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Intersting. Appreciate the clarification. What are your thoughts / hopes for re-unification? Do you want it to happen? Can it happen? What would need to be done to make it successful?
It’s looking increasingly likely at present due to the fallout of Brexit. Personally I don’t want it to happen. The north is just a problem, and as far as I’m concerned it’s a British problem so Britain should solve their problem before we take it up. There’s also economic reasons that make me think it’s a bad idea. However, an unfortunate consequence of the peace process (which was necessary, 30 years was too long) is that SF (political wing of the IRA) got legitimised in the republic. Ten years after the peace agreement was signed we hit the financial crisis and SF managed to emerge as Ireland’s primary left wing party, due largely to the failures of establishment left wing parties. This has resulted in aggressive pushes for reunification along with the propagandisation of our youth regarding IRA behaviour and ideals which concerns me. I don’t think the nordies will vote for reunification though, so hopefully we’re safe for a decade or so. If we do reunify then unionists will kick off and we’ll be back to violence though - nothing is surer despite SF’s bullshit.
If you get tired of my questions, just let me know.
There is a lot packed into that post. So, I guess two things:
1) If you don't want to unify, what do you want to happen and for how long? My opinion only goes as far as the low brow Ireland for the Irish all others must move back to their home lands. You are obviously dealing with reality, what do you want for Ireland and its future with respect to non / unification? How do you want to see Ireland develop?
2) What is your view on economics? Are you more "conservative" as in less regulation, less centralization, more freedom to trade between people or are you more "socialist" as in more regulation, more centralization less freedom to trade between people?
I am curious about the correlation between your vision for your people and your homeland and how that relates to economic governance on a philosophical level.
Ha, we’re a barely relevant rock in the North Atlantic! I’m frankly flattered anyone gives a shit!
Long term I’d love us and the unionists to be able to find common ground. Reunification would be fantastic if it could be done peacefully, but we’re a good few generations away from that. As someone who remembers the latter days of the troubles I, like most people south of the border, consider the constitutional question very much secondary to the violence question. Whatever scenario results in peace is the best scenario, ideals be damned.
From an economic perspective I think it’s important to remember that we are a small and sparsely populated island. This leaves us more open to cartel behaviour than most. Having two jurisdictions on the island protects consumers from this in my opinion. As an example, dentists down south got to absolutely taking the piss levels with their prices a few years back. A simple check up would ultimately cost you a minimum of €360, and if you needed work done you needed a spare kidney. Then the Dublin - Belfast road (M1) got improved and suddenly dubs could go north easily and quickly. Apparently dentist prices have plummeted down south since - I wouldn’t know cos I still use my nordie dentist. Another example, our government want to bring in minimum pricing on alcohol, and have been trying to do so for a few years now. But they know they can’t unless the north do similar cos otherwise we’ll all head north to buy drink. Having two jurisdictions serves as a control on both state and corporate corruption and cartel behaviour.
My personal economic philosophy is somewhat libertarian by European standards, but I do still support safety nets and the like, so left wing by American standards. I’ve read enough Dickens and Orwell to know what we can avoid, and I know enough Irish history to know what we should avoid.
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