How can we integrate Unionism into a possible United Ireland?

Here's a poll that asks a straight up question "would you vote for a United Ireland", the 24% of people who said no clearly done so by factoring in things like cost and numerous other matters.

It's a simple question and it's far more accurate than asking people "do you want to pay more taxes" as I said before add in "do you want to pay more taxes" to any question and watch the results drop significantly. In no way does that question clarify wether it is talking about an extravagant amount of tax that could destroy the country or if it would be a normal reasonable amount of tax that would act as an investment, I would have answered no as well of asked in that poll do I want to pay more tax.

Despite what some people say, this 62% figure of people wanting independence is nothing new (apart from the troubles) something like 45% of people in the 26 counties didn't want independence in the first place.

The people who are very anti United Ireland are generally from the same age group whose opinions today would be largely influenced from British propaganda during the troubles, most of them would have fell victim to MI5 black propaganda during the troubles which was dedicated not only against the IRA but against a United Ireland.

Edward Heath (British PM) insisted that a massive propaganda counter-attack was needed to refute the IRA and discredit them, and that experienced staff should be drafted in from wherever possible to achieve this. He even advocated bribery, "using money freely" to gain information and influence people. Ministers, civil servants and the military all pressed for a counter-propaganda offensive.

Such propaganda placed the blame on the IRA for the Mcgurks Bar bombing which killed 15 Catholics, which was actually done by loyalists colluding with British intelligence, it wasn't till years later the truth came outm

A quote from the article, "The term fake news was practically unknown 18 months ago, though is now seen as an existential threat to democracy. But the psyops technique was first used 40 years ago in Northern Ireland as the Army waged a disinformation offensive against the terrorists".

Can't see it with the inherent bigotry of SF. They have been the biggest obstacle to unification and probably will continue to be so.

Maybe it's plain old sectarianism or just too many "Good Republicans" making money out of the partition they facilitate.

The reference to the British PM was that he is one of the ones who Kick started the fake news, propaganda and disinformation techniques talked about in that article I linked that were used for nearly another 30 years after him.

The thing is the reason for divide in Northern Ireland has always been the constitutional status of Northern Ireland, under a United Ireland there would be no going back, so we would be able to finally move on.

The problem you are clearly ignoring is that the divide won’t be fixed by a United Ireland.

Just a different lot with their nose out of joint.

The fix for the divide doesn’t reside in the 26 counties or in Britain……the solution is with the people of Northern Ireland

I wonder had that anything to do with a bit of ethnic cleansing in Cork?

And it is a bit facetious to say the county was divided between Catholics and Protestants, Protestants were very much in the minority.

The problem is partition and attitudes like yours. There's a Referendum in the north and the people vote for unification of Ireland, the minute the result comes through a United is declared and people call for the vision of our country as laid down through the centuries and generations, at the core of this nation, to be seen through. You think you'll be able to stop it?

That's exactly how it will work. You think you're going to stop it? This is like trying to explain a chess move to three year olds.

The protestant population of "West Cork" declined by 20% and the Catholic population declined by 10%.

The point still remains that there isn't anyone in Cork today or even 50 years ago who still refer to themselves as British and there is no divide between Catholics and protestants at all, such as what exists in British territory in the North.

The clear consensus of the Republic during the troubles was that "if you get rid of the Brits" we will move in and take control of the territory in line with our Constitution which already laid claim to Northern Ireland, for the same strife and division to occur there would have to be a realistic possibility of Northern Ireland rejoining the UK, the UK probably wouldn't even take Northern Ireland back even if the Republic abandoned Northern Ireland a few years after unification.

The point is that there would be no realistic possibility of Northern Ireland rejoining the UK so the minority (yes minority) of hardcore queen lovers in the 6 counties would be forced to move on and accept the situation and try to make the best of it. There will always be the possibility of a unified Ireland. Can't you see the difference?

Nothing interesting to post as usual Mike? No need to explain myself to someone who never contributes to any debate and only tries to derail threads, and the greatest contribution you ever made to a thread is "but but the IRA".

I don't know what more I can say to you, you clearly have your mind made up and want to avoid unification at all costs, you are irrationality trying to spread fears of loyalist violence and economic disaster in your pathetic attempts to drain support for unification.

I've already posted clear evidence about you and the other posters exaggerated costs of Northern Ireland which you claim to be at 10-15 billion, most of which would not apply in a United Ireland as it includes Northern Ireland's share of national debt, defense spending and pensions, the real cost is no more than 3 billion.

Rubbish, I'm completely for a united Ireland but that patently cannot be achieved until our unionist friends are persuaded that it's a good deal to throw their lot in with new Irish state.

What are you or several other posters on this thread doing about this? If you're serious about a UI, your focus should entirely be on building bridges and consensus. And yes, 80% is an achievable figure and necessary in order to avoid ongoing conflict.

By the way on a related matter, have you heard of the Bus to Belfast. A popular option organised often by elected representatives so as citizens down south can go north and avail of medical procedures outside the state in order to get around long waiting queues down here. The border is handy when it comes to such matters.

Give them regular votes to see if they want to re join the union. That's the only way I can see, to respect what unionism is all about. Every 10 years or so, just so they know we're not forgetting about their desire to stay in the UK.

Or maybe start a new royal family that they could call their own.

Oh... I know, we could set them loose on the catholic church. They'd have great fun ripping apart that diseased and decrepit institution, and we'd have great fun watching it. Win / win ! 😆