To think my niece doesn’t really get a say on how good or bad she thinks the budget is

[Dennien]

I’m a single mum, I work full time, I have 3 children and I just about get by.
My niece is 26, she makes almost 100k (got lucky, was in the right rooms either the right people), and inherited 500k from her paternal grandparents.
She doesn’t have uni debt, she doesn’t have childcare costs. She happily pays £500 a month for a fancy London gym, lives in a flat share with her best friend etc.
Today she told me she didn’t think the budget went far enough etc. that Labour are useless and so on. She is a Lib Dem/Tory voter and very against reform too.

AIBU to say that young people in a privileged position shouldn’t really get to comment as they aren’t facing the same difficulties others are.

If a talented singer, dancer, footballer, artist, writer etc. sat in their bedrooms all day and someone dropped out of the sky a contract in their lap worth millions I would agree with you it is luck, but I presume these people actually need to work at what they do to be noticed in the first place?

I mean it is not that their relatives are bitter about it or anything

Jesus christ

Did I read correctly that your niece had spent part of her childhood in care - golly I would just be so proud of what she has achieved after a very difficult start to life.

What the actual ?!!

Why are we not celebrating a 26 year old earning 100k, living independently and having an interest in politics / economics?

You’d prefer for her to be shitfaced out every night not working and not giving a shit about current affairs?

You’re just describing hard work.

Of course your niece is affected and should be able to have a say.

sh may not have childcare costs now but at some point she might.

it sounds like she has done well for herself, you should be proud rather than judgemental

I’m sorry OP but you sound very jealous and bitter towards her.

Of course she can have an opinion.

I missed this, your niece has done amazingly well for herself, her childhood clearly wasn’t easy. Frankly if anyone should get the luck of your niece to get a 500k inheritance it’s her isn’t it? I mean why would you begrudge her any of what she’s achieved. It’s just resentment isn’t it.

You are determinedly ignoring all the people asking you why you think you have more of a right to a view even though you are not a net contributor but your niece is. What’s your privilege? Age?

Earning 100k (more than double what I make!) isn’t automatic no matter what rooms she was in or who she met. Chances are she worked hard and is currently still working hard. She is going to be paying a lot of tax (for which I personally am grateful to her) and is as entitled as any one else to have an opinion. Envy politics is as abhorrent as thinking everyone on benefits is lazy. The way you describe her doesn’t sound complimentary and as if you dislike her. Would you resent someone on a lower salary enjoying the money they earn and spending it on a lower value gym etc?

The budget doesn't just affect poor people does it? Of course your niece is allowed to have an opinion on it.

So this young woman , who has been in care, had a shit father, who has worked hard and is talented enough to get herself a great job, who has then lost her parent and her grandparents, doesn’t deserve an opinion about the budget?
Wow what a nasty, bitter person you are OP?
I know who’s opinion I would be interested in and it sure isn’t yours.

My thoughts exactly.

Everyone gets to have their own thoughts on things. It's ridiculous to assert that people need to be robotic because of XYZ.

exacly

I am sorry but you are an appalling human to be saying all of this about a young person who has strived against such awful adverse life experiences.

She was in care. Father not involved. Lost her father. Lost her grandparents.

and your posts are so gloriously outting that I hope your fucking brilliant niece sees this on social media and realises you are not ‘family’.

Who needs family who speak about them like this. Disgusting sorry. And it’s nothing to do with politics.

She’s totally entitled to her opinion as you are yours

She gets a say and her views are legitimate, whatever you say. Silencing people you disagree with is dystopian. It’s awful that so called shy tories can’t comfortably join the national debate, it’s really bad for society. I’ve seen nothing from reform that would make me vote for them but we need to understand why their voters think the country is failing them too, or it will get nasty in the future.

You’re no better at understanding your niece than she is of you, and I expect you have many years on her that should have given you the chance to mature and develop empathy.

She sounds talented and like she’s worked hard from a young age. My niece is a dancer and I will be so proud if this is her one day.

OP - I am so embarrassed for you.

You actually have suggested that a woman who was:
neglected by her father,
spent a brief stint in care,
had grandparents that little interest in her
has trained, shown dedication and worked hard
got herself into the right place at the right tine
was then offered a high paying job
retained that job
pays taxes
uses relatively little in terms of state services
invested her money ( stocks & shares ISA)…

… shouldn’t get a say?

Have you acknowledged anywhere in this thread that you were wrong to think this way? All I can see is you trying to justify yourself.

You are absolutely being unreasonable. Rich people can have a view on the budget. Poor people can have a view on the budget. Middle class people can have a view on the budget. Ultra rich like Rupert Murdoch can have a view on the budget. In fact, it's everyone's duty and responsibility to take an interest in politics and have a view on the budget.

Are you genuinely saying politics and budgets are only for the poor? Budgets affect everything from roads to hospitals. Things she will invariably need to use. She as a citizen, has a responsibility to be an informed citizen with views. Rich or poor - doesn't matter. If you are a citizen, even the richest citizen in the entire UK, you still have a responsibility to have a view.

You sound incredibly jealous and bitter and that is making you irrational with regards to this.

Her taxes are probably subsidising your child benefit so I think she can have an opinion on the budget as she contributes significantly to the country. You do sound a bit jealous and I’m not sure that being in the right room will land you a 100k job.

But she’s a tax payer.

Plus anyone is allowed and an opinion on anything.

You sound jealous that she’s done well for herself with a good job and you’re struggling

Reading this makes me glad that my own aunties are proud of me (even now I’m in my 30s) and have always wanted what’s best for me.

With an auntie like you, who needs enemies?!

The mirror