tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623721153002721356.post1204940030219104584..comments2024-03-27T12:40:09.015+00:00Comments on Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness: Fianna Fail, consent and undermining unionist confidence in the Republic's governmentOwen Polleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00567787385096905811noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623721153002721356.post-37785268361435964592008-05-18T21:13:00.000+01:002008-05-18T21:13:00.000+01:00The motivation of this relative disengagement is i...<I>The motivation of this relative disengagement is inspired by a desire to give breathing space to northern politicians in order to let them establish their own institutions and order their own affairs.</I><BR/><BR/>This is where I think you are mistaken. The electorate were not being altruistic and the political class of the Republic don't know the meaning of the word. They voted for peace because it was <I>the</I> thing to do and even the Republicans were backing it. Short of another '69 or hunger strikes, the South could've always cared less about their bretheren in the North,or you for that matter.<BR/><BR/>The GFA allowed FF to help achieve peace (always a vote getter) and still play the "Republican party" card. It was opportunism in '98 and it's opportunism now. If I was to be concerned about Southern involvement up north the bigger concern would talk from the ROI of investment projects as that kind of action will inevitably hold more sway than something as insignificant a few councillors or an MLA or two. Or maybe a better way to put it is that Northern Ireland is a bride in waiting who's family is playing two potential suitors off of each other to see who'll pony up more, regardless of who the bride likes.yourcousinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00734380865417454796noreply@blogger.com