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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think all conservative voters aren't thinking of others?

331 replies

TheGoogleMum · 14/12/2019 11:46

I realise this doesn't convert anyone and at this point I'm not trying to. But I just don't think anyone who really cares for the welfare of others votes conservative. We know.chikd poverty is highest for 60 years, people are actually dying due to underfunding services (I can link to the research on this if needed). So conservative voters have prioritised brexit and their dislike for Jeremy Corbyn over actually helping others. Whatever way you look at it it wasn't the kind option. Realise I will get flamed for this but it's just how i feel. It's the cruel party and I'm ashamed to be British right now with how everyone voted. Also they had such a dodgy deceitful campaign and as it was rewarded I guess that's the future of politics now :/
I'm not sad labour didn't win, they were never going to. I'm sad at how much conservatives won by as the selfish option that's basically saying it's fine for everything to continue being awful for those struggling.

OP posts:
PBo83 · 15/12/2019 10:53

There is no judgement to be made. The day I shift over to UC I will be £2.5k worse off over a 12 month period.

Assuming you will still have enough to live, you won't end up starving and on the streets then, I'm sorry, then I have no real sympathy. That £2,500 can then go back in the pot and be used to help others in genuine need.

In answer to your original question why should I be worse off, I would turn this around and say why shouldn't you?

CactusAndCacti · 15/12/2019 10:59

In answer to your original question why should I be worse off, I would turn this around and say why shouldn't you?

I am guessing this logic didn't apply in regards to a tax rise for those earning over 85k.

boabab · 15/12/2019 11:03

My oh my aren't you righteous

Sotiredofthislife · 15/12/2019 11:04

n answer to your original question why should I be worse off, I would turn this around and say why shouldn't you?

Are you over £200 a month worse off because of austerity? Do you work over 50 hours a week, take on extra part time work when available? Could your household budget handle a drop of over £200 a month?

But mainly because on Sunday I will be assessed as needing £X to live on and then on Monday that figure will be dropped by over £200 a month. Is that reasonable?

I do my bit. I work damned hard and do my best to pay my way. And like many, that £200 drop in income will mean changes to our budget and what we can/can’t afford. It may well threaten the roof over our heads, yes.

PBo83 · 15/12/2019 11:09

Do you work over 50 hours a week, take on extra part time work when available? Could your household budget handle a drop of over £200 a month?

I do work over 50 hours a week as it happens, I also run a (small) business on the side (which I pay corp tax on) and I don't receive a penny from the government.

Could I afford to lose £200 a month? I could afford it but I would certainly notice it and would have to 'tighten my belt' so to speak.

Sotiredofthislife · 15/12/2019 11:13

Well, good for you, you realise that there are others not so fortunate to be able to shoulder the loss of that money? Working people?

Snowman123 · 15/12/2019 11:13

Sotiredofthislife

So your a teacher - good profession and +/- £30k a year in a full time role and well capable of supporting yourself?

And your upset because the state is now going to provide less for you. I agree with whoever above said that £200 can be directed to someone in real need.

ssd · 15/12/2019 11:14

I agree with you op.

Kittygirl47 · 15/12/2019 11:16

@sotiredofthislife

Don’t blame the Tory voters, blame those who have took the piss out of tax credits for years for having this change implemented.

Orcaaa · 15/12/2019 11:18

To be honest 30k a year shouldn’t be receiving top up benefits. I’m sure that poster will return to inform me she lives in central London with twins followed by triplets, though.

firstimemamma · 15/12/2019 11:22

Yanbu for your thoughts on the tories, but there are already so many recent threads on this!

Snowman123 · 15/12/2019 11:23

I do agree that Tories must do more for funding education, the current situation is not good - we need to ensure that opportunities to train and have the best opportunity of supporting yourself are available to everyone.

PBo83 · 15/12/2019 11:30

@Sotiredofthislife

So, assuming we earn similar money and work similar hours (which it sounds like we do). Why do you think you SHOULD get TC/UC when I don't. I don't live a lavish lifestyle, live in a 2-bed mid-terrace (private rent), drive a 10 year old car and have had one foreign holiday in the last ten years.

ethelfleda · 15/12/2019 11:56

OP I understand your sentiments entirely. I wouldn’t go as far as saying that ALL Tory voters are like this though. I don’t like generalisation. There will be selfish people who voted for all parties.
The general attitude though, is that if someone is poor or struggling then it is their own fault and why should ‘hard working taxpayers’ pick up the tab.
I think you can tell a lot about society by how it treats its most vulnerable. And in the days since the election, I’ve noticed people being much more open with their bigoted or racist points of view. I think there is a shift in culture now to it being acceptable to have these views and it genuinely scares me.

The only thing I can think of to try and at least restore some balance is - to respectfully call out anyone who makes bigoted statements so people don’t think it’s acceptable to do this. And, if you can afford it, donate money or time to a worthy cause. We are doing a big Christmas food shop for our local food bank. Tory government or not, this country desperately needs more kindness and I firmly believe you have to be the change you want to see in the world.

Merry Christmas x

ssd · 15/12/2019 12:13

@ethelfleda, great post.

Trewser · 15/12/2019 12:22

Dh voted Tory and he's just come back from a shift at the food bank. Most of the older people in my village voted Tory and they spend their lives volunteering.

That meme shared on Facebook by sad Labour supporters, telling them all to be kind in the face of nasty tory oppression, gives me mild rage.

MontStMichel · 15/12/2019 12:36

Why would everyone should have free broadband? It's a want not a need.

The government wants to do everything online, because it’s cheaper for them!

PBo83 · 15/12/2019 12:38

Dh voted Tory and he's just come back from a shift at the food bank. Most of the older people in my village voted Tory and they spend their lives volunteering.

Don't say that, someone will be along in a minute to tell you that they only volunteer so they can have a good laugh at the poor people (selfish bastards!)

I haven't seen that meme thankfully, it sounds enraging. To be honest, I've avoided social media since the influx of faux 'devastation' on Friday morning.

Sotiredofthislife · 15/12/2019 13:22

So your a teacher - good profession and +/- £30k a year in a full time role and well capable of supporting yourself?

I don’t earn £30k. No where near. Maybe have a look at salary scales. I also said I work full time (and some) but not all of that is in school on a teaching salary.

Pbo if we earn the same and have the same number of children and the same childcare costs, we would be entitled to the same money. In my first year of teaching I took home £1.2k a month and had £1k childcare costs. Given that there is no political will to make my ex pay child maintenance, what would you rather: that I worked and was topped up or that I didn’t work at all?

And why make the comments about lavish lifestyle? Do you presume that I have a lavish lifestyle being sole provider for three children and being in receipt of tax credits?

PBo83 · 15/12/2019 13:40

And why make the comments about lavish lifestyle? Do you presume that I have a lavish lifestyle being sole provider for three children and being in receipt of tax credits?

Not at all, my point was purely that I didn't have a lavish lifestyle (having previously been accused of being selfish and 'I'm alright jack')

SeaWitchly · 15/12/2019 13:44

Xenia your post gave me a good chuckle. I didn’t know you were so amusing talking about the Tories being good with money when they have massively increased the national debt.... or the party that takes care of the vulnerable in society when they have deliberately underfunded essential public services and the NHS. GrinGrinGrin

Sotiredofthislife · 15/12/2019 13:53

Pbo why ignore my other questions? Is it better I work and am topped up or that I don’t work at all? And if you insist I should work and not receive any top ups, can you suggest how I might have achieved that on £1.2k a month with childcare costs of £1k?

And Would you support the necessary legal changes to child maintenance in relation to the self employed in particular and being in a more robust system that operates on a one strike and you’re behind bars basis to ensure that children are supported? That alone would reduce the welfare bill enormously. Are you prepared to turn your back socially on your partners, brothers, cousins, colleagues and friends who openly abuse the enormous holes in the system rather than blame single parents for having no choice but to claim welfare if they want to keep their children housed and fed?

Sinuhe · 15/12/2019 14:02

Sorry OP, but in order for me to sympathise with others, I need to make sure that I am ok first.

And no, I would not vote for a party that is essentially taking everything I have worked for away... to give it to people who think that I have no right to what I own. And than I would end up in a similar situation as the people you are talking about.
So by ensuring my small amount of wealth is safe, I ensure that I can continue supporting people in need through my taxes.

PBo83 · 15/12/2019 14:50

@Sinuhe

Agreed.

Snowman123 · 15/12/2019 16:58

@sotiredofthislife

A teacher with several years experience wouldn't be far off £30k. It seems to me you have the opportunity to more than make up that £200 shortfall by taking a full time teaching position.

I doubt the reasons why you choose not to are the fault of the Tory government.