An affront to democracy
A few days ago I mounted an article in which I outlined why I would not be voting DUP. Some of the comments it generated suggested that I should endorse another party or an independent anti-agreement candidate.
I respect the views of those who believe that one should always use their vote. But I am of the opinion that this election is not democratic.
The choice which people face in this election is, I feel, very much akin to that in Eastern Europe when it was dominated by the Soviets.
The people could vote but they could only vote for candidates from one party. The election result was predetermined before a single vote was cast.
On March 7th the voters have a “choice” between four main parties all of whom advocate the same government – a coalition in which all of them will have places as of right.
On the other hand, I could vote Alliance who would like to be part of the aforementioned government but won’t get enough votes to secure an executive position.
In what other country would a preparation for government committee meet long before an election is even called?
Where else in the world could all the main parties be sure that they would have a place at the cabinet table given any conceivable result?
Our forefathers didn’t die in two world wars for this.
They died to prevent those who used violence to impose their will upon free peoples from achieving political power.
This election, on the other hand, has only been called because the Prime Minister is “convinced” that all the main political parties in Northern Ireland are prepared to share power with those who killed and maimed in order to further their objectives.
Why don’t I vote for the anti-agreement candidates?
Well, as we all know there is no such thing as an anti-agreement DUP candidate. All “Democratic” Unionists standing in this election have signed a resignation letter which can be triggered as and when the leadership sees fit.
On the other hand, I could vote for one of the half dozen Bob McCartneys.
The fact that Mr McCartney is running in so many constituencies detracts from the very serious points which he is making about the Belfast/St Andrews Agreement.
Mr McCartney is saying many things with which I wholeheartedly agree but he has allowed himself to become the butt of jokes by standing in so many constituencies.
The parallels with Rainbow George are inescapable.
So I’m not going to vote in this election – it’s an affront to democracy.
Samuel Morrison
in Northern Ireland
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73 Comments
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Reader Comments (73)
You have to put down a marker, otherwise they'll just look at the percentages and claim a "mandate" and an expense account.
Go and spoil your vote. That way, you register your disgust without staying silent.
It isn't really a secret ballot.
As I posted earlier I intend voting Alliance. Not because I think they're a great party but because they're non-tribal -- or so they say.
Not a hair on my right palm would induce me to vote for the unpleasant extremists DUP and SF. The SDLP and UUP are slightly better, but like I say, too sectarian.
Green is good of course, and so is indie to some extent. But it's Alliance for me. You're probably correct that they won't get enough votes to make the Executive, but at least if enough peeps choose them it sends out a message to the bigots who'll be occupying Stormont.
Indeed - a good reason to vote SF if one lives in Provo Territory ? ;)
IMO there are more reasons NOT to vote Sinn Féin.
Dawkins, why is the SDLP too sectarian?
We have a surfeit of them thank you very much!
No such beast
"IMO there are more reasons NOT to vote Sinn Féin."
That is your opinion and your choice, Isn't Democracy great! ;)
"You all need a thriving Monster raving Looney Party in N.I. to vote for"
We have one, it's the UKUP
Read your Own Blog Chris ;)
"Isn't Democracy great! ;)"
Sure is. And that's why I'll be voting.
There is no such thing as former Sinn Féin territory
The dissidents dropped in leaflets the other night, pitch black with hoods on and when I opened the door I thought it was Linford Christie he was running that fast out the gate.
Real dissident territory that ;)
Scary people!
Even if true, that's an absurd argument, Dawkins. It's like saying no Catholic should ever join the UUP because it's a sectarian organisation.
The policies of the party are what count, not the religious background of its members. Because if the "sectarian" background of SDLP members were important, it would have to be reflected in the party's policies. And it ain't.
The above referred to Davkins'
>>Because they (the SDLP) are almost 100% Catholic/Nationalist.<<
Aren't you one of them ? ;)
Clean-living nice Catholic boy - you would fit right in! ;)
I don't see any political party which I can vote for at the moment.
Perhaps one will be formed in the future but I am currently of the opinion that politics corrupts. Northern Irish politics corrupts absolutely.
PS Thanks for putting your point so politely:)
I was asked to join a couple of years ago, that was after the local stoop Knight heard I was training to be a Solicitor but before he learned I was a Shinner ;)
A real fenian would join, infiltrate and subvert LOL
Something my Comrades suggested after they heard I refused to join. In my defense I would like to make it known that membership of secret societies is forbidden in Sinn Féin.
I was merely following party rules ;)
"The policies of the party are what count, not the religious background of its members."
With respect, are you an Ulsterman? I'm not. That's why for me your political scene is so alien. Perhaps you've grown so accustomed to your political parties being constituted along tribal lines that you believe it's the norm. It isn't. Most of the world's democracies aren't arranged that way. The arrangement sucks, the GFA did no more than copper-fasten the tribal system, and NI will not take its place among the civilized nations until it's put this sectarian nonsense behind it.
I myself tend to vote for the lesser of two evils each time and I am not sure if I ever really voted with happiness in a national election.
The 6 counties is not a nation, never has been and never will be!
Correct. And didn't Alliance help negotiate the deal?
Cough, cough - at your level rules are for underlings!
Unlike Mary Lou, you are no doughnut LOL
Neither is Ireland ;) Ireland is merely an island!
"<em>NI will not take its place among the civilized nations</em>
The 6 counties is not a nation, never has been and never will be!"
Thanks for illustrating my point. If you peeps spent less time bickering over names and other trivia, some headway might be made.
At my level? I don't have underlings
<em>Unlike Mary Lou, you are no doughnut</em>
Neither is Mary Lou ;)
<em>Neither is Ireland</em>
Of course it is, Bunreacht na hÉireann makes that very clear.
Show me a single piece of legislation or convention that makes up British Constitutional law that even suggests that the 6 counties is a nation?
I have evidence to support the Irish nation, is there any evidence to support the 6 county one?
All the political parties have bought into a deal which is immoral and undemocratic.
Unionist politicians have been so interested in keeping their pay packets and fancy offices that they have forgotten about what is best for the Union.
In my opinion the lesser of the two evils is not voting for any of them because by voting I would imply that I agree with the political system in NI.
I do not.
My post-modernist feminist Gender law lecturer always instilled in me the importance of language.
Neither is Ireland.
Any legislation passed by a Dublin Parliament post partition only applied to 26 of the 32 counties.
Good for you :) But we were discussing Ireland, which is an Island. How can a lump of rock and topsoil be a nation? There may or may not be "an" Irish nation - but Ireland is no more a nation than St Kilda :)
Popularist mudslinging does not suggest you have the capability to be allowed to look after yourself.
The devil is indeed in the detail :)
"My post-modernist feminist Gender law lecturer always instilled in me the importance of language."
Names aren't language. They don't count in Scrabble®.
We are not talking about scrabble, we are talking about politics.