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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.
TGR-
That melts my head. We have STV which is much better than the shite two party system that fptp brings. And YET.
(For Westminster yeah, the above applies)
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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.
Also newly formed 'reasonable' parties tend to get targeted by the other big parties before they can get enough traction.
JWestland
mmccarthy
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...