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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think as a country we deserve the government we have?

46 replies

malificent7 · 17/01/2019 12:03

I know lots of us didn't vote for the tories or Brexit and vave suffeted as a result.
Aibu to feel that the above are a reflection of bigotry and racism in our society. Leavers who said you were lied to; do you never question the promises that politicians make? It just shows a lack of critical thinking and healthy scepticism.
We were all taught history and how global recesdions contribute to far right upsurge but noone questions this and changes their attitude.
Furthermore...unlike the French,we just moan a lot but grudgingly accept our lot instead of getting political and acting on it.
I feel that this island has entrenched ideas about class and colonisation that many cannot get past.

OP posts:
Original poster
malificent7 · 17/01/2019 12:04

And as for proporrional representation...we know it's not entirely fair but we accept it. I've heard it stops extremism though.

OP posts:
Original poster
malificent7 · 17/01/2019 12:04

Sorry for typos...phone rubbish.

OP posts:
Ninoo25 · 17/01/2019 12:05

Er no I don’t agree. I think YABU. No one deserves this shit show of a government

Original poster
malificent7 · 17/01/2019 12:05

Global recessions even...

OP posts:
RedHatsDoNotSuitMe · 17/01/2019 12:06

On the plus side, the Americans have got the president they deserve as well.

Original poster
malificent7 · 17/01/2019 12:07

But people don't want people to claim benefits...they begrudge sharing with unemployed single mums and refugees etc ( not me btw ...but the electorate...)

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SisterOfDonFrancisco · 17/01/2019 12:12

All I can think of is that the British like things to stay as they are, especially when it comes to wealth. Let the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor.

Original poster
malificent7 · 17/01/2019 12:13

Yes...i agree...it's mystifying.

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Original poster
malificent7 · 17/01/2019 12:14

If we create more wealth everyone can have a slice.

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OnlyaMan · 17/01/2019 14:08

I am afraid we, as an electorate, do deserve the Parliament we elected. If the election called by Teresa May had produced the expected result, the Conservative Party would have a large majority, and TM would have been able to grab a grip on her own rebels in the Brexit Fiasco. As it is, we have virtually a "Hung Parliament".
The actual election result was largely to do with Jeremy Corbyn's huge uncosted bribe to student-age voters, of not having to pay for their education.
Thanks, Kids.

Bombardier25966 · 17/01/2019 14:15

The actual election result was largely to do with Jeremy Corbyn's huge uncosted bribe to student-age voters, of not having to pay for their education.
Thanks, Kids.

I wondered how long it would be for someone to blame Corbyn for the current shit shower. Anyone would think it was Labour that called the referendum, called a snap election, spent two years negotiating a complete non deal with the EU.

(And scrapping student fees was fully costed. The things we could do if we stopped corporates using tax loopholes to pay next to no tax.)

User758172 · 17/01/2019 14:18

Let the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor

There’s nothing wrong with being wealthy Confused

It’s the huge businesses using loopholes to avoid paying their pair share of taxes that I object to. How can you tax the individual working man but not big corporations?

User758172 · 17/01/2019 14:22

I don’t think we do deserve it - I wish we had better to choose from than the current crop of unprincipled, self-interested politicians sitting in government.

OnlyaMan · 17/01/2019 14:24

The referendum was a necessary part of democracy.
The Snap Election was a really bad idea.
The EU negotiations were inadequate, but mainly the fault of the intransigent hostile EU.
"Full costed scrapping student fees" is "wibble".
And Jeremy Corbyn is not personally at fault for saying what he believes.
The original question was about whether we the electorate as a whole, deserve the Parliament we have; unfortunately we do.
Thanks again, Kids.

Undercoverbanana · 17/01/2019 14:25

Well somebody voted for this clusterfuck.

Onlyjoinedforthisthread · 17/01/2019 14:36

As the Torys now have a 6 point lead in the polls, I'd tend to think more prefer this government to the opposition. As for Brexit this morning's poll shows leave at 53 percent which was a hell of a shock.

Proportional representation stops extremism? Did you do history at school?

newdocket · 17/01/2019 14:45

I think that most voters have very little agency due to the political set up here so I don't think we deserve this shit show at all.

DGRossetti · 17/01/2019 14:51

YANBU.

Most people I know vote for a party without any clear idea of what the parties policies are - or the individual candidates positions. If a large swathe of folk always vote Conservative or always vote Labour then it's hardly surprising that over time - like insurance companies trying to entice new custom - the faithful get ignored.

The fact that our electoral system pretty much ignores the majority doesn't help and probably led to this. Still, as a country we're happy with that, so there's not much more to do.

LonelyandTiredandLow · 17/01/2019 14:55

I agree. If poor people keep voting for Tories they should know by now they aren't going to get funded healthcare. I understand the richest votingntknprotect their money but as a country there is a weird aspirational voting thing, seen in USA as well. People eat to beleive they are all being given a fair chance to make their fortune.

I disagree we are all taught history though. IMO teachinghistory GCSE should be made mandatory with English and maths. We are repeating a lot of history mainly because people don't understand how fascism started, or indeed what it is, for example.

DGRossetti · 17/01/2019 14:58

Proportional representation stops extremism

If nothing else, it accounts for the 60% of voters who did not vote for the winning candidate, as things stand, they're effectively ( very effectively sometimes) told to "get stuffed".

SuziQ10 · 17/01/2019 15:03

Nope.
Don't understand why anyone that relies on the NHS, state funded schooling, benefits, rented properties would ever consider voting for the tories. You have to be pretty damn well off to benefit from their government.

Our DCs (state funded) school asks for money from parents pretty much every week! They can't keep going like this.

ShatnersWig · 17/01/2019 15:07

I'm afraid our system as it stands is fucked. While we have first past the post and safe seats, too many people have a vote that counts for absolutely jack shit.

mummymeister · 17/01/2019 15:09

No one wants to pay more taxes and no one wants to see cuts either. or if they do say they agree cuts need to be made then they mean "cuts that don't affect me/the things I like/my hobbies/my lifestyle" etc.

Yes, we do have the Government we deserve. And the main reason for this is apathy. people for too long have just thought that politics was a bit of an add on. something they "did" every few years. it isn't. its important. and time and again on MN people post about how awful their politicians are but when you ask them why don't they stand for election you either never get an answer or they make a million excuses why they cant. well maybe the current shitstorm will shake people up a bit and make them realise that if they don't like it, they need to change it by being involved. not standing on the sidelines hand wringing saying we are all doomed.

Original poster
malificent7 · 17/01/2019 15:10

It's the aspirational voting as cited above i rekon...admittedly i'm not clued up on proportional representation.

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Sitranced · 17/01/2019 15:11

I'd say its more the other way round. They're suppose to be the leaders.