en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/6222630 Comments by Bigbearagain http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/editors-viewpoint/nothing-underhand-in-gerry-adams-arrest-30237310.html#IDComment826227870 Nonsense, even Gerry doesn't seem to know about his past. How can you believe anyone else does? Mon, 5 May 2014 08:02:46 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/editors-viewpoint/nothing-underhand-in-gerry-adams-arrest-30237310.html#IDComment826227870 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment825840686 The poll wouldn't be of just 1200 people. Going to vote is often referred to as going to the polls. Every major decision should be by referendum AFAIC. Sun, 4 May 2014 07:00:47 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment825840686 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment825097427 Actually, not Nuff said. What is shallow, is expecting a UI to come about through a sectarian headcount. Expecting to create a united Irish State with no previous provision made to explain how it will provide employment for it's new citizens. That's shallow and that is the current default position of Nationalist politicians. Public service jobs come and go. In the civil service, at least, these are rarely redundancies but redeployments. I respect that you firmly believe in what you write, but you might as well be the man down the pub as far as the reality of the situation goes. Until SF, SDLP and the gamut of parties from south of the border make and present these proposals, then the UI is on a hiding to nothing. In the modern world, there is little room left for political romanticism, only pragmatism. Pragmatism is going to keep Northern Ireland in the UK until your politicians wake up to this. Fri, 2 May 2014 08:24:03 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment825097427 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment825085969 There is nothing 'shallow' about the fear of job losses. Nuff said. Fri, 2 May 2014 07:39:53 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment825085969 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824909064 Yes, I've looked at your reply to FFS. The bunker fascination is because of your very obvious defensiveness when discussing this with an Alliance 'unionist(.shudders). I wonder if you would be quite so hostile if I had presented myself as an Alliance voter with vague nationalist leanings? Everything I have written has been met with bluster about the shallowness of the Unionist position. I am not taking a Unionist position. I am adopting a pro union position until one of your nationalist politicians convinces me that I am going to be employed and not worse off, financially, in a UI. Your post to FFS is basically Private Sector 101 stuff that we hear every day in NI. Nothing new there and nothing terribly convincing to me There's a lot of talk from you about motorways, but frankly, I'm more of a White Collar worker myself. Oh and the three hundred jobs Government workers from Coleraine will be redeployed, not made redundant Once again, I ask you to state what qualification you possess to allow you to assert that job losses would be minimal in a switch to a UI. If you are not qualified, then your assertions hold even less water than you claim the Unionist position on job losses do. Thu, 1 May 2014 20:51:41 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824909064 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824854766 That's actually not a bad idea at all. Thu, 1 May 2014 18:01:43 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824854766 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824854517 Please read FFSs reply. Thu, 1 May 2014 18:00:55 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824854517 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824853292 That's exactly it FFS and if SD could get out of bunker mode for a minute, perhaps he might have realised that. Thu, 1 May 2014 17:56:33 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824853292 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824843798 Indeed, I did. Some jobs are being relocated to GB. I'm not happy about it but those people will be redeployed. Not really the same thing SD. I's just like to ask. What qualifications do you have to say that the prospect of massive public sector job losses are unfounded? What exactly are these 'wealth creating' jobs and where will they be located? If you can't answer this, you may as well give up now. The provision of employment for your new 2 million or so citizens will always be a major issue in whether you ever achieve unification. Thu, 1 May 2014 17:23:35 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824843798 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824831863 No my dear fellow, I think that your belief that people will not lose their jobs in the transfer between two jurisdictions is airy fairy, pie in the sky nonsense. Thu, 1 May 2014 16:45:33 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824831863 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824818285 Oh, get out of your bunker SD. Is that the best you can come up with? Thu, 1 May 2014 16:01:37 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824818285 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/mcconville-case-adams-meets-police-30233962.html#IDComment824811851 You are right, this is politically motivated Daisy. It's not the state that up to the shenanigans here though. Gerry walked into a police station himself. He knows that this can only increase SFs share of the vote. Gerry, after all, is made of Teflon. This will never stick and he knows it. Thu, 1 May 2014 15:40:01 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/mcconville-case-adams-meets-police-30233962.html#IDComment824811851 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824795762 I think that the reaction of other posters to Bugsy using the price of Yoghurt as an example to put his point across was actually what made that whole exchange become less than dignified. My point is that no one knows if a UI is feasible or how it would work. It's up to Nationalist politicians to make their case. Not the ROI or the UK governments. Under GFA, it's all about self determination and neither government should be seen to favour one side over the other. Thu, 1 May 2014 14:43:41 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824795762 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824791005 You don't seem to understand SD. I currently have a job in the Public Sector in NI. I am quite happy with my current salary and with a wife who commutes cross border to work for the HSE, I know that there's actually not as huge a difference between the incomes as you would suggest. Let's see now. I have a secure job in the UK or, I might not have a job at all in a UI. If there was a referendum, what way do you think I might vote? That's why nationalist politicians need to start looking into how a UI would actually work, before attempting to foist it upon those who not convinced of it's viability. It's basic 'sandwich' politics as Daisy would say. Thu, 1 May 2014 14:27:07 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824791005 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824788131 You can't imagine it. That doesn't equate to it not happening SD. My wife works for the HSE. At face value, she earns substantially more than a person in the same job for the NHS. In reality, stealth taxes disguised as a pension levy etc and increased work hours for Irish public sector workers for no extra pay (in place of pay cuts) mean that her salary is actually only marginally higher than her NHS counterpart. Now, less of the airy fairy, pie in the sky nonsense please. Contact your politicians. Tell them that they are failing you every bit as badly as Unionist politicians are failing their electorate. Tell them that it's time to start making their case and putting together the evidence to allay the fears of unionist voters(if not Unionist ones). Thu, 1 May 2014 14:17:01 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824788131 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824762170 'The Unevidenced Scare Tactic' All you are doing is deflecting from the real fear that people have, that those with jobs in Northern Ireland will (probably) not have those jobs in a UI. Want a UI? Show us where the jobs are SD? A better thing might be to contact your local politicians and tell them to get their fingers out of their asses and start setting out their stall. They are doing your cause a huge disservice and setting it back decades by constantly failing to promote Unification rather than waiting for it to fall in their laps. Thu, 1 May 2014 12:49:40 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824762170 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824756741 Ok, perhaps a poor choice of words.......or maybe not. I seem to recall one poster telling Bugsy he should return to the North if he thought it was so much better. IIRC Bugsy countered with something along the lines of 'sectarian cesspool' and declined their suggestion. The exchange, which drew in several of the usual suspects, appeared quite heated at times. Wouldn't you agree? Thu, 1 May 2014 12:31:33 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824756741 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824753534 Er, I think I indicated that it might have been BelfastBugsy. I'm fairly certain(but not 100% so) that it was him. We may, indeed, be poorer than the rest of Ireland and the poorest region of the UK. However, we will 'all' be a lot poorer in a UI. That's all of us, the people of both jurisdictions. Adding an extra 2 million or so to the population will be a huge drain on the public purse of a UI and finding jobs for the hundred thousand or so public sector employees who currently work in local government and the NI Civil Service is an issue which needs to be addressed. Thu, 1 May 2014 12:20:31 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824753534 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824736399 I have not rubbished anything SD. I said that another broadly nationalist poster had rubbished your claims and have already indicated a willingness to hear a proper argument made by proponents of the UI position. I am sorry, but I will not be swayed away from my current position by postings on a public forum. If Nationalism wants to change the pro union mindset of the majority of people in Northern Ireland they will have to start making their case properly. Thu, 1 May 2014 11:20:09 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824736399 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824691347 I've noted all these arguments from you before SD. Another 'broadly' nationalist poster(Bugsy?) rubbished them. If a UI is ever to be on the menu, then the pro unification parties have to start presenting their case instead of waiting for a sectarian headcount to do their job for them. That may well, eventually, end partition but it will do nothing to create a 'United' Ireland. Thu, 1 May 2014 08:34:28 +0000 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/unionists-in-danger-of-european-election-split-vote-and-sdlp-could-snatch-a-seat-30229590.html#IDComment824691347