady wrote: » Not the point I was making, but it certainly will be a factor, if those proposing a UI come up with an investment plan. I was laughing at the idea you put forward that with proper investment from Westminster everyone would live happily ever after. They haven't invested in decades, multiple decades...why would they begin now when NI has been used and cast aside like a low value chip in a poker game?
jh79 wrote: » Not what i meant. Francie was saying that the UK are investing less in NI and that in turn would lead to a yes vote. I'm saying they'll put up with that.
BonnieSituation wrote: » Oooh. Getting shirty today aren't we. You say you know how tax works and yet ask me how much I am "personally willing to pay"? So say I say, 5 grand a year right? Is that enough? I dunno. Maybe only €500 would do? I dunno. Hmmmm... how would we ever work this out? So is this spread amongst general taxation or would you expect a line on your payslip that says "United Ireland cash"? Such a disingenuous level of discussion. You'd think as "New Ulster" man yourself you'd have a bit more affinity to the place. That you don't get why Irish nationalists would approach reunification in a more wholesome way rather than in a solely transactional approach, really is not something we can help you with at this stage.
gormdubhgorm wrote: » Yeah taking all the emotion out of it I just don't think a UI is worth it. Now I understand how emotive it is for those on both sides who have needlessly lost lives. All over a small patch of land that was successfully planted over 400 years ago when a few other lads fecked off and holidayed in continental Europe. I certainly would not be one of those to shout your 'sterling is no use down here' or 'what's it like to have a queen' at the minority who view themselves in a occupied territory. But at the same token I respect the fact that the majority of NI view themselves as British. However, I do believe that things like 'a nation once again' is a complete misnomer it never was a whole sovereign nation. I don't accept this UI birthright myth. It is what the whole thing seems to come down to in the minds of Republicans. Plus I believe if there was a UI it would drag the ROI down to NI's level. A murky world of constant half truths, one-upmanship, and lots of triumphalist flag waving and OTT symbolism. Constant hassle, constant tension. As well as economic costs it will be inviting a murky world into the ROI. In a nutshell it would lower the tone of the neighbourhood. No thanks. I believe it will have to reach 60/40 for any successful border poll though. To be sure, to be sure. Unlikely to happen before Mayo wins Sam again is my guess.
Junkyard Tom wrote: » How long before English Nationalist Tories start saying 'Northern Ireland decided to stay in the EU, why should we underwrite it'? I mean it doesn't have to be true at all in England, they just need to get the Telegraph and Mail parroting it and there'd be no electoral consequences.
FrancieBrady wrote: » The Scottish Ref went ahead when it was politically expedient for Westminster to allow it. It will be same here, polls will have little to do with it.
eire4 wrote: » the UK is still willing to keep up paying the money to prop up Stormont..
Junkyard Tom wrote: » '£100,000,000 a week for the NHS: get rid of NI' would look good on the side of a bus.
jh79 wrote: » Maybe you're underestimating how belligerent they are?
jh79 wrote: » Do you really need an explanation on how the true cost of something is relative to overall wealth?
downcow wrote: » Why would you have a yarn about something you 100% don’t want and will likely never happen. It would be like asking republicans to have a good yarn about removing all funding from Irish language.
jh79 wrote: » On i dunno maybe a sectarian terrorist org to surrender and their political wing to get comfortable on their salaries and pensions?
jh79 wrote: » And? That only increases what we have to put in. You're fond of the term belligerent unionism. Maybe you're underestimating how belligerent they are?
jh79 wrote: » Based on tarot cards or tea leaves ! A feeling in their waters! Jaysus Francie, Red C polls and the like will decide wether it goes ahead.
FrancieBrady wrote: » They're pulling money out of NI. Come back to the real world JH.
FrancieBrady wrote: » Or a SoS could do it for political expediency and say, 'I think it willl pass'. Which is the likely outcome IMO.
BloodyBill wrote: » This thread has gone where it aas always bound to go, nowhere. There is no unification on the horizon. There might never be. Its not in the wider public consciousness no matter how much Sinn Fein want it to be.
jh79 wrote: » Our GDP is 330 bn for 4 million. NI is in the 30's about 10 to 15% of that for 2 million. It should be about half of the republics That's a huge amount of inward investment to get NI at an appropriate level.
jh79 wrote: » Which means in practical terms opinion polls showing a majority at least above the margin of error.
FrancieBrady wrote: » Could you do that for a UI? Cool.
FrancieBrady wrote: » If 'in the opinion of a SoS it is likely to pass'.