"Are you northern or southern working class?" Neither - I'm a Scot who was an army brat so I've lived all over uk (and have a fairly muddled accent as a result which confuses the hell out of people - I mention that only as I write how I speak on here and so I'm vaguely aware that my vocab and turn of phrase can lead people to think I'm from a variety of parts of the U.K.)
"and being poor in an area where there is nothing is a lot different to being poor in an affluent area" definitely agree. We've lived in deprived areas and affluent areas and how far your own money goes (because dads wage remained the same wherever we were and contrary to some unknowledgeable people's opinions army pay for non officers was NEVER that great) can vary depending on that areas resources.
"Anyway, the point is that what you see as socialism may well look like London, but what I see as socialism looks very grim indeed, we can’t share wealth and resources that aren’t there
I think that have a well funded healthy welfare state and a good base level of living conditions for all we need capitalism." And there we disagree.
Capitalism is very much being seen even by economists now as not working. Trickle down economics is a myth.
Socialism, by which I mean fair distribution of resources to ensure all are cared for in a society, does not necessarily mean the non creation of wealth and resources to distribute. Currently we have the wealthiest people in society (and not just in U.K. This is pretty much worldwide) hoarding wealth they've accumulated off the backs of the working class who they do not pay fairly. "There's not unlimited funds to go around" no there aren't unlimited funds, but what there IS shouldn't be sitting in a bloody bank vault doing nothing but accumulating interest for the claimed owner that they will never actually spend as they have MORE than they could possibly ever need for them and their loved ones to live on while people who have directly or indirectly contributed to that wealth are left to go hungry, homeless, and suffer from ill health and disability when such matters could be resolved.
It's obscene that there are billions spent on warmongering, propping up minority govts, paying expenses to supposedly public employees who don't need it and get a decent salary etc etc etc
The protectionist policies of this govt aren't even working!
We're more in debt as a country, our infrastructure is falling apart.
If eg we were to institute a policy of building lots more social housing rather than preventing councils and others from doing so, that would create jobs, therefore increasing income tax collected, money spent on our society overall (generally the rich hoard, the poor spend) therefore reviving the economy generally, relieving the housing crisis overall, bringing down housing prices, reducing vandalism and other crimes, improving communities overall.
Why isn't this happening? Look at how many MPs are landlords, property developers and similar and then look at how they vote on such matters REGARDLESS of what their constituents want!
It's corrupt, a conflict of interests. And the same is true of other areas of politics too.
When everyone in a society is supported people have more confidence in spending are less likely to be victims let alone perpetrators of crime, are in better health and so more likely to remain in work/remain in work for longer and so paying income tax and NI, if they're earning they are also more invested in keeping their homes and communities in good order, they're happier, they're more likely to want to help others etc
"Labour - who actually knows what they stand for." Go and look at their manifesto to find out! The same is true for all parties.
"The Lib Dems actively enabled the Tories on some of their worst policies in the coalition." Totally agree. That was heartbreaking.