How would you feel if your 16 year old DS wanted to become a 'young conservative'

[BigSandyBalls2015]

That is all!
Opinions please.

In fairness, there's been a number of insults and low blows by the right wingers on this thread, it's not all come from the left.

The only thing worse than a tory is a young tory

Very proud. I was a YC. DH was a YC. Our DC are Lib Dems.

Doesn't hoping that your child has compassion and empathy mean you analyse policies independently as to the impact they might have on less advantaged?
I'm particularly keen on homeless policies - but found the tories were the ones working with shelter to improve things I think the most.

Homelessness is up 34% under the Conservatives.

The Tories have pushed the privatisation of social housing.

It's good that they're working with Shelter, though. I didn't know that.

I pray your not a history or English teacher.

Nor you.

Yes - when you get wedded to party politics I think it stops you being open to ideas - from all parties.
That's the only reason I would be slighly concerned about a child joining a party - there is a sense of having to agree and defend all their policies.

DS 17 is very politically aware and loves to discuss current affairs...also knows that I am a strong Labour supporter and that will never change. We have a great relationship but he is turning into a bit of a Tory and suspect that he will vote Conservative in future. I respect his opinions and views but at the same time feel a little disappointed.

That's the only reason I would be slighly concerned about a child joining a party - there is a sense of having to agree and defend all their policies

Not so. I’m a member of the Labour Party, but I’m not a fan of Jez. It’s not a cult (outside of Momentum, anyway), I’m allowed to believe and defend what I want.

Privately gutted, wondering why and hoping it was a phase, or some weird form of rebellion, which at 16 would probably be the case.
I would probably feel the same if he plumped wholesale for any party, philosophy or religion. No one has all the answers.

'Foreign Secretary says if Libya "clears the dead bodies away" it can become the "next Dubai".'

repugnant

hope they change politics for the better.

I'd feel nostalgic! Made some lifelong friends and had some of the best times of my life when I was a Young Conservative. I also learned loads of life skills that have been invaluable in both my personal and professional lives.

And I've grown up to be a fairly well balanced and rounded individual who works in a caring profession and has friends who have a broad range of political views

In an interesting trip to Madame Tussaud's last year (year before?)DS stood next to 'David Cameron' looking proud and smiling like a true blue, whilst his little sister pulled a face then turned round and pretended to pull a moony at our (waxy) ex PM. I think I can see the way their future votes will be going...

hate whoa there, you’ve bought into the bogus private/public sector divide wholesale, haven’t you? You do realise it was a tactic dreamt up by the Tories as an excuse to slash public sector pay, don’t you?

Ouch!! I would be engaging in some discussion ( probably wouldn't work with a 16 yo though, so possibly best to say it's a great idea and you'll join too!)

‘I do think there’s a problem in that too many teachers are left wing’.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out the myriad reasons teachers don’t vote Tory (on the whole)...starting with Michael Gove

If it were a household most MNers would give advice about savings here and there.

You don't run a country like you do a household but if you did I'm pretty sure most MNers would advise cutting luxuries (i.e. tax cuts to people who don't need them) while making sure the essentials are covered (i.e. housing and food). So pretty much the opposite of what the Tories have been doing.

I’d wonder if he was actually my child!

I would be surprised and assume he was doing it to get a reaction or to be different or as a joke.

If he joined the conservatives in a serious fashion I’d feel genuinely sad because it would highlight gaping differences morally.

But it is his choice and he needs to make his own mistakes. I’d be very accepting after feeling a bit weird

I'd be alarmed. As it is he is a communist. Not interested in party politics and has an understanding of Marxist economics nearly equal to my own.

I would be very disappointed, and fear he had lost his ability to reason and capacity for critical thinking.

I really despise the moral superiority that comes from so many on the left

I absolutely think the left is morally superior to the right. That's the whole point. That's why the left can't stomach the Tories.

And for me, on this subject MN is not a 'parallel' universe. I don't have Torie friends. It never works. I normally mutter something about everyone having their own reality and go and scrub myself under a hot shower

You don't run a country like you do a household

The DUP shakes the magic money tree.

I don't have Torie friends. It never works. I normally mutter something about everyone having their own reality and go and scrub myself under a hot shower

You know it's not catching, right? I've been shagging one for years and I'm still a Lib Dem.

Megabus, it's only and always an argument of the right that the left think they are morally superior. It just underscores their limited grasp of politics. Politics is all about ethics. It's absolutely central to it. It matters not whether you read Burke, Kant, Plato or Marx, all political theory has at its core moral philosophy.