AIBU to not understand why "normal" people vote Tory?

[olddogsnewtricks]

OK, so I'll probably get flamed for this but am genuinely interested! All the people I know who vote Tory are pretty well off so use private schools and healthcare. As a family we need the NHS and we need a good education system - and I can't see them getting any better under the Tories. Are these just not priorities for Tory voters or do they really believe they will improve even with a Conservative government?

Yes - it is happening to literally every single person I know with complex needs makeourfortune. And I know a lot!

Well I remember thinking when the Tories cut funding for...I don't know the term....devices for disabled people to assist movement....why this first? Who looked at the list and picked that out?

I don't use Google for my knowledge Devil. If you actually research properly using academic databases for your information you will find plenty of information with varying perspectives. It is not a black and white issue either. Look further back than the banking crisis and you will see Labour have never done well with the economy. Blair brought things back to the centre left. But Corbyn is a hard left socialist and that, historically is a complete and utter disaster for the economy.

I know a few who voted tory last time round. Most of them work in the NHS in various roles. One is a sister, another a midwife, another works in patient complaints so management. They all independently said very similar things. They were unhappy about the fact they work hard and long hours with half an hour for lunch whilst other people can live the same standard of living on benefits. None of them have ever been on benefits.

When I reminded them off a period in my life when I needed benefits they said ' oh not you. I mean the people who go on benefits because they don't want to work. '

Basically, they were angry that they had to work long hours in tough jobs for shit pay and they believed that those on benefits were to blame.

However, some of them have changed their minds recently because I think they've been disappointed that things haven't got better and though they still feel the same way about those on benefits they are not happy that their own personal circumstances have not changed.

Also they now day who do we vote for now? They feel totally at sea regarding politics.

Personally, I vote for humanitarians. The person I believe cares about those in need. If a party look after the needy, nurture the ordinary people first, they will create a solid foundation for our society. Looking after those that already have money is just helping them keep their money which is actually the resources created by the ordinary people doing the graft. I also want someone in charge who knows how to be practical about sorting out national health, social care and education. Those areas need a sensible reorganisation that benefits the majority and not the few.

I thought most economists had decided austerity was bad for the economy streetface? Certainly at the time of the last election they seemed to be largely in agreement that more public investment was needed to grow the economy.

Headofthehive - I was never able to work outside the home while ds1 was here - but things were definitely easier for him under labour (I'm not a Labour suppprter - but have previously voted tactically for them).

And easier just because there was money targetted at children with disabilities.

"I also want someone in charge who knows how to be practical about sorting out national health, social care and education. Those areas need a sensible reorganisation that benefits the majority and not the few."

This. It is what is completely lacking in politics right now. It is why so many feel 'at sea' as you say. Labour needs to get rid of Corbyn and become 'centre left' again so we don't have these awful ideological loons vying for power.

But Corbyn is a hard left socialist and that, historically is a complete and utter disaster for the economy.

Bit of the canard.

Corbyn is not far left. I believe rail is the only industry the platform mentions for public ownership. Maybe energy? The tax stance is pretty centrist.

Regarding Governments in general, Attlee is still held in high regards? And as the Conservatives freely signed up to the post-war consensus, one might say that any stability they achieved was owed to that Government?

The centre always wins power in the UK. Labour only regained power nit he past when it stole the Tories clothes as it were and May is very very centrist, far too much for my liking but the best choice there is for me. The left may not like the fact the British people go for the middle ground but it is so and if Corbyn wants power he is going to have to shift his policies more to the centre and also convince people Labour can look after the economy better than the Tories and help the country spend only what it has to spend so we can support the welfare state.

Yes Devil hard austerity is preventing growth in some areas. Equally, spending like a millionaire and Christmas. The economy is in fairly good shape. Not as good as the Tories would have us believe but investment and growth are good and if we are to be forced through with Brexit it is arguably in a better position than it would be under anyone else. For now.

My argument isn't 'pro Tory' in any way. I am just trying to answer the OP insofar as to why some of us 'normals' may decide to vote Tory. We have few alternatives until Corbyn steps aside and allows Labour to return to a realistic alternative.

As one poster said in response to, why are you voting Tory?, 'Corbyn, Corbyn, Corbyn'

I meant, 'as is spending like a millionaire at Christmas' (sorry)

Ah okay streetface I understand what you are saying. It's just that from my perspective I see very vulnerable people's lives being destroyed by austerity (which is a chosen ideology in its current form, rather than a financial necessity) and I feel that is unacceptable.

I agree Corbyn is a disaster.

I also think May is making a mistake in ignoring angry remainers.

I agree with janet the middle ground is where winning is found. And in some ways the fairest. Both side get nearer to what they want, although not exactly.

I see that too Devils. And I completely agree. There is no need for them to do what they have done regards disability funding cuts, school funding cuts and the disgusting policy brought in recently forcing rape victims to fill in forms for benefits. There is no financial gain. Its right wing ideology pure and simple. Teresa May is fairly central as one pp pointed out but the party as a whole is not.

Corbyn cannot lead us through Brexit. Neither can the Lib Dems. I think for many of us voting Tory it is simply a case of getting us through until Labour sorts itself out, we are the other side of Brexit and they can step in and steal power back like Blair did in the 90's. It really is a sorry state of affairs.

Neither can the Lib Dems.

Good lord....they are the only party making sense on Brexit.

Corbyn is a self-confessed socialist through and through and through fortune. A few relatively centralist policies don't change that.

I couldn't sleep at night if we had a prime minister scrapping our nuclear deterrent at the same time shitgibbon in the USA is spinning around bombing every country that takes his fancy.

I also agree with janet

You think they make sense? They want to prevent it. Great. But what if they don't succeed. We will have a reluctant government and poor leadership being dragged along unwillingly. The Lib Dems couldn't be a poorer choice. They are an irrelevance right now.

I think for many of us voting Tory it is simply a case of getting us through until Labour sorts itself out, we are the other side of Brexit and they can step in and steal power back like Blair did in the 90's. It really is a sorry state of affairs

Then why not just spoil your ballot then? Actively voting for the Tories when you don't seem to support them seems

They want to prevent it.

The sane option?

I wonder what Maggie would have made of all of this!

Believeitornot that is something I have considered.

So my mother, aunty, uncle and step mother all vote Tory despite being dragged up in a council flat in the arse end of nowhere filled with drugs, blood on the streets is the norm, needles everywhere - because they are grateful they got to buy their council house. 45 years later they still feel they should say thank you.

And of course they don't actually live in those houses anymore - they've rented them out and bought and paid off another, they genuinely can't understand why all the kids, cousins, haven't done the same.

streetface I would seriously consider it! I don't really think the Tories are the best ones to negotiate Brexit because it will be based on right wing principles.

For Brexit, we should really have a coalition, separate from government, representing the proportion of votes. So x% Tory, y% labour and so on. That way we are more likely to get a more balanced approach.

If Parliament is unable to influence the nature of Brexit (which it won't), it will most definitely be a Tory Brexit.

I voted remain but accept that we are exiting the EU. But I would prefer, especially given the tightness of the vote, that the terms were not negotiated by solely the Tories. This is why it is important to me that Parliament has a say every step of the way. It is far far too important to leave to one party. Especially when you look at the history of the Tory party and Europe.

We've already seen the huge swings in the market whenever something Brexit related happens. So when Brexit actually hits, then the shit will really hit the fan if it's a poor deal.

Is a gamble for Theresa May and pretty arrogant of her to think that the Tories can and will negotiate a good deal. I just don't buy it. Far better to spread the risk and let Parliament take some of the responsibility.

It's obvious why Farage has decided not to stand. If he did, a lot of the 52% would vote for UKIP and then the Tories could be in trouble. There's no need for him to bother doing anything when Theresa May is going to do everything for him. She's basically his wing man.

The left vote is split. The right are all going to vote for one party and win.

It is shit.

Margaret Thatcher would had said this is a very bad time to start engaging in the expense of Brexit on the back end of a rapidly growing national debt. She would have described it as poor housekeeping.