@Paul. I made my views known about the incompatibility of the GFA and the Brexit proposal before the referendum, although in those days the majority of those posts would have been on Facebook. (I say the "Brexit proposal" as at that time it wasn't defined so could have been anywhere on a spectrum from EEA membership, or Norway style agreement through to no deal in those days; Brexit wasn't defined, although it was said a deal would be easy to negotiate to the UK's advantage. Actually, it still isn't defined, really!) It was one, but not the only reason, I voted to remain, as I've explained previously. At that time I didn't think the government would act so incompetently as to create such a great divide in the UK as they have done. Given the close result I thought they'd be sensible enough to engage with remainers in parliament to construct a sensible, consensual, plan before invoking A50. How wrong I was! I didn't think they'd go as far as alienating some citizens that there's a realistic possibility of the UK breaking up. Anyway, the article I posted about the loyalist threat in NI was just noting one of my fears had been realistic. With regard to Brexiters revolting, I don't see why they should if a second referendum is held: either it will verify their position or the result will change based on new information. The reason I want a second referendum is: to-date Brexit has failed and things have moved on. Let's rethink. I believe leavers were mislead by their campaigners but the remain campaign had its issues, concentrating on the problemn of leaving rather than the benefits of being part of a united, strong Europe. Trump, by deserting the US Kurdish allies, show how it would be folly to rely on negotiating a good trade deal with the US. A few right wing thugs might get upset and have a riot but I don't think there'll be major unrest if a second referendum reverses the decision. Even if there were food shortages, galloping inflation and medicine shortages after a no deal I doubt there'd be much unrest, perhaps just a thumping great loss for Johnson at the election in November?Finally, on a separate point, when I was in NY in the early 80s I did see some collections in an Irish pub, so I'm sure US dollars did find their way to groups in NI. When I was in NI early September there seemed no obvious sign of trouble but I was in a bit of an astronomy/astrophysics bubble with a lot of science people from Dublin and Belfast, as well as Scotland and England: no boundaries in the Universe if line creacks the science 🙂
Michael Ixer ● 2585d