From:	Paul J. Adam Paul@********.demon.co.uk
Subject:	Value and so on....
Date:	Sun, 25 Jul 1999 13:59:13 +0100

In article <3.0.3.32.19990716170524.0092c100@***.softhome.net>,
IronRaven <cyberraven@********.net> writes
>At 20.08 07-16-99 +0100, you wrote:
>>Uh... not quite. We elect our government. They work for us, but take
>>authority from the Crown. If the Crown gets uppity, well, ask Charles I
>
> OK, I'm going back to the IRA and Sein Fein. (I don't like thier
>politics, but they are a successful modern insergency.)

Successful how? Their goal was and is the total expulsion of all British
influence from the Six Counties. See any sign of that happening?

The political progress that's been made over the last few years has been
made _despite_ PIRA, and their ceasefire wasn't a "part of the struggle",
it was a desperation measure.


> My understanding is that if the current talks turn into a total balls up,
>then the Crown may elect to bar Sein Fein from being considered a legal
>party. I know that they weren't for years.

Wrong. Sinn Fein have, as far as I can tell, never been prevented from
taking their seat in Westminster: Gerry Adams refuses to do so, but he
may do so at any time.


Sinn Fein may be excluded from the Northern Ireland Assembly if PIRA
don't disarm on schedule, but that's a different matter altogether.

> In country with citizens, anyone can form a party and run on it, even if
>you are the only member of the Fuzzy Purple Lima Bean party and your
>platform is the liberation of your enslaved produce bretheren the nation
>over (I never said you had to be sain to run for office.) without being
>recognized by the government.

Same here, I'm afraid. Never heard of the Gremloid Party? The Natural
Law party (who believe that yogic flying is the answer to all ills?) The 6.57
Party, whose manifesto was to award Portsmouth Football Club the FA
Cup?

As long as you pony up the deposit, you can get your name on the ballot
paper. If you poll above 1%, you get the deposit back, too.

No recognition required. No official permission needed. Anyone and his
dog can create a political party, and many do :)

> To me, that is one of the biggest differences.


(Old post, but I thought the misconceptions needed clearing up)


--
Paul J. Adam