Sectarian Power-Sharing Indulges and Gives Power to the Most Sectarian

In response to remarks made by first minister Peter Robinson, Patrick Murphy wrote in the Irish News September 28 2013:

"The first minister's behaviour is symptomatic of a long-standing illness in our society."

He continued:

"Stormont is built on sectarianism and cannot operate without it. Power-sharing on a sectarian basis merely gives power to the most sectarian. The system works in that it stops both sides killing each other, but the price is that they are allowed to kill democracy and good government instead."

Opposition is the ointment to Group Think

The Harvard Business Review explains:

"Every leader should take this advice to heart: never shy away from opposition; welcome it — better yet, encourage it, then encourage it some more."

And here's some examples:

"If you surround yourself with too many like-minded colleagues, that is, you can create a culture of group think. That’s not good. Just take a look back at U.S. history. Lyndon Johnson’s escalation of military action in Vietnam, John F. Kennedy’s invasion of Cuba — many historians have argued that these mistakes were fueled by too many team members refusing to voice their opposition."