To think being a member of the Armed Forces does not make someone "incredibly Right Wing".?

[Sparklysilversequins]

I used to be in the army and was asked this week if now that I was out I still held such Right Wing views. I do not and never have though perhaps was not quite as Liberal as I am now but that was as much do do with lack of life experience than being particularly Right Wing.

The person who said it was actually quite accusatory in her manner as well.

So would you think this? It never occurred to me that anyone might.

I wouldn't ascribe political leaning to any group. Lazy stereotyping.

It wouldn't occur to me either. YANBU

I agree. I grew up in an army town and think that the full range of political affiliations were represented in armed force members - apathy being the most dominant! YANBU

Tell her to fuck off, people like her would be the first to piss their pants and cry for help in a dangerous situation.

Silly bitch.

YANBU. The person who asked you sounds a bit stupid TBH. Or perhaps she is just very lacking in life experience.

Sounds like they're an idiot who doesn't know what they're talking about.

You should have said that you're softening your views on compulsory sterilisation of left-wing nutjobs, but still think they should be exiled to the Isle of Man. And smiled at her in a cold and unblinking kind of way.

Probably not incredibly right wing- but certainly right of centre.

Ironically, life in an forces family is rather like living in a communist commune; free health care for you and your family, it's decided where you work, where you live (a house will be provided for you), what position you'll work in for the greater good...apart from ranks and all that salary business, it really is quite fluffy and left wing.

"...apart from ranks and all that salary business, it really is quite fluffy and left wing."........ Apart from the invading other countries, the dropping bombs on people, the supporting regimes friendly to the government against the wishes of the inhabitants..........

So to be in the Armed Forces someone would have to be certainly right of centre. Most if the people I know who joined did so because there were no jobs where they lived and no opportunity for travel and experiences outside their immediate social circle. I don't know one single person who joined for political reasons.

My father was in the army for 22 years, and every minute of the last 60-odd years he's been a hard-line Socialist.
Not fluffy at all.

Yes, sorry, I had forgotten your average Private on 15K a year gets a say in where we invade- I must remind DP.

I think it is sloppy thinking.

Right wing and authoritarian are often confused for a start.

Some left wing countries/governments are authoritarian. Some left wing regimes invade other countries even

And I'd also like to add...soldiers families do not get access to medical services above and beyond the usual nhs provision in the area. It's an absolute lark finding a new gp and dentist every 2 years.....

My son is joining the navy because he wants to help fight war on drugs, help in humanitarian issues, see the world and do something worthwhile.

He is a member of the Labour Party.

She's a twat.

Curlew - can I ask if you actually know any people in the Armed Forces? I understand that you might not approve of the military and the wars that we have recently been involved in but it seems to me as thought you are projecting those views on to actual serving members of the Armed Forces. I was in the RAF until recently and I would say that there is a smattering of all political affiliations and views held by personnel across the Armed Forces - we recruit from society so we are going to have a reflection of society's values (left and right wing, as well as middle of the road). In fact I knew some right bolshie people (not as in Bolshevik, but just stroppy) who had a problem with authority and following the rules. Sure there are stereotypes but aren't there in any walk of life/employment?

labour voters often have what would be considered quite right wing views, so hard to judge from voting patterns or political party allegiance whether someone has right wing views

curious - do you have ''right wing views'', op, and if so, what?

"My son is joining the navy because he wants to help fight war on drugs, help in humanitarian issues, see the world and do something worthwhile."

Has he considered how he will feel if he is deployed to a war zone?

go tell Miss Fluffy to read up on her history. If she is not 100% white ask her what she thinks would have happened to her family during the early 1940s if it had not been for the armed services.

very easy to whine about a free society if you live in one.

"go tell Miss Fluffy to read up on her history. If she is not 100% white ask her what she thinks would have happened to her family during the early 1940s if it had not been for the armed services."

What on earth do you mean?

Heck no.

My husbands last CO told them before the general election that if they didn't vote conservative the armed forces would be screwed over though....

Two points, am very glad my husband can think for himself and, I would love to see his face if this comment was played back to him in light of everything they have done.

I don't believe I hold any Right Wing views, though I am staunchly supportive of our troops but on a personal level as I know so many members.

On the political compass test I am further left than the Dalai Lama!

Lol! I joined the Navy at 17 as a medic. It had absolutely fuckall to do with politics, more to do with the fact I lived in the middle of nowhere and it seemed an obvious and easy way to get out and see a bit of the world. And i did get deployed to a war zone - it's part of the job. For what it's worth I consider my political views pretty liberal.

I have a friend who is an officer in the TA and he is definitely left of centre (even in Scottish terms).

He was also against the war in Iraq.