The Fear Factor?

[Shades40]

Troubles 'could be returning'

link

Is there any truth in the assumption that Unionist newspapers and politicians use this "fear factor" on it's supporters, the reason I ask is because I see a lot of headlines like the one above used often in the newsletter but quite the opposite in say the Irish news, if it is true what implications does it have?

[earl]

Unionist politicians always used the fear factor to try and keep working class Protestants from possibly uniting with working class Catholics in fighting for equality throughout the ages. They also used it because some politicians done sweet FA for their constituents because scaremongering was a lot easier to do than actual work in their constituencies. I know that it looks like I'm singling out just unionist politicians here, but all politicians ultimately will take the easiest road to get their votes.

[Shades40]

This from the proclamation also got me wondering...........

The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and all of its parts, cherishing all of the children of the nation equally and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past.

[Wasp]

Sept 17, 2008 14:16:27 GMT earl said:

Unionist politicians always used the fear factor to try and keep working class Protestants from possibly uniting with working class Catholics in fighting for equality throughout the ages. They also used it because some politicians done sweet FA for their constituents because scaremongering was a lot easier to do than actual work in their constituencies. I know that it looks like I'm singling out just unionist politicians here, but all politicians ultimately will take the easiest road to get their votes.

What utter rubbish earl. For starters politicians from bothsides use the fear factor, secondly to say Unionist politicians used this to keep working class Prods from uniting with working class catholics etc is also rubbish and is misleading. Reading this makes it sound as though Unionist politiicans are to blame for any divide, they are to blame for not letting the working classes mix etc. This is far from true and unfair. Fear factor was used by bothsides and it certainly wasn't what you have suggested it to be.

To answer your question shades I am in agreement with Tom Elliot who is one of the few Unionist politiicans I like and given the chance would probably vote for. We only have to look at the present dissident campaign, which is mirrored by the dissident campaign by the ira in the 50's and we all know what followed that campaign.

There is also the nature of sectarian attacks by bothsides, the hatred and bitterness in some places is as strong if not stronger than ever. Our politicians are still playing silly beggars instead of dealing firstly with real issues affecting each and everyone of us. One of the reasons why we need direct rule until everthing is sorted out properly before our useless politicians can take the role of governing us.

The question must be asked as to not if but when will loyalist groups strike back at dissidents.

[earl]

You only have to look at how the dockers strike at the start of the last century to see that it's true WASP. It was made to look like a republican plot to split the Protestant working class from the Catholic working class.

[Wasp]

That is 100 years ago and it is 1 event, I am sure there are a few others but that does not give evidence to the picture you were trying to paint. FFS Earl you are trying to back your arguement with 100 years ago by saying 'Unionist politicians always used the fear factor to try and keep working class Protestants from possibly uniting with working class Catholics in fighting for equality throughout the ages. They also used it because some politicians done sweet FA for their constituents because scaremongering was a lot easier to do than actual work in their constituencies'.

[Wasp]

I think Earl the fear factor you should be speaking about is terrorism, we have lived through it for 4 decades.

[earl]

A valid point WASP.

[Wasp]

Fair enough Earl.