kk_white wrote:Davycc wrote:rigger wrote:I think there'll be a lot of new nation states being formed over the next decade or so.
Catalunia is the obvious starting point, but Scotland won't be far behind at this rate.
A unified Ireland maybe ?
Cornwall ?
Yorkshire ?
Maybe not, but you never know ..
People keep saying about a vote here in N.Ireland for a united Ireland. I honestly think that the majority of people in the Republic wouldn't want burdened with another six counties draining resources. Would they have a separate vote to see if they wanted us? Independent N.Ireland would need to be added as an option in any vote.
The latest polls I've seen Davy show roughly 62% of people in the Republic would like a united Ireland (those 2 words still feel strangely loaded to those of us of a particular age...
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While that number is way down from even 20 years ago, it should be noted that lot of those who favour it were simply asked if they would they like it, not would they actually vote for it if the economic realities were put before them. It is more of a romantic answer rather than logical.
It's much closer up your neck of the woods - last year 42% said that they would vote to join the Republic if there was a referendum, 45% said that they would rather remain in the UK and the rest were undecided.
Personally, as long as everyone stays safe and happy, it doesn't bother me what we are/aren't called
In the Ashcroft survey in NI about the attitude towards a united Ireland, the younger the age group the more likely it was that they would vote in favor of it. The younger generation are more connected, and travel more throughout the island than our generation or older ever did. I didn’t know anybody growing up that had been to Northern Ireland and I’m sure it was the same the other way around.
Now they go to concerts on Dublin or Belfast without thinking. They deal with one another in every sport aside from football and they go to see the sites on both sides of the border. This serves to remove the fear of the unknown. We have much in common while also understanding the seemingly intractable differences. I do think these will also fade in time or an acceptable accommodation will be reached.
There can be real benefits to a single island economy. Both sides of the illogical border are seriously impoverished from its existence. Our food, fishing, agriculture and tourism industries are deeply linked and benefit from working together. We share hospitals and colleges to a considerable extent.
Of all the options, the least likely to work is an independent NI. The amount of support given by the taxpayer in the UK to support it currently indicates the challenge of being able to sustain an area so small without considerable natural resources. A unified Ireland would have to be supported as well for a time at least - shared between the EU and GB
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Peace remains the main aim for everyone on the island. Prosperity for all, working and playing/competing together are the cement of the peace. That’s why keeping the border at it’s current invisible state was, and remains, critical in the Brexit plans. The trend after that is to closer dealings and, at some time, a real calm discussion on what will work for everyone politically. That’s a decade or two off in my opinion.