The direct rule government in Northern Ireland is seeking to implement what amounts to a doubling of household charges in only four years.
Once the hived-off water rates and the latest astronomical hike in housing rates are calculated, the average householder is looking at their bill more than doubling between 2006 and 2009.
More here: http://skinflicks.blogspot.com/2007/...zing-pips.html

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Bit saddened to see no one respond to this. Seems to me that various shades of Republicanism can spend literally thousands of posts debating exotica like the second Dail, but the minute a real bread and butter issue affecting hundreds of thousands of people shows up, they've nothing to say.
We don't have many unionists in here, but I would have thought they might be able to utter an opinion on something for once instead of repeatedly shouting 'No!' like some PG Tourettes victim.
Someone please prove me wrong by indicating that there's more than me gives a sh!t about this issue.

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JCSkinner, of course people care about the issue, but onless the assembly is restored there is little that can be done about it, except to organise opposition to the move.

To be honest I would imagine most only give these sort of issues a bit of minor concerns while out canvassing. The Provos are more concerned with getting more MLA's and attending St. Patricks day parades in NY while the Unionists want to keep the Fenians out.

The major parties in the 6 counties sold out their voters years ago for the promise of cosey seats in Stormont.

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Socrates

They should organise a massive demonstration against water charges. This should really bring the two communities together. There should be a huge fleet of coaches bringing supporters from Glasgow and Liverpool.

You should also organise a line of people streaching from the shores of Lough Neagh to the headquaters of the Water Board in Belfast, passing along buckets of water.

Water charges are the first step to privatization and water meters, as we have seen in Britain.

If they do go ahead there should be a massive campaign of non payment. If they try to cut off the water supply, the people shold take to the streets, Protestants and Catholics together.

And they are on the way in the 26 counties too, just not until after the election.

How else is the Government going to plug the huge revenue hole left from Stamp Duty, after the inevitable construction industry slowdown ?

Or will it put back on the 2% Tax Cut we're all being promised next year

Wait until you hear the rationale.

1. we have to pay for what we use

2. its the fairest system

3. sure they have it up North, its cross border harmonisation, needed for a United Ireland

4. The EU are making us do it

And when the usual parties try to protest, like they did on waste charges.. sure they'll all be loonies again

The cycle of stupidity just goes around and around

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1,197 people agree with me.. how many agree with you ?

And if the assembly is restored and Sinn Fein returned as second largest party, as seems likely, what will PSF do in relation to these charges?

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This is because of the hijacking of politics in Northern Ireland by the nationalist/republican and loyalist/unionist factions.

JC if the UUP promised to reduce rates, would you vote for them?


The things that matter to people are being neglected because the 2 factions do nothing but sling insults at each other (at least it's only mud these days).
What about health? Housing? Education? Local charges? The environment? No no, we have to talk about how crap the other crowd are and how we need a United Ireland / to preserve the Union (delete as appropriate).

No wonder NI have the highest domestic rates in the UK. Is it the direct rule people who set rates? I thought it was the local authorities. Either way I can't see much changing while NI politics remains poisoned (and if you start going on about who is to blame for that, you are just buying into it)

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JCSkinner, The SDLP, Sinn Féin, DUP and the Alliance party are opposed to water charges, the UUP want them capped at £100. So based on that there is no support for the introduction of these charges.

You didn't answer my question, though. Will Sinn Fein seek to rescind them if they enter government in the North?

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