Friday
16Mar2007
Ulster’s not for sale
Friday, March 16, 2007 at 10:09PM Well that may have been the case a few years back but now the going rate appears to be about £1 billion.
Given what Unionist leaders are saying at the moment one could be forgiven for thinking that the only thing they are worried about is obtaining as much money from the government as possible.
And I for one believe that Mr Blair is prepared to dish out a considerable amount of cash. He would do anything to get Sinn Fein/IRA and the DUP in government together.
How our “wonderful” devolved government will handle the cash remains to be seen. The fact the DUP look set to take the finance ministry (leaving the education portfolio for their coalition partners Sinn Fein/IRA) doesn’t fill me with confidence about our future.
Let’s just hope they are better economists than negotiators.
Basic democratic norms are to be subverted because the government is prepared to doe out money to our begging politicians.
Unionist leaders are prepared to accept an unrepentant IRA leader as joint First Minister and one of his friends as education minister.
And the Unionist electorate appear to be willing to swallow this poisonous form of government in order to avoid water rates.
Ulster, it seems, CAN be brought.
We may not be charged for water but I fear that Unionism will pay a terrible price in the long run.
Given what Unionist leaders are saying at the moment one could be forgiven for thinking that the only thing they are worried about is obtaining as much money from the government as possible.
And I for one believe that Mr Blair is prepared to dish out a considerable amount of cash. He would do anything to get Sinn Fein/IRA and the DUP in government together.
How our “wonderful” devolved government will handle the cash remains to be seen. The fact the DUP look set to take the finance ministry (leaving the education portfolio for their coalition partners Sinn Fein/IRA) doesn’t fill me with confidence about our future.
Let’s just hope they are better economists than negotiators.
Basic democratic norms are to be subverted because the government is prepared to doe out money to our begging politicians.
Unionist leaders are prepared to accept an unrepentant IRA leader as joint First Minister and one of his friends as education minister.
And the Unionist electorate appear to be willing to swallow this poisonous form of government in order to avoid water rates.
Ulster, it seems, CAN be brought.
We may not be charged for water but I fear that Unionism will pay a terrible price in the long run.
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Reader Comments (7)
Started off with talking to the brother of Francis Hughes, then to the wife of a RUC officer shot dead, then the old mother of a British soldier-lad who had been burned alive.
They all spoke of the fear of that time, fear of even going to the High Street to shop.
One thing I had never thought of, and many spoke about, was their "lost childhoods", not being able to go out and play, or take a ride in the car, or go swimming. Very poinient and thought proving for me.
It has been apparent for quite some time now that Unionism's political representatives (the DUP) were not debating about whether "Ulster was for sale" but merely about the price.
If the latest reports are to be believed, the UK exchequer will meet the "asking price".
Despite all their rhetoric, I fully expect to see the DUP in govt with Sinn Fein before Blair goes in May/June.
Sounds quite poignant too.
A man walks up to a lady at a very posh party and asked the beautiful woman if she would sleep with him for a million dollars
She thinks about it and answers "yes"
So he asks would she sleep with him for 10 dollars?
She indignantly slaps his face and bitterly asks "what kind of woman do you think I am?"
his answer
That we established with the first question, now we are just negotiating the price!