Profile for Frustrated Democrat
Distinctly Northern Ireland Conservative who believes in local and national politics
Latest comments from Frustrated Democrat (see all)
Frustrated Democrat has commented 301 times (1 in the last month).
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Books
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Lessons in Cute Hoorism: “Graft was accepted, for you were taking from the British…”
I’ve been catching up on some reading, recently. Most pleasantly surprised by John Drennan’s latest opus from Gill and Macmillan, Cute Hoors and Pious Protestors… It’s early days yet, but I was struck by this paragraph, part of a dissection of Fianna Fail near the beginning: One of the more fatal consequences of our colonial [...] read our review »
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Legion of the Rearguard – Dissident Irish Republicanism by Martyn Frampton, Book Review
Are you confused about ‘dissident’ Irish Republicanism? Anxious about its existence and its seemingly increasingly deadly capabilities? Martyn Frampton’s new book, Legion of the Rearguard: Dissident Irish Republicanism (Irish Academic Press, 2011) serves both as a primer on active dissident groups and a timely analysis of their historic significance and contemporary capabilities. This book clears [...] read our review »
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Is Fianna Fail the new Woolworths of Irish politics?
It’s not published until 3rd March, but one book I recommend you place an advance order for from Slugger’s Bookstore is James Harkin’s Niche. Belfast émigré Harkin examines a number of stories from business, culture and politics and comes to a single insight: everywhere the broad middle is collapsing. He offers Woolworths as an iconic exemplar [...] read our review »
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Comment on “The link between taxing and spending is basic to democracy…”
on 18 May 2012 at 1:47 pm
Tight little Tories is not a description I recognise, Tories is fully acceptable, tight is possible if it means careful with money but where does the little come from, The Conservative Party is not little nor are its members.However the rest of the piece is commendable.
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Comment on Why the UK Chancellor’s regional pay initiative not a solution to depressed regional growth…
on 3 April 2012 at 10:06 am
The simple fact is that Civil Service pay and conditions in Northern Ireland far exceed those in the private sector and this is distorting the local labour market.
Why are people in the private sector unable to afford a pension paying excessive amounts in tax for those in the Civil Service with a gold plated pension?
Everyone including those in the Civil Service know it is overstaffed and inefficient, Alex Attwood confirmed this when he said it is not about efficiency or service to the public it is about maintaining jobs, when referring to the DVLA and Sammy Wilson follows him in the same vein.
We need to dramatically reduce the number of people in the Civil Service and get their pay back into line with the private sector, it may take a couple of decades and include increases in the private sector and well as freezes in the civil sector but we have to face the harsh realities if we want to return Northern Ireland to some semblance of economic reality.
No amount of protectionism will change that reality.
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Comment on NI Tories: “You have to wonder on which planet the new UUP leader is living”
on 2 April 2012 at 7:34 pm
Maybe you will just have to get used to surprises!
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Comment on Opposition as a tactical opportunity to change the balance of power?
on 27 March 2012 at 11:57 pm
It is obvious that an official opposition will come, the only question is when. We cannot continue with a Goverment that no one can ever change that is not democracy it is a dictatorship.
It is relatively easy to come up with a formula that protects power sharing until it is no longer required. So we must exert pressure on DUP and SF to look at how an opposition be formed.
If not the UK government must intervene to ensure it happens.
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Comment on #Budget2012: Rewarding Northern Ireland’s hard working families…
on 21 March 2012 at 9:45 pm
An excellent budget for NI, the national reduction in Corporation Tax reduces the cost of a cut here.
If you are working the increases in tax allowances will be beneficial, few here will miss out on child allowances.
APD for long haul is devolved, better internet and telecommunications and much much more.
A good budget for the UK and even better for NI.
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Comment on The Unicorns are Multiplying
on 7 March 2012 at 4:20 pm
Everyone knows a UI is not going to happen in the next generation, 30 odd years of bombs and bullets had the opposite effect to that intended.
Perhaps Turgon’s unicorns may yet turn into something a lot more substantial, perhaps 2 horned mountain goats who can get to the top of the mountain.
What party and policies would make them vote?
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Comment on Case for unification: “I sense that republicans don’t actually know the answer themselves”
on 13 February 2012 at 4:54 pm
This debate is not one that is worthwhile having at the moment, a UI is not on the cards for the foreseeable future.
However if we continue to move forward at the current pace the reasons for the border will become so blurred that we will de facto have a United Ireland and a United Kingdom at the same time. It may be we have parliaments in London, Dublin and Belfast but co-operation between them for the good of all and the continued Anglicisation/ Americanisation of Ireland will mean that any semblance of a border will have disappeared within a generation.
We have to accept that Ireland has moved forward into the 21st century and has left most of its shibboleths behind it. I look forward to a close relationship between all the parts and peoples of the island as we work for a better future for everyone in these islands.
So let everyone set aside their differences on the word ‘United’ and work to make Northern Ireland the best place it can be. We have the people and the resources they just need to be set free by their leaders to cooperate.
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Comment on David Cameron has transformed the SNP’s long game of Scottish independence into a penalty shootout
on 9 January 2012 at 11:26 pm
The Prime Minister has got this exactly right, for too long Salmond has been cruising along unopposed, and he thought he could have it all his own way. The PM wants the UK to stay and he has taken two recent steps one here in NI and now part two in Scotland to ensure that happens.
The sensible position is a Yes/No referendum based on history and facts and depending on the result we can proceed to independence or negotiate on what powers might or might not be transferred to Scotland. A No vote would obviously reduce the powers to be transferred.
Why would the SNP not want a simple Yes/No referendum as soon as possible? Only one answer they know they will lose.
So wanting to avoid a simple referendum will greatly reduce the appeal they have, Salmond done up like a kipper and the UK saved.
Not a bad start to the year.
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Comment on Does Tory eurosceptics’ nationalism boost UK breakup chances?
on 14 December 2011 at 4:38 pm
David Cameron is someone who is openly committed to the Union, if he wanted to be an English Nationalist he could could have a majority in an English parliament for the long term after the boundary reforms.
However that is not what he wants he wants a UK firmly together and will campaign for that and a robust Financial sector is important to all in the UK since it is nearly as big as the UK manufacturing sector.
The SNP will soon have to live up all the promises they made and that will take some doing over the next 4 years, Scottish independence even in a limited form is a long way off.
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Comment on Scotland – it’s time – why wait?
on 11 December 2011 at 10:27 am
The reason why he will wait is because, perversely, many SNP voters for the Scottish Parliament would not support independence in a referendum.
It is a bit like NI the current voting split in elections would not be reflected in a referendum on the border.
You really can’t trust voters to be consistent on all issues.
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