It will make NI independent of both Ireland and the UK so that between them – as in intradependence - they assure our security and guarantee us financially without having any other input into our government.
It works by each of us identifying as either Ulster British, Ulster Irish or Ulster Independent. The choice we make – which we can switch each year if it better suits our pockets, or our identity – sets the regime under which we are taxed and receive our benefits. So we express our identity and we get what we pay for. This is Consumer Choice Democracy.
Freed from the competing forces of Unionism/Nationalism, and able to express our identities in this private way through our tax code, sectarianism becomes both irrelevant and redundant. We choose what suits our pocket. No one can blame anyone for that.
As John Hume said ‘this is not about territory, it is about people.’ Intradependence expresses this another way - joint responsibility, not joint authority.
Our choices translate directly into funds for our government.
NI is presently financed by the Barnett Formula – c£12-14bn a year comes from Westminster to support a UK way of life. If those opting to be Ulster British represent 60% of our population it is that percentage of the annual Barnett Formula monies that the UK pays into the Stormont Exchequer. Likewise, if 40% opt to be Ulster Irish, then 40% becomes payable by Dublin – manageable through the growth of the RoI economy generated by Brexit and the transfer of GB companies to Ireland to stay in the EU.
There is no political gain to be had from any unionist/protestant, nationalist/catholic divide. There is only our economic common interest.
Once we have voted these monies, we will debate how to spend them ...
As per the democratic decision-making process, our political parties draw up their manifestos and their candidates to make their pitch for our votes, and we elect them on the basis of what they promise and what they deliver.
The measure of their success – how well they run the economy – will thus be the same as in any sound democracy.
Other Intradependence benefits include the removal of social apartheid costs caused by our divisions and, in particular, the removal of the fear of one side stealing a march on the other. There will be no competition and no political arguing along sectarian lines. Intradependence is unifying and life affirming, and frees us to concentrate on working for one another.
This is the effort that will build a united NI – a foundation stone without which no lasting peaceful unity is possible on this island.
Post Brexit, Unionists need to forge a new vision for the unionist population, free from the selfish interests of English nationalists. Republicans need to find an escape route from the certainty of a disunited Ireland if they continue with their current demands. For the first time in history, they need one another.
So, unless it falls to Intradependents to do the job for them, it will fall to Unionists and Republicans to do a deal whereby Unionists agree to NI leaving the UK - becoming a member of the Commonwealth - and Republicans agree to dropping their demand for a (dis) United Ireland, both agreeing to create a united island strengthened by EU-backed inward investment to build complementary economies.
Such a deal deserves a reaction and a plan.
A reaction from the people throughout this island, north, south, east and west, to say that there can be no more of the same old, same old. Enough really is enough. We can unite in Intradependence for NI. We can build a united Northern Ireland.
The plan to get us there cannot be effected in a single leap. It requires 3 steps..
THE ROAD TO INTRADEPENDENCE – A 3 STEP PROCESS
STEP ONE - Consumer Choice Democracy and Inward Investment
First, the UK and Irish governments run an educational campaign to explain Intradependence and then seek public support from the NI electorate for the Principle of Consumer Choice Democracy.
HM Treasury and their counterparts in The Dail and Stormont prepare and test taxation and benefit models to enable voters to register as either Ulster British, Ulster Irish or Ulster Independent, to ensure the transfer of funds from one department to another – and to be able to switch tax payers from one designation to another by a simple change of tax code.
All treasuries provide illustrations of the cause and effect of different choices for voters to assist decision making.
UK, NI and RoI governments launch campaigns to attract GB companies wishing to operate in the EU to transfer across the Irish Sea instead of crossing the English Channel. All governments combine and cooperate to attract world-wide inward investment to support strategic industries and infrastructures throughout the island, including education and health.
EU, UK, NI and RoI combine to transform communications across the island to support the new economy
STEP TWO –Intradependence and Strategic Investment
Once we adopt Consumer Choice Democracy, we will be able to embrace Intradependence and begin running our economy more and more powerfully, able to justify confidence in major strategic investments like a channel tunnel between Ireland and GB and/or high speed freight ferries direct to the EU.
STAGE THREE – Consolidated United Island
Having integrated our communications and our economy, assuring prosperity right across the island for one another, we can then consider the future from a position of economic strength and cultural cohesion.
Here, in the independence of a united Northern Ireland- we will find our springboard for success and self respect.
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