To think most people’s politics change when money is involved?

[OneLimeWasp]

You can chant about equality but when it comes to inheritance, private schools, or job referrals for your own kid - suddenly “privilege” feels very personal. Everyone’s a socialist until they have something to protect.

I'm not sure about change, but when (significant) money is involved, people tend to show their true colours.

Well obviously a person living solely on universal credit and a higher rate tax payer are not going to see things the same way. No shit Sherlock.

You can support improving things for everyone while also making the most of the opportunities that are presented to you.

Socialism is just asking the Government to find someone with more than you and make them hand it out to those with less.

I'd like to pay less tax but I'd also like the people (and corporations) who make much more than I do to pay more.

I'm a hyprocrit for that.

I would say 'everyone is live and let live, you do you, parental choice etc' until someone thinks that someone else has more of something than them, and then they want to level down rather than level up. The private school VAT debacle has really shown that to be true. No one batted an eyelid at who paid how much, who went to which school etc, until labour made it a big deal, a point scoring exercise - everyone knows it wont actually make any difference to state schools as
a) labour have taken far more funding away from state schools in real terms than this policy will ever hope to bring in, so they clearly have no interest in improving them
b) the challenges that state schools are experiencing are much wider and more complex than funding alone, they are to an extent a reflection of the wider challenges our society is struggling with
c) they don't have a clear plan on how this money will specifically be used to supposedly improve state schools

It was all just smoke and mirrors. And it worked judging by the debates on here, which were endlessly focused on 'the inequality of it all' and 'if everyone can't have it no one should have it' and very little on the fact they haven't shown how it's actually going to improve anything.

I live in a grammar school area. Everyone is against grammar schools until it's time for their own child to take the test.

Absolutely. Also in a grammer school area. Our local comp is absolutely shocking, so we will try for grammar, although I disagree with it to some extent, not the concept of matching schools to abilities, but the fact that seem to need tutoring to learn how to pass the test, which means it's not only based on learning ability, but also on parents ability to pay for tutoring. Plus the fact that state schools are not allowed to support children in preparing the test, but private schools are, so it's again not a level playing field.

Personally I’ve only got more socialist as I’ve got older (and yes my earnings have significantly increased. Hasn’t changed my politics)

My DF was a very clever and talented man, but in a low paying profession, plus he was partly held back due to ill-health. He was a staunch Conservative. His DB, on the other hand, was extremely wealthy. He was a staunch Socialist.

Nor mine.

And DS is at a state school. Private school is ethically indefensible.

Is it a good school in leafy area? or sinking one on estate with mostly supply teachers and most kids not speaking English at home?

Everyone’s socialist….until they can’t buy an iPhone.

I’ve also not changed my politics as I’ve got older. If anything, I’ve got more socialist. I was privately educated myself, but I dont agree with it, and my own children have gone to state schools - and not in a leafy area. It was eye-opening how other people were just getting by. The kids have done brilliantly, possibly because of this rather than in spite of it, and are far more rounded than I was at the same age.