Serious question: why is it bad to be a champagne socialist?

[JawJaw]

Being a champagne socialist is apparently a bad thing. I am mystified about this. Can someone explain why?

This whole "I'll gladly pay more tax, but not voluntarily - only when everyone pays more" stance seems daft to me. I don't think "I'd like to donate to (e.g.) Shelter, but no, what use will my £50 do? I'm not giving to any charities or causes until everyone else gives the same". Rubbish. My £50 will do some small good for maybe one or two people, and that's better than nothing so I'll donate it. Same with paying more tax; your voluntary donation will make a start at helping the NHS, so come on socialists, put your money where your mouths are.

It was very much used in Blair’s time even though New Labour were not socialists

the Labour Party had moved on from being so tied in with unions, the appeal widened and they also attracted voters that celebrated aspiration (much like many voters were attracted to Thatcher, which she of course attributed to herself by saying Blair and New Labour was her best achievement 😆)

there has always been a bit of romanticising about working class people within Labour. I think they fall into two groups those who feel that the working classes just want the better off to be paying a bit more so the less well off can benefit (more along the line of Corbyn’s stance) and those that feel the working classes look to the better off and think I want a bit of that too (Blair’s stance)

No.. if you were brought up working class, you are always working class, regardless of what lifestyle you live.

Your children and future generations will grow up middle class. Your class does not change. I could win the lottery tomorrow, it wouldn't make me middle class. Class isn't about money.

It means your socialist views are in conflict with your lifestyle.

You have an intellectual understanding of socialism and solidarity with working classes, but you view it from a privileged position, i.e where you only have a theoretical understanding of what it really means to be a prole, and discuss it at dinner parties quaffing champers.

I disagree with this, I think class is quite fluid/vague and the definitions/boundaries change over time (definitely has in my lifetime). Agree it’s not to do with money.

What makes you think we dont?
To answer the original question, it's not bad to be a champagne socialist.

As an aside, my mate and I had a bottle of champagne in the village pub on Friday night to celebrate the victory. We'd stayed up for most of the night watching the results come in. It was bloody marvellous.

I'm not working class but I believe strongly that if you're fortunate enough to be in the posittion that your life is alright from a financial perspective, that it's good to support people that cannot help themselves. Labour to the core. I don't care if I get taxed more. I'm lucky to earn more than enough.

Yep it’s more for show and I don’t think actual levelling of wealth is desired

To understand you need a basic understanding of Marxism.

You will probably get further reading on the internet rather than asking a load of strangers on a forum who are enjoying taking the piss out of you.

Because it's hypocritical; for example they've benefited from capitalism and family wealth, public school, nice houses, but they want everyone else to have a glass ceiling and be 'equal'.

A lot of them are also NIMBYs - a champagne socialist I know has her various 'causes of the day' - a while back it was campaigning for asylum seekers, whilst simultaneously protesting against land in our village being developed for housing.

Hasn't mentioned asylum seekers for quite a while; her new raison d'etre is trans rights. She's a full-on pride-attending ally. Yet what I don't get is that she's very against gender stereotypes, particularly with her daughters...

Being critical of ‘nimby racists’ who don’t want their areas filled with refugee hotels, while living in a comfortable white middle class area where this would never happen (hello half of mumsnet)

Oh, absolutely this!

How much more tax would you not care about? What you could afford without any worry, or an amount that would really hurt financially?

Being willing to pay tax is not by itself a sign of being a socialist.

Sorry, but this is wrong. A champagne socialist is one purporting to be 'of the common man, for the worker, etc, understanding what it's like to be on the bones of yourcarese', yet lives in Islington (or othe middle class are), throws dinner parties and enjoys the hospitality of the rich at ascot and wimbledon.
See Blair et al

Because it's basically when privileged people have principles on behalf of everyone else on issues that will never affect their own lives.

Because they believe in equality yet use money for private education, etc.
They are disingenuous

https://letmegooglethat.com/

it is one of the characteristics of socialism - wanting to contribute into society through fair taxation.

but it's like religion - claiming to be a socialist is akin to saying what a devout Christian you are, it takes the edge off. It's best just to pay your taxes, go to church on Sunday, whatever. No need to humble-brag or shine your halo in public.

Maybe what they DO is vote for change and improved conditions for the poor and better public services knowing this will cost them more in tax.

It’s not called the ‘shy Tory effect’ for nothing.

I agree with that. But it’s inherent with champagne socialists (I prefer the phrase Gucci socialist) that they do tell the world about their socialist beliefs…while avoiding anything that will actually diminish their lifestyle in any appreciable way.

I am never ever going to volunteer to pay more tax. I already pay a high rate, I have been paying it for 40 years, and my estate will pay more when I die. And for what? To have it squandered? Pissed away on people who can't be arsed to lose the weight that would give the healthcare a chance to cure their ills.

It's not called slactivism for nothing.

This^
Perceived as being double standards at the very least.
Islington for example was full of them 30 odd years ago. I have no idea what it is like there now.

It’s even worse.

@FinalCeleryScheme Blimey!