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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that being Tory doesn't make you thick?

755 replies

RainbowSheep · 10/12/2011 19:28

Ok, my family are all very liberal (I mean my parents, aunts & uncles, who incidently have all had lots of money & opportunities throughout their lives). Their parents (who were poor working class) were more conservative as are me and my brother, who are both pretty poor. We recently had a family get together where I was told by my uncle (university lecturer) that Tories were unitelligent and I was beginning to sound like an idiot for having conservative views... I don't think I am particularly right wing.

OP posts:
claig · 15/12/2011 12:47

You are the one who is implying that I and the millions who voted Tory have no empathy. You should be ashamed of yourself.

perceptionreality · 15/12/2011 12:53

I have not made personal comments regarding lack of empathy to any individual on this thread. You have, though claig! I was actually talking about people I had met in real life and my family among them.

Are you saying I am not entitled to my opinion? You very defensive, why do you think that is?

claig · 15/12/2011 12:57

You have implied that Tories lack empathy.

Do you think that Cameron's wife lacks empathy? Do you think you are in some way morally superior to her or millions of Tories?

I am not defensive at all. I call humbug where I see it and I dislike views that claim moral superiority over other people.

yellowraincoat · 15/12/2011 12:58

When I read this stuff, it makes me long for Scotland. A cheese sandwich has more chance of being elected there than the Tories.

ElaineReese · 15/12/2011 13:01

Is Samantha Cameron the best example of an empathetic human being, then?

claig · 15/12/2011 13:01

' A cheese sandwich has more chance of being elected there than the Tories.'

I agree with you, yellowraincoat, and I have heard that one or two chesse sandwiches have been successful.

CardyMow · 15/12/2011 13:01

What do Tories that are NOT eye-wateringly rich expect will happen to their family, if, say, their car with their entire family in was involved in a car crash that left the main earner AND one of their children disabled? That COULD happen to anyone. Are those in the 'squeezed Middle' that voted Tory so sure that they could financially manage to cope long-term, financially, without recourse to claiming welfare benefits, if that were to happen to THEIR family?

Because when I as the main earner was diagnosed with a disability, and two of my children were diagnosed with disabilities within the space of 6 weeks, I couldn't cope financially, long-term without recourse to claiming welfare benefits. £20,000 of savings only goes so far when you are using it to cover your every outgoing. Eight years down the line, not only has every penny of that £20K gone, but I am struggling not to get into debt just to pay for evrryday expenses like the children's shoes. Or shoes for myself, which come so far down the list that someone had to DONATE a pair to me when my last pair were letting in water.

It's a long way to fall, and it can happen to ANYONE. And I can't see why a lot of Tory voters can't see that. Or maybe they DO expect that they will get enough welfare benefits to live off should they be lef in a similar situation. But there won't BE a proper Welfare State left, should the worst happen to these people. It is being surreptitiously being dismantled under the banner of "There's no money left". And once it has gone, it won't be coming back.

perceptionreality · 15/12/2011 13:03

I think you've illustrated my points perfectly claig, thank you.

wtf has Cameron's wife to do with this debate? I do not know her. I have given my opinions based upon a general trend of thought among people I know including my family which is not unreasinable.

You can try all you like to obscure the facts and bleat on about my views about the DM. But a lot of defenseless people are going to be out in the cold because of this government's policies with no way to support themselves at all.

And that is what is shameful.

claig · 15/12/2011 13:04

'Is Samantha Cameron the best example of an empathetic human being, then?'

Who said "the best"? I believe all human beings are empathetic. I don't rank them and decide who is "best".

perceptionreality · 15/12/2011 13:04

unreasonable*

yellowraincoat · 15/12/2011 13:04

Like who, Claig? I don't remember a cheese sandwich being elected, but maybe your memory is better than mine.

They won't NEED benefits, Hunty, cos they'll pull themselves up by their bootstraps obviously. Hmm

ElaineReese · 15/12/2011 13:06

But why are you asking whether Samantha Cameron is empathetic? What point would it prove?

.

Olderyetwilder · 15/12/2011 13:08

Being a Tory doesn't make you thick, it's the other way round

claig · 15/12/2011 13:10

'And I can't see why a lot of Tory voters can't see that.'

Of course Tories can see that. Do you think they are so "thick" that they don't realise thay could be in an accident or lose their jobs or homes or get a life-threatening illness? But they don't base every decision they make on those possibilities. They tend to want a strong economy that provides wealth and prosperity for the country so that if they are in need of help, that the best services will be provided for them and others.

ElaineReese · 15/12/2011 13:11

They'd have to be pretty thick to think that was the way things are going at the moment, then!

Isn't unemployment high right now? I can't remember the last time it was at this level!

Hang on.

claig · 15/12/2011 13:12

'But why are you asking whether Samantha Cameron is empathetic? What point would it prove?'

Because I am making it specififc to show that generalisations such as Tories lack empathy are nonsense. Think about your Tory neighbours, relatives and friends and don't set yourself up as holier than them. Have a bit of humility about your empathy.

shouldnotbehere · 15/12/2011 13:15

yanbu

claig · 15/12/2011 13:16

'They'd have to be pretty thick to think that was the way things are going at the moment, then!
Isn't unemployment high right now? I can't remember the last time it was at this level!'

No they are not "thick" yet again. They knew this would happen and was the inevitable consequence of Labour's note saying "sorry there's no money left" and their "light touch regulation" of the banks. They know it will take time to turn it round and cut the deficit. But they think that the Tories have a better chance of doing it than Labour, who already left the note saying "sorry there's no money left".

yellowraincoat · 15/12/2011 13:17

If you're trying to show us the error of our ways, claig, I don't know if Samantha Cameron was the best example to choose.

Personally, I don't have any Tory friends or relatives so it's hard for me to judge.

I do think it's funny that you're telling us to be humble. Your hectoring just sort of lacks much...humility.

ElaineReese · 15/12/2011 13:17

I have no idea how empathetic Samantha Cameron, so no comment.

I have one Tory relative, but he's old and I'll make an exception. I'm not really friends with any Tories.

The Tories on here always seem to be the first to say that dogs should be allowed to jump at children, you shouldn't feel you have to invite children to parties so as not to leave them out, teachers should be superhuman and if not they are LIVID with the school etc - so on the whole, I do find that the more right wing, then - consistently - the less empathy shown. Actually.

claig · 15/12/2011 13:19

'Personally, I don't have any Tory friends or relatives so it's hard for me to judge.'

Can't you use your empathy?

ElaineReese · 15/12/2011 13:19

Oh, the note again. Change the flipping record!

Yes, because 17 years ago, the Tories had also just taken over from a Labour government, hadn't they?

Either that or they'd been in power 16 years already, I forget which.

yellowraincoat · 15/12/2011 13:20

I never said anything about empathy, claig. Did I?

ElaineReese · 15/12/2011 13:20

Claig you are really losing this. Use your empathy to imagine an imaginary empathetic Tory, are you saying?

Ok... NNNNGGGGGG.... yes, done it. My imaginary Tory wot I made with my empathy is called Jenny, and she's lovely.

claig · 15/12/2011 13:22

'Ok... NNNNGGGGGG.... yes, done it. My imaginary Tory wot I made with my empathy is called Jenny, and she's lovely'

OK, now think of another one.

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