AIBU to be fed up with all the champagne socialists?

[winniemum]

Just come back from school pick up and the conversation turned to politics for obvious reasons!
My DC is in year 6 and going to high school next year. Many of his friends are going to the local grammar school. Fine, no problem with that we didn't put him in for the GS exams.
However so many of the mums were upset that Lib Dem/ Labour had done badly in the local elections, whilst driving to school in their 4 by 4's, having driven from their £750K + houses.
It's just the contradiction, they are not prepared to spread their wealth or support the Tory policy of Grammar schools and harp on about how they all voted Lib/labour.
When I asked one mum why she was sending her DC to Grammar school if she didn't agree with anything the Tory's stood for, I got, 'Oh that was one of our most difficult decisions, we thought very long and hard about that one, but you know....' No I still don't know as she couldn't explain why that was OK.

Not sure why I should change my username and not sure what a bot is! It's a genuine question. I found the conversation outside school today hypocritical that's all.

I will however address the issue of "hypocrisy"
about voting Labour and using private/selective education.

DH and I could easily have afforded a private education for DSD and DS.

We didn't choose that route because we were both state educated, believe in that philosophy and were bloody lucky that the state schools where we live are excellent.

However, I'm the first to admit I would never put my children behind my principles. If the state option was dire, I'd have shelled out for PE without a backward glance.

That doesn't mean I'm anti state education. It means I'd be bloody frustrated that wasn't an option. It's even MORE of a reason to not be a Tory because whilst I had the choice, many parents did not.

Sending my children to a school that's not performing doesn't actually help anyone. It just disadvantages my children.

Voting according to my beliefs has the opportunity to realise a more egalitarian society

• which is much more of a statement than what school I sent my child to.

Note: I'm an LP member but will be voting LibDem in the GE as a tactical vote in my Tory constituency.

OP - it wasn't directed at you....

It's about the poster called Useradd some random numbers

The thing is, we need people like this to vote Labour not Tory if we're ever going to have another Labour government. In fact, we need more of the folk like this who are voting Tory now to come over to Labour. Telling any of them they're not socialist enough is hugely counter-productive. Calling them hypocrites is only going to make the national political situation worse.

The way to show your disdain and political purity would be not to use it.

Does anyone really give a shit about maintaining their 'political purity'?

People can vote how they like, however inconsistent you may find their reasoning.

I would replace "political purity" with integrity myself.

This describes the 'shy Tory' effect. People saying they are voting Lab/LibDem are just virtue signalling. But when it comes to the general election and the privacy of the polling booth; hmmm do I really want to be taxed to death, the army scrapped, private schools taxed, grammar schools closed, capital gains tax increased, JC running the country etc etc.

Hell NO, cross in the Conservative box. But lets keep it between the polling booth and myself.

Grammar schools closed?
Army scrapped?

Taxed to death?

Perhaps people should actually find out about what they are voting for before ticking boxes?

Earning large salaries and still voting to the left is an admirable thing actually. I for one love Champagne socialists!

I'd be delighted to be taxed to death. I know what I'm voting for and happy to do it.

This is why I'm a champagne socialist.

I guess her answer in a nutshell, is that she assumes the local comprehensive to have the class of such individuals, who has no desire to better themselves, so the assumption is the GS will be a more conducive environment for her DC to be proactive when it comes to learning.

What she fails to acknowledge is, my experience of comprehensive life, albeit many years ago, is that it's the children with better off parents, are usually the ones who play up, in order to be popular.

When in fact it was the pretty poor ones who behaved, because they wished to better themselves.

I'd be delighted to be taxed to death. I know what I'm voting for and happy to do it.

Ok, it's a shame that there isn't actually a party for you to vote for that is going to tax you to death (or close grammar schools, or scrap the army).

So we should all live as paupers just so that we can vote for the left?

How ridiculous.

I'm a well educated person with a good career who has worked hard to own a home etc. Why on earth shouldn't I vote for who I think is acting in the public interest.

Sorry I'm not poor enough for you OP. I'll remember to vote against you next time if this is truly such a problem.

Chapeau to Eats, beautifully put. I think we have very similar views!

After all, universal education and healthcare AND a glass of bubbles. Sounds pretty good to me.

I think we do Rat have a on me...

Shame MN don't have a champagne icon

Op you make no sense. You should maybe look up the meaning of the words hypocritical and liberal, I don't think they mean what you think they do.

A family friend (middle class, from a working class background) has been a lifelong LP councillor and activist.

He always said that socialists are not against the good life, they just want it for everyone.

I think you're confusing socialists with communists OP

OP, so does also this mean that if you vote Conservative, to be consistent in your beliefs, you MUST attempt to get your child into the nearest grammar or send them to a private school?

I have voted Labour all my life. Came from a working class background - but was clever and passed the 11+, so went to a grammar school. Education was my way out and I now work as a teacher. Personally I can't see why I should now feel that grammar schools are 'Tory' and I should be against them. My DCs go/went to same grammar and I'm bloody grateful.

I earn a six figure salary and send my DC to private school (I would happily have sent one of them to grammar school, but it wouldn't have been the right learning environment for the other). I will be voting labour in the general election. I don't mind if you think that makes me a champagne socialist. It's hardly the worst insult in the world ever.

(I don't live in a grammar school area, so it wasn't an option).

Sorry, I am a real poster. I had two real MN identities for years but both stopped working and the user lots of 4s 7s and 5s keeps going so I don't want to change it.

This discussion continues to be amusing - it's almost as though Labour has actually lost all connection with its original philosophy and purpose and people just keep voting out of habit.

This discussion continues to be amusing - it's almost as though Labour has actually lost all connection with its original philosophy and purpose and people just keep voting out of habit.

I'm aghast you find it "amusing" that we no longer have an effective opposition.

I'm stunned you think labour has "almost" lost its core philosophy. Umm it has. But here's the thing, political parties that are successful adapt to the prevailing times. The manifesto of the LP at its foundation wouldn't be applicable now.

I don't vote out of habit. I make an informed decision.