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I genuinely love to read the general practice everyone in the North and South has to ensuring they mention they don't support SF... They also don't support any of the other parties, so... how do they keep getting in, no-one ever seems to vote for them.
Every main party in the North is either corrupt/extreme/ineffective, in the following categories
Corrupt: Sinn Féin, DUP
Extreme: Sinn Féin, DUP, TUV, UUP (Garvaghy Road is still fresh in some people's ninds)
Ineffective (via lack of strong policy): Alliance (unionist with small "u"), SDLP (nationalist with small "n" and link to Republic's FF)As much as many dislike Sinn Féin and the many valid reasons for disliking them, they've managed to pull in a slew of voters in ROI and NI, by simply keeping quiet or picking up on the anger of the general populace (who seem totally or willingly ignorant of worrying aspects of said party)
The solution to all this is going to be as complicated as the run up to 1998, but maybe saved by the lack of cult figures and a growing understanding on both sides that the UK couldn't give a fuck
And I think any of you with experience of NI understand that media etc still kowtow to Unionist politicians as if they've never had a roll in inciting violence, while their history of similar actions follows every Republican politician til their death. Everyone forgets David Trimble and his part in the facist Vanguard...
Murakami-
I agree, SF is very good at playing the long game & pretending they are progressive up north. Down south they are much more left, here, nah. But they do politics well.
And yep, not going to tell me the DUP is squeaky clean. At least Doug Beattie calls the LCC for what they are, drug dealers.
Best we can hope for is that there won't be too much bickering and riots and economic damage, Brexit is a shitshow that hits here early. Once GB has to do customs checks it's gonna be "fun".
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Perhaps the answer lies in the reasoning you mentioned. People who voted for SF or DUP still vote for them. Other people do not vote because of the lack of other options.
The other reason, which is more likely, is that the vote is based on either - vote for DUP to stop SF getting a seat or vote for SF to stop DUP getting a seat.
The lack of other ‘reasonable’ options is a headache and one which will not be cured in my lifetime, that is a pity. Perhaps future generations may have better options.
JWestland
TGR
Well what I see happen is:
DUP loses, TUV, UUP/Alliance gains.
SF gains. (not a fan of that lot TBH... but well, it is what it is)
Leaving a small DUP, and a group of parties that can sort work together.
And the TUV being a melt.
TUV will not work with SF, so there will be (even more) Stormont bickering. But it really is just a one man show, so what is Jim Allister going to do? He said he doesn't want to be in government with SF. Well...
You are right it is polarizing, but I also don't see it last.
They are just wasting so much useful time on it though... more bickering, more rallies/protests and perhaps a few more July riots, and all with f-all result anyway cos Boris don't care.
Well one look at Jim's angry red face is a hint about the TUV :P