AIBU to conclude that it is not a crime to be a "Champagne Socialist"

[Rosaxpxp]

I hear this term getting bandied around as an insult. Surely it is better to be an affluent socialist than a well off Tory!?

@TheHoptimist that's not it though, that's just being wealthy or MC, and also left leaning. There's no hypocrisy in what you describe.

To me the term is usually loaded with a dose of hypocrisy and snobbery. Often champagne socialists talk a good game with their peers from a position of privilege but in reality rarely adhere in practice to their own supposed beliefs.

"Something must be done about the lack of social housing (so long as it is not built near me and I am not giving up my holiday home in the Cotswolds)"

Agree it has little to do with the champagne -drink as much as you like - and everything to do with being a hypocrite.

I know so many people who are terribly left-wing but would frankly die if they had to set foot in Bradford or even Bedford. They actually despise working-class people.

They always have an excuse as to why they can’t practise what they preach, as well.

Gary Neville has said this week he is happy to be called this. Heard his interview with Nick Robinson, he's no politics professor but I thought he came across very well.

Yes the key element is hyprocrisy.
For example a former colleague of mine who is always pontificating about the state of the poor, lack of opportunities, how terrible this government is, poor education and how he’s so anti capitalist yet chose to leave his job at the local Comp to go and work at one of the top private schools in the country. They pay more and he goes on about 10 luxury holidays a year.

As compared with my socialist friend and her family who are middle class in terms of earning and lifestyle and left wing but spend loads of time working for community projects, do jobs that involve working with people of all classes and wouldn’t dream of sending their child to private school.

I see it more as someone who is well meaning but a bit out of touch.

eg - "why don't you just use cloth nappies"
"because I live in a flat where
everything takes 3 days to dry"

     "why don't you just by some lentils at 
       Aldi?"
      "Because Aldi is a £6 bus journey 
        away"

a Champaign socialist is selfish. they are the ones to shout about socialism and solidarity, equality etc when it suits them but give nothing to others and care not for others plights as long as they are alright jack.

really they are conservatives its just they see socialism as serving them better while they are still selfish greedy gits, so they talk the talk but only walk the walk if it benefits them.

they dont actually need to have alot money, thats not really what it means. but being rich is proof they are champaign socialist because they are not helping others.

YANBU

It's part of a narrative that says if you're working class and a socialist you're bitter, but if you're middle class and a socialist you're a hypocrite.

I'll give you an example from when I used to work years ago, we were all on rolling contracts, there was this one person who was very up the workers type, when the company went zero hours and we went to CAB etc for help, we were allowed to vote for a reps to stand up for us in each department to argue about the contract changes.

that person was voted to be our rep, said person completely lost interest in being all up the workers and being our rep and resigned as our rep after being promoted to a permanent contract type.

we all called that person a Champaign socialist after that, it was all I'm alright jack screw the rest of you and why should I be the rep now I have no skin in the game, so much for up the workers.

@StoneofDestiny

Nothing wrong with being a Socialist and having the money to drink champagne. Surely you don't have to be poor to be a Socialist? If you have worked your way to enjoying a good standard of living and still retain a good moral conscience and sense of social responsibility - great.

Which is what Gary Neville said in an interview.

“People quite often call me ‘a champagne socialist’ and I say, ‘Yeah, you’re right, I am.’ People should be entitled to drink champagne if they want it. I believe everybody likes very good things, nice car, nice house, nice holidays and access to good transport, healthcare and education. The socialist part is that not only I should have access to that. I believe everyone should. I also believe people should have to work their absolute backside off every single day and give their all.”

To be fair most things are better than being a tory

I think that Meghan and Harry would be excellent examples……. Talk all the talk but no intention of opening a community centre in Kettering on a Monday in February.

@Francounder

Gary Neville has said this week he is happy to be called this. Heard his interview with Nick Robinson, he's no politics professor but I thought he came across very well.

So labels himself as a champagne socialist? He’ll fit right in with the Labour Party then. Another nail in their coffin.

@Smileyaxolotl1

Yes the key element is hyprocrisy. For example a former colleague of mine who is always pontificating about the state of the poor, lack of opportunities, how terrible this government is, poor education and how he’s so anti capitalist yet chose to leave his job at the local Comp to go and work at one of the top private schools in the country. They pay more and he goes on about 10 luxury holidays a year.

Exactly. Everyone a socialist until they can’t get an iPhone.

I can't see why a CS would be better than a well of Tory tbh. Neither give a shit about people really

As has been explained, its about being wealthy and a hypocrite. Jumping on a cause but not finding much out about the cause itself. And reading a couple of studies, usually from people with no direct involvement doesn't mean you actually know anything.

Brexit discussions and GE always bring the CS out. And their attitudes actually shit down proper talks about what impacts people and why they feel the way they do.

CS actively make things worse.

@DottyHarmer

I think that Meghan and Harry would be excellent examples……. Talk all the talk but no intention of opening a community centre in Kettering on a Monday in February.

All the royals are the same claim to care but never put their hands in their pockets and biggest spongers around endlessly having their caps out to the government for more, total parasites.

@Deliaskis

It's being loudly (and sometimes patronisingly) socialist in ways that don't inconvenience their super duper comfortable lifestyles one bit.

Absolutely. I know a couple of champagne socialists. They decry the housing crisis and social problems in coastal towns, whilst refurbishing their second homes in Cornwall.

Ex sis in law, attending peace/ anti-capitalist rallies, etc, whilst living in a 6-bed mansion and renting her other 4-bed mansion out.

Here, I googled it for you: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne_socialist

@Deliaskis

It's being loudly (and sometimes patronisingly) socialist in ways that don't inconvenience their super duper comfortable lifestyles one bit.

Exactly. E.g Emma Thompson. Sitting on that extinction rebellion boat in London and preaching about climate change. She was asked if she flew first class. "Yes" she said "I'm far too old for cattle class now". She also plants trees on her Scottish estate to offset her carbon footprint. Oh ffs

Agree with other examples given above, for me it's about attitude and behaviour rather than background or wealth. Someone I know who is a classic example of a champagne socialist claims to be very left leaning but in fact is incredibly snobbish about things. I remember her looking down on a mutual friend when she bought her first house because it wasn't in a wealthy area, yet she was a very vocal member of the Labour Party for many years

@DillonPanthersTexas

To me the term is usually loaded with a dose of hypocrisy and snobbery. Often champagne socialists talk a good game with their peers from a position of privilege but in reality rarely adhere in practice to their own supposed beliefs.

"Something must be done about the lack of social housing (so long as it is not built near me and I am not giving up my holiday home in the Cotswolds)"

Yes. We must all house refugees in our homes, they all bleat. Justin Welby did house refugees.....but in a spare house he had, looked after by his staff. They didn't move into his back bedroom.

Example of a champagne socialist......,someone who immediately screeches racism when a person complains about high levels of immigration within their area affecting schools , health services etc. After the champagne socialist have labelled them with the racist label for legitimate concerns which are actually not born from racism, they will then go back to their privileged lifestyle where they send send their children to exclusive private schools and they use private healthcare. So all the concerns the " racists" have actually mean nothing to them anyway. I live in a very affluent commuter belt town that's absolutely full of the hypocritical tosspots.

CS doesn’t mean what you think it does.

As someone else said, it’s decrying grammar schools whilst sending your own offspring to private schools because the local comp is full of ferals.