Ireland became a back door to Britain – The Spectator

[baylisscg]

Keeping the border between the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the UK open is a very, very, big deal because it's a component of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday_Agreement and not having car bombings and assassinations is a good thing.

[richliss]

Maybe it's time for the really interesting referendum - the one that asks if we want the UK to exist as it does now going forward?

Pick your future from:

- As-Is

- All on their own (complete dissolution)

- England, Wales and Scotland remain, NI out

- England, Wales and NI remain, Scotland out

- England, Scotland and NI remain, Wales out

- NI, Wales and Scotland remain, England out

- England and Wales as one group, Scotland and NI as another

etc.

I genuinely believe that the ageing, flag-waving rule Britannia types would be surprised by the outcome.

Would the Scottish referendum have been different if they asked all other regions "Do you want to keep the Scottish?"

After all, what's the point in a political union when several parts of it want to break away and remain in a different political union?

[pm24601]

Classic problem with single line of "defense" thinking. That defense has to be perfect.

Same problem in US with thinking that a border wall will help when most undocumented immigrants are visa overstays.

[microwavecamera]

If it's that bad of a problem just move the borders back to England where they were to begin with.

[steve19]

I might be wrong but I don't think Ireland has ever been ruled by a single government.