Political unionism has compromised, and executive and assembly power is based on equality.
The Labour government formerly committed itself to devolution in its 1997 manifesto, which led to the Scottish executive, Welsh assembly, and the return of a London government in the form of the Greater London Authority.
Robinson went on to become a leading negotiator in the talks that led to the 2006 St. Andrew's Agreement, which paved the way for a full restoration of the Northern Ireland executive and assembly, with Ian Paisley, the DUP's leader since its founding, as first minister and McGuinness as deputy first minister.
Mr Cameron accepted that making the executive and assembly work well was also going to be hard.
But the potential for war, recession and higher gasoline prices have deeply unsettled auto executives, dealers, assembly workers and just about anyone else connected to the industry.
Cavaignac was retained in office as temporary executive, while the assembly turned to its central task.
So a mailroom clerk could become the chief executive, and an assembly line worker could eventually become a manager.
Mr. Cordes, who took over the truck unit in late 2000, administered bitter medicine, dismissing Freightliner's chief executive, closing three assembly plants, cutting the labor force in half and reducing wages.
He had hoped for cross-party support, but opposition politicians have challenged the detail of the legislation, which includes more rail powers for the Scottish executive, the Welsh assembly and the mayor of London.
In these circumstances, there are some in Sinn Féin who argue that now, or at least in early 2010, the party should bring down the power-sharing executive and force assembly elections.
