I can't tell you how much I hope the Conservatives win the election.

Eve your Dad shouldn't have had to work three jobs. One will do for most people. But conservative fiscal policies had caused economic difficulties far in excess of what we are seeing now.

Have to laugh at the idea that everyone has the same opportunities. Why so many Etoniains in the Tory top level then? Coincidence?

People born into depravation lack social mobility and opportunities. I don't feel comfortable with any party that doesn't aspire to level the playing field. A teenager who comes from a workless household with no "contacts" will find it almost impossible to maximise their abilities, a rich, well-supported one may well progress beyond their abilities.

As an illustration, I come from a middle-class but not well off background. I was well-supported in my state education and now have a good job. To get to the top I need a PhD. Not having someone on hand to fund my lifestyle, and not being able to manage on a scholarship, this door is closed to me. It doesn't matter that I am very academically able. I'm not bitter about it, there are lots of people far, far, far worse off than me and I'm happy as I am, but it does show that opportunities are not equal.

I agree with antoinettechigur

Tax the very rich in the meantime, and stop off-shore tax evasion, to support the public sector.

...so where does not everyone have the same opportunity??

and yes my dad worked 3 jobs.. what should he have done ...sat on his backside and relied on benefits.. as it wasn't worth his while to go to work.

Sorry antoinette - I didn't read your post properly. I should go and have a quiet lie down - I'm not reading anyone's posts properly now.

antoinette - surely by the same token then "Labour" are based upon laziness and entitlement?

Sansu - quite right, we need a shitload of 5-a-day coordinators to keep the private sector in juice!

If the Tories get in, the private sector will suffer. We forget how much everyone needs the public sector.

The private sector needs roads, lighting rubbish collection, and loads of hidden infrastructure provided by the public sector, as well as schools, hospitals and the obvious.

After cuts in public expenditure, there'll be a lag, then the private sector will feel it too.

It's totally COUNTER INTUITIVE.

So we must not have cuts in the public sector, but the opposite: I wish the Tories could understand this basic financial fact:
You can only get money back when you've put enough in, and we're at the stage of still putting in and building up.

For the sake of enlightened self-interest...even...

Don't ruin the progress by voting Tory.

Thanks Aeldermum for my say! S.

Problem is, skihorse, that the Tories are based on greed and selfishness, where as in other political parties* it is more a by-product.

*don't count BNP, UKIP as real political parties obviously.

No I was disagreeing with Eve's point that everyone has the same opportunity.

That seems manifestly not true to me

ahundredtimes I'm not really sure what your point is and why you're so against what you perceive to be a "Tory mindset".

You freely admit that there are wasters and achievers at all levels of society - yet just a paragraph previously you say it's not the case?

expat It doesn't really matter either way - I just dislike an unbalanced picture of it all. We all know a lot of MPs (and high profile donators) are corrupt bastards. I just think it's a bit off when it's all biased towards one particular party.

wel said ahundredtimes

Well, yes, skihorse.

I'm not a Labour voter, in case you wondered.

Thing is - truth is - not everyone does have the same opportunity.

That's the problem with the Conservative thinking for me - it says, look what I've done, you can do that too. It doesn't account for lots of perfectly normal human things such as luck or fortune of ability or birth. This is the error of thinking - they think everyone should be like them, like us, and then feel a weird lack of empathy and bitter irritation with those that aren't.

Some people doubtlessly do sponge off the state. There are lazy people everywhere. Just as some rich people fritter away their money without a thought, whilst others invest it wisely, or start companies or whatever. These people exist on every kind of social scale.

expatinscotland Oh, you mean like Philip Green or perhaps Richard Branson? Philip Green who not only is a labour donator but also the UK government pay HIM more tax than his companies pay in!

Expat - remember non doms pay tax on their uk earned income - I'm sure I've already mentioned this to you. And it was the Tories who pushed Labour into getting more tax out of them.

'Me too... fed up with being taxed to death.'

Why not become a non-dom like Zac Goldsmith and a lot of DC's cronies?

Then you wouldn't have to pay tax at all!

And you could accrue masses of wealth and leave it to your children tax free, too!

Eve is it a good thing your Dad had to work three jobs under the Tories?

I can't tell you how much I fear the Tories will win the election.

Small point, if you "pay out" prescription and get "nothing" in return you've maybe forgotten to pick up your medicine

Me too... fed up with being taxed to death.

Letter in our local paper.. I have 2 children, they have to share a room, my house only has 2 beds its not fair. Council should give me one.

hmmm.. you are not homeless, you are not hungry (i've seen you at school gates.. most certainly not hungry), you have clothes, your child does all school activities, neither you or you husband work...

get a flippin job and earn your house.

This country is full of people who expect things handed to them on a plate.

Benefits are great.. where needed and when needed, for carers, redundant.. etc etc... but there is such a dependency on the state for everything and such an expectation, I want it therefore I have to have it culture.

..as for saying no opportunities under Tory. I grew up under them, I went to a local state grammar school.., (before it was turned into a comp), my dad had 3 jobs to clothe and feed us...and I have

WORKED MY ARSE OF ALL MY LIFE for everything I have!!!

everyone in this country has the same opportunity.... WORK FOR IT!!!!!

...and am I fed up with all the whinging ... YES!!!!

you are responsible for your life, take ownership of it and make it happen.

Stop relying on handouts, stop making excuses

Kaylasmum - you don't need to read anything the Tories have written, just take a look at that link to the BBC website that I posted about 10/15 posts up the page. Tells you everything you need to know.

Never understood why inheritance tax is called that, since it is actually an estate tax. Would make more sense if people were taxed on what was left to them, so then it would make sense to distribute more widely, and would only be payable when actually received - ie when probabte granted and realisable value achieved.

So, Kaylasmum, how can you comment about what the Tories will or won't do if you haven't read the manifesto. I've read some of the Labour one even though I have no intention of voting for them. The information is out there on the net.

Ski - ds went to prep with the 'Fucking Fulford' boys. The father was truly unpleasant. The buzz was that he did the programme to pay the fees!

IHT is horrible because you have to pay it before probate is granted and before you can sell the house or any chattels. It is not just on the house, but any goods therein (however old and worn) and any monies left. Doesn't take much with a house to get up to £325k for one person, and then with all the other bits on top.

herbietea I'm not usually particularly interested in politics at all but it was my dgs social worker that mentioned about tax credits being cut when we were discussing how i would cope financially with my dgs if my dd does'nt get him back. I've no intention of reading anything that the tories have to say. I would'nt dream of voting for them.

crosswordgeek not sure if there was a bit of sarcasm in your post but i've already said that i was going by what someone had told me. There are actually a lot of people quite worried about their tax credits getting cut.