Speaking of democracy – the Democratic Unionist Party has it in their title – is democracy dovetailing nicely with politics? Well, not really. The average CEO in the US these days earns – or should I say is handed? – some 400 times the salary enjoyed by the average worker in his/her firm. So you might claim to be a democrat, yet show little sense of it in your working life.
Which brings us back to the DUP. This week the DUP will vote against the Windsor Framework and against the Stormont Brake. These two constructions would ease the people of NEI further out on the ledge of House Union, they claim.
So is that not their democratic right? Well, you might say it is. But consider this: the USA, the EU, the British government, the Dublin government are all in favour of the Windsor F and the Stormont B. And this morning, that venerable organ The Irish News publishes some interesting poll figures.
These figures show that 45% of the people of NEI support the Windsor Framework, while those opposed show up as just 16.9% .That’s a pretty thumping majority in NEI opposed to the way the DUP will vote in Westminster. In fact, the DUP don’t even reflect the views of the unionist population in NEI.
So why did Jeffrey take his party down this lonely boreen? Because he fears for the Union. There’d need to be a border poll won by republicans and nationalists before that Union can change. But the DUP backwoodspersons see any such agreement as the Windsor F and the Stormont B as nudging them ever closer to the abyss.
But here’s the thing: where are the DUP planning to go, when they opt to prevent unionism returning to Stormont? Well, they could show a dogged,in-the-trenches determination not to allow Sinn Féin to move into the Executive with the ‘First Minister’ label attached to Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill. And then?
Well I suppose then they’ll wait and hope the wind changes. That the overwhelming majority of its opponents will dwindle and fade. Mmm. Some hope. More likely is that the DUP supporters, as health, education and the economy head for hell in a hand-cart, will turn their faces away from this Party of Negativity and freshen up the appetite for a border poll. Tough news, Jeffrey. People get tired having their wishes and welfare ignored. Better to swallow hard and hold the door for the entrance of Michelle.
As that creature on Noland this morning says”the Union supercedes everything”. Had to say it four times, each time more stridently, until poor Steve ran out of words. One of the grass eaters or one of the 40,000 that the little corporal thinks is a fair price to pay for a ‘good’ brexit.
Very good Jude
Watch your language, young man!
You say “the USA, the EU, the British government, the Dublin government.” Should that not be the Londone government and the Dublin government? Or the British government and the Irish government?
If I recall correctly, this “Dublin government” thing was invented to disparage the Irish. Don’t fall into the terminology trap.
a bit of sense please !!!
*London*
The DUP are pathetic, they are like a woman trapped in an abusive marriage, yes he hits me every so often but he means well. The way they fall into line behind the gargoyles of the so called ERG is embarrassing. How many times has Boris the Liar driven the bus over their backs? Even Brexit hard man Steve Baker has woken up and smelt the coffee. Personally if I was the EU I would not trust the British government as far as I could throw them. Martina Anderson was right.