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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder what is so bad about being a 'lefty'?

202 replies

imwithspud · 15/09/2016 19:49

I see it all the time during political discussions on social media. That if you hold certain views you are branded a 'lefty' or 'loony left' like its some sort of insult. I've noticed that it tends to be a stock response by some people when they can't think of something more intelligent to say.

Aibu to wonder what is so 'loony' about holding left wing views, and that actually the world would be a better place if people were more tolerant?

OP posts:

winkywinkola · 16/09/2016 23:47

NNChamgeagain, can you tell us how many more opportunities you've had since Labour were voted out?

You mean opportunities that arose because Labour were voted out or because the Condems or the last election, the Tories were voted in?

JudyCoolibar · 17/09/2016 00:04

I disagree. I'm a women, and have had more opportunities since Labour were voted out of government.

You wouldn't feel that way if you were a woman with a disabled child. You would have discovered that it's much harder to get help in caring for your child, your child is in longer waiting lists for the medical care he needs, the system for dealing with his SEN has become chaotic, and if you are poor and need to try to improve provision for his SEN you have much less choice of solicitors and expert witnesses than was the case under Labour. If you get into matrimonial difficulties, you would find that you can no longer get legal aid to pay a solicitor to help and have to deal with very complex legal issues by yourself. If you're in rented accommodation and in need of benefits in order to live, you would find that the extra room you need because your autistic child can't share a room with his sibling is deemed a luxury for which you have to pay extra. If you're a woman who has been trafficked into this country and exploited, it has become much more difficult to get help to escape. If you used to work but got sacked unfairly, again you can't get legal help in trying to get redress and you have to find hefty tribunal fees into the bargain.

Do you really feel that your personal experience is the sole measure of whether opportunities for women have improved?

winkywinkola · 17/09/2016 07:26

Im really curious to know specifically what opportunities for women have emerged as a result of Labour not being in government and the ConDems being in?

Not that I consider Labour to be necessarily champions of women's rights.

MissMargie · 17/09/2016 07:38

All this talk about schools but no one explains why some are bad.

In theory all DCs get the same financial input (except some with SEN).

Surely the lefties insisting we don't have grammars should list how they will improve schools so there is no need for them. No one seems to do that or to suggest giving extra money needed to do that.

I suspect it is pussyfooting around the politically incorrect fact that some parents are crap at bringing up DCs so that schools are dealing with that instead of just teaching.

Ego147 · 17/09/2016 08:31

Surely the lefties insisting we don't have grammars should list how they will improve schools so there is no need for them. No one seems to do that or to suggest giving extra money needed to do that

If you look at the grammar school threads, you'll see plenty of discussion on there about how education could be improved - and those threads are probably the best place to discuss them.

SolomanDaisy · 17/09/2016 08:40

The poster who thinks there are more opportunities for women under the Conservatives can only be a Conservative MP offered the opportunity to serve in Cabinet.

ghostyslovesheep · 17/09/2016 08:49

and maybe the 'righties' on this thread who want Grammar school can explain why the tory academy dream is failing so badly?

NNChangeAgain · 17/09/2016 08:52

Do you really feel that your personal experience is the sole measure of whether opportunities for women have improved?

Not at all - the point I was making is that when left wing people like mini tells me I'm wrong and make statements such as "women are worse off" without explaining why she believes that, then I have the choice between accepting her statement or trusting my own experience.

Whereas, when someone like yourself posts from your own perspective, then I can factor in other people's experiences as well as my own.

Debate and discussion requires people to justify and defend their arguments. All to often I am face with people like mini who tell me I'm wrong "because she says so" and who resort to personal attack on anyone who doesn't share their view. ("We don't need more women like TM).
As I said upthread, this leaves me to conclude that some people on the left have the goal of eliminating right wing opposition all together.

lostowl · 17/09/2016 08:52

Because lefties are too idealist and seem to be out of touch with reality. I'd like to help everyone, but it's simply not possible.

Ego147 · 17/09/2016 08:57

I'd like to help everyone, but it's simply not possible

Bloody lefties wanting to help everyone and make the world a better place. How dare they have ideals

ghostyslovesheep · 17/09/2016 08:58

judy gave lots of examples though

ghostyslovesheep · 17/09/2016 08:59

I'm so out of touch with reality working on the front line of social services - it's all unicorns and rainbows !

winkywinkola · 17/09/2016 09:00

NNchangeagain, what is your experience of life improving as a woman specifically without a Labour government and under a Tory government?

ghostyslovesheep · 17/09/2016 09:00

also NN you are showing a particular right wing attitude of 'I'm all right so everyone else must be' - your experience are just that - yours - maybe you need to considered it's not like that for everyone else?

winkywinkola · 17/09/2016 09:01

Lostowl, idealism is very important, I believe.

From idealism, you distil practical applications.

NNChangeAgain · 17/09/2016 09:02

The poster who thinks there are more opportunities for women under the Conservatives can only be a Conservative MP offered the opportunity to serve in Cabinet.

. Lol! If only!

No, the chances that have opened up to me are a result of the higher personal tax allowance, and support for new/small businesses. Opportunities offered in the voluntary sector have ultimately led to a new career for DH, which in turn has improved our quality of life.

Ego147 · 17/09/2016 09:05

without explaining why she believes that

On here:

Yup - loads more opportunity to live in insecure and unaffordable housing, be stuck in abusive relationships, be poor, have no rights at work and become unemployed

Not judy - but some things people have mentioned.

What do you think this Government has done to improve the lives of women?

ProfessorPreciseaBug · 17/09/2016 09:05

There is nothing wring with haveing left wing views...
The problem arrises when people with left wing views get into power!

This country was bankrupted by the Labour party evey time they have been in power since WW2. The world banking crisis was caused by Clinton forcing the banks to lend to poor families so that everyone would have the opportunity to own their home. North Korea is ostensibly a left wing state.. enough about that one. China is a so called comunist state.. It started to rise as an economy once they abandoned the principle of state owneship of everything.. But they still hold onto basic abuse of human rights. Hollonde near wrecked the French economy with ideals like short working week and social rights. The Greeks .....?!

But I do know that will not go down well..

ghostyslovesheep · 17/09/2016 09:06

but specifically - under this government - for WOMEN how have things improved - it's great that your DH got a job - but for women?

NNChangeAgain · 17/09/2016 09:07

your experience are just that - yours - maybe you need to considered it's not like that for everyone else?

As I said, I'm happy to consider alternative POV when they are explained to me - blindly accepting someone's assertion that I'm wrong is not debate, though.

I'm not naive enough to believe that everyone is better off - no government can achieve that. But Dos anyone support a political party which proposes policies which will be detrimental to people like themselves?

Ego147 · 17/09/2016 09:07

No, the chances that have opened up to me are a result of the higher personal tax allowance, and support for new/small businesses

That's it? All you can think of.

I am sure people will tell you of the many issues that still exist. Part time working issues, zero hours contracts, worries about housing, Surestart funding, childcare issues,

YokoUhOh · 17/09/2016 09:08

notnob you're wrong. It's not anti-Semitic to disagree with the current Israeli government's policies. In the same way as it's not anti-British to disagree with our current government's policies.

NNChangeAgain · 17/09/2016 09:11

but specifically - under this government - for WOMEN how have things improved

I haven't ever said they have - I've said they've improved for me.

winkywinkola · 17/09/2016 09:12

In what way?

NNChangeAgain · 17/09/2016 09:16

I am sure people will tell you of the many issues that still exist.

I hope they would. They often do on other threads.

The point on this thread is that when I said I am campaigning for more women in politics, I was told I was wrong to do so and should campaign for better policies for women instead - and told I was wrong when I explained my own experience of those policies.

I have never, once on this thread, said that I think women collectively are better or worse off under the Torys. Those words have been put into my mouth and others are arguing something which I never said .

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