There is still a positive wayforwardforNI
A STRIKING theme of Alex Kane’s articles is his increasing pessimism about the future of Northern Ireland. This analysis is grounded in a sense that the strength of the DUP and Sinn Fein reflects a starkly polarised society.
You can see why he reaches that conclusion, but in many respects people here are less polarised than before, but politics has not changed to reflect this.
Perhaps we’re simply looking at things the wrong way. Rather than talking about two blocs of voters, unionism and nationalism, that are dominated by the DUP and Sinn Fein, with a couple of small parties representing the rest, we should think about the three groups as comprising DUP, Sinn Fein and “others”.
In 2017, 803,000 people voted in the Assembly election and almost 354,000 (44%) did not vote for the two largest parties. Some 450,000 didn’t vote at all, many of them making that decision because they were disgusted by the current political set-up. That’s a total of around 800,000 voters who could demand a coalition government that would make this place a success.
There will be different views on the constitutional question among the voters and parties outside the DUP and Sinn Fein. Hopefully, though, they would agree with the principle that the only legitimate way of promoting their preference in the short to medium term is to make Northern Ireland work as well as possible.
There is even an argument that Northern Ireland could have a First Minister and two deputies, to allow for one for the “others” if they attain a certain threshold of seats. When one reflects on the examples on this island of how to do relationships more constructively, we need look no further than the Irish rugby and hockey teams, and the work of the IFA and the Northern Ireland football fans.
Alternatively, we can submit to the current climate of pessimism and a future that is dark and divided with a politics that polarises the people with all its consequences. That would, indeed, be foolish.
TREVOR RINGLAND Holywood, Co Down