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You Cannot Waste Your Vote
With the election due to kick off in just over 7 hours I just want to take a last chance to urge people to vote for parties outside the big 4 as their first preference.
Don't fall for the DUP's scaremongering. They just don't want you to exercise your free will. If you vote for a "maverick" or an independent or smaller party who don't get elected your vote is not wasted, because you'll get your 2nd choice instead, or your third choice. That's the whole point of the PR-STV ballot!
I know I'm not the only person in this country that's tired of the big four parties' endless bickering and showboating. There are more important things to sort out; like education, realistic options for water charges (like meters) and putting an end to the white elephant at the Maze! If people are still that worried about the sectarian headcount they can still put the unionist or nationalist choice as 2 or 3 or 4 anyway.
A panel of 6 such candidates (from the Workers' Party, Greens, Conservatives, UK Unionists and the Progressive Unionists, as well as Rainbow George) answered questions from the public in a BBC webcast which is still available online. So if you haven't made your mind up yet, go check it out.
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10 comments
The DUP need to get seriously humbled at this election.
For too long they have taken the Unionist electorate for granted and thought all they need is to wave the Union-Jack and bang the tribal drum and we'll all do our duty to keep themmuns out. Unionism needs to move out of this tribal mindset and but it won't do that while the DUP are its main representatives.
Don't vote DUP!
Save the Union !
For too long they have taken the Unionist electorate for granted and thought all they need is to wave the Union-Jack and bang the tribal drum and we'll all do our duty to keep themmuns out. Unionism needs to move out of this tribal mindset and but it won't do that while the DUP are its main representatives.
Don't vote DUP!
Save the Union !
07 Mar 2007 @ 06:33
Comment from: Wha Wadna Fecht for Charlie [Visitor] 
Elections imply that there is some degree of democracy. However, in Northern Ireland I cannot vote for or against the party of office that 'runs' the country, it is legal to stand in numerous constituencies and an elected official can be councilor, MLA, MP and MEP. This is far from democracy.
I have lived, through work, in various countries, but this is the only time I can recall there being an election or any sorts and not being inundated with politician ‘pressing the flesh’ and generally promising me the world for my vote. The only politician I saw was Purvis and that was because her ‘new dawn’ van nearly drove into me on the Newtownards Road. (Although I have had the dubious privilege of meeting Hain.) The only time you see any elected official is usually on UTV news complaining about the other elected official who was on before them. Pathetic. I would describe them as third rate, but that may be offensive to those in society who are generally third rate at their jobs.
I have lived, through work, in various countries, but this is the only time I can recall there being an election or any sorts and not being inundated with politician ‘pressing the flesh’ and generally promising me the world for my vote. The only politician I saw was Purvis and that was because her ‘new dawn’ van nearly drove into me on the Newtownards Road. (Although I have had the dubious privilege of meeting Hain.) The only time you see any elected official is usually on UTV news complaining about the other elected official who was on before them. Pathetic. I would describe them as third rate, but that may be offensive to those in society who are generally third rate at their jobs.
07 Mar 2007 @ 20:48
If you don't vote DUP there is a very strong possibility that Martin Magennis will the First Minister. This is a scenario that i for one don't want to even imagine.
Sinn Fein will win the Republican vote hands down and the Unionist vote will be, as ever, split.
Sinn Fein will win the Republican vote hands down and the Unionist vote will be, as ever, split.
08 Mar 2007 @ 00:04
Junkmale, perhaps you should have a read at my DUP blackmail threads.
The DUP were the ones who negotiated the possibility of a SF first minister. Check it out - it's only because of the DUP that Martin McGuinness has a shot at First Minister - and now you want unionists to vote for them? Catch yourself on.
The DUP were the ones who negotiated the possibility of a SF first minister. Check it out - it's only because of the DUP that Martin McGuinness has a shot at First Minister - and now you want unionists to vote for them? Catch yourself on.
08 Mar 2007 @ 01:16
If, as you suggest, Unionists en masse do not vote DUP then there is the likely probability that Sinn Fein will be largest party with the most seats. Then they will have the First Minister (and anything they want) post by right.
I don't choose to vote DUP, in fact i bitterly resent having to do so. But what other choice is there?
I don't choose to vote DUP, in fact i bitterly resent having to do so. But what other choice is there?
08 Mar 2007 @ 18:42
If, as you suggest, Unionists en masse do not vote DUP then there is the likely probability that Sinn Fein will be largest party with the most seats. Then they will have the First Minister (and anything they want) post by right.
The DUP are taking us nowhere fast junkmale. They are a bigger threat to the Union than SF.
If nationalist parties had got a bigger vote than Unionist ones, it would in all possibility have triggered a Border Referendum. We would have won that with a 15-20 % majority easy. We would then have been left with no fundamentalist nutjobs setting themselves up as the leader of Ulster and God's People, but the opportunity to build up a Unionism which actually stands up to the rigours of the 21st Century.
But if, as it looks like, the Unionist electorate want Paisley to lead them, then good luck to them, they're going to need it.
The DUP are taking us nowhere fast junkmale. They are a bigger threat to the Union than SF.
If nationalist parties had got a bigger vote than Unionist ones, it would in all possibility have triggered a Border Referendum. We would have won that with a 15-20 % majority easy. We would then have been left with no fundamentalist nutjobs setting themselves up as the leader of Ulster and God's People, but the opportunity to build up a Unionism which actually stands up to the rigours of the 21st Century.
But if, as it looks like, the Unionist electorate want Paisley to lead them, then good luck to them, they're going to need it.
08 Mar 2007 @ 19:37
I feel physically sick watching these results come in. Is it any wonder the rest of the UK don't care about Northern Ireland when we elect moonbat's like Paisley? My god, the man will be our First Minister, that's nearly as bad as Martin McGuinness!!
08 Mar 2007 @ 19:57
Comment from: kensei [Visitor]
"For too long they have taken the Unionist electorate for granted and thought all they need is to wave the Union-Jack and bang the tribal drum and we'll all do our duty to keep themmuns out."
Apparently, they are exactly right.
Apparently, they are exactly right.
08 Mar 2007 @ 20:09
I'm very surprised at the reaction that my comments have garnered?
If Republicans have the majority of seats and at the moment its by no means certain that they won't, it will cause a Border Referendum.
Maybe so, but in that scenario the Government and their buddies in the Republic would make sure that the Referendum was 'all Island'. If that was the case the 15 - 20% majority would be meaningless.
Yes, Paisley's antics do Northern Ireland no favours on the Mainland, but given a choice between him and IRA terrorist Martin McGuiness i know who i would choose any day of the week.
I DO NOT support the DUP but unfortunately whether you like it or not, as a Unionist there is no other choice.
If Republicans have the majority of seats and at the moment its by no means certain that they won't, it will cause a Border Referendum.
Maybe so, but in that scenario the Government and their buddies in the Republic would make sure that the Referendum was 'all Island'. If that was the case the 15 - 20% majority would be meaningless.
Yes, Paisley's antics do Northern Ireland no favours on the Mainland, but given a choice between him and IRA terrorist Martin McGuiness i know who i would choose any day of the week.
I DO NOT support the DUP but unfortunately whether you like it or not, as a Unionist there is no other choice.
08 Mar 2007 @ 22:06
Thanks, you've just confirmed that people vote for the DUP out of false fears.
Ever heard of the principle of consent? Any referendum would be for Northern Ireland. The only way it would be "all island" would be if there were two referenda and if Northern Ireland says it wants to stay in the UK it doesn't matter what happens down south. It's been British government policy for 50 odd years, but the Ulster Unionists got it enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement too for good measure.
But go ahead and vote for the party that brought us an Irish Language Act and... well I'm not sure there was anything else useful in Saint Andrews.
I wonder; how many other people voted DUP based on unfounded fears? Scaremongering: it's what they do best.
Ever heard of the principle of consent? Any referendum would be for Northern Ireland. The only way it would be "all island" would be if there were two referenda and if Northern Ireland says it wants to stay in the UK it doesn't matter what happens down south. It's been British government policy for 50 odd years, but the Ulster Unionists got it enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement too for good measure.
But go ahead and vote for the party that brought us an Irish Language Act and... well I'm not sure there was anything else useful in Saint Andrews.
I wonder; how many other people voted DUP based on unfounded fears? Scaremongering: it's what they do best.
08 Mar 2007 @ 23:17
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