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.

Sounds like she's also a high rate tax payer... and will get hit for many other taxes along the way!

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

or flip it and say:

AIBU to say that people who take more from the state/economy than they contribute shouldn’t really get to comment as it is not their money that is being used?

Hmm… bet you don’t agree with that?
I don’t agree with either statement, btw.

I got told on a different thread that i dont have an opinion and only them that pay tax have opinion.
Said netter told me this 3 times my opinion means nothing, well i quoted said poster and said anyone can have an opinion, not just you.
Just like to add i do pay tax.

You don’t sound proud of her! She got herself into the room and presumably didn’t just accidentally wander in off the street and someone offered her a 100k a year job! Maybe there was an element of luck, but there was definitely more than that. Plus it’s not just getting the job / money it’s proving you’re worth it and thus keeping the job.

Entitled to her opinion however unpalatable you find it.

I felt a little like this in my late 20s early 30s. I’d grown up on a council estate, most had few prospects and I’d done well for myself. My view was if I can do it why can’t they. Now I’ve matured and developed as a person I feel differently to an extent.

The truth is almost everyone is only thinking about the budget from their own perspective (I did say almost).

Well I fully agree with her and my situation is nothing like hers. Labour have messed up. Why should my tax go higher to pay for people to have kids they can’t afford it’s a complete joke. They should have kept it at 2 children.

And if you're going down that road of who gets to have an opinion vs who doesn't then I would argue that she has more of a right to say where she thinks tax should be spent than you do as she will pay a lot more tax than you.

Sorry, but is there a single career path this cannot be said for?? Many people train and study for years to become a solicitor but it takes being in the right room and getting on with the right people to get accepted into a high position with a top law firm. You don’t just get it because you studied more than others.

That’s how life works overall.

Your attitude is pretty disgusting OP. Just because she has made different life choices to you, she doesn’t get a say in the democracy of her country

You are on a slippery slope with that kind of attitude

Everyone is impacted by the country’s finances in one way or another whether you are benefitting, contributing or both and to say that one group should have a louder voice than another is absolutely unreasonable

her break very much came from being in the right room
and nothing to do with the hard work, commitment, discipline, choices, sacrifices she made to be in that room?

You only see what you want to see

How rude and unpleasant to dismiss the hours of work she put, the sacrifice she made - ok, it might have been between a party with friends and training, but she did it.

You should be proud of her, not resentful.

She made the right choices in life so far.

You don't have to agree with her thoughts, but who do you think you are to say she shouldn't have an opinion and express it?

Do you know how many people think that a single mum of 3 children shouldn't have a say as they clearly don't know how to manage their own life? How does that feel to you? They're just as bad as you.

Dont think anyone is "lucky" to make 100k a year lol you sound jealous.

For better or for worse we have a democracy which means we all get a view and a vote.

Your niece gets a say in absolutely anything and everything she wants a say in, and her opinions are just as valid as yours. The fact that she is looking at the world from a different viewpoint doesn’t mean she has to be silenced. I can’t understand why you would think anyone, rich, poor, successful or failing, wouldn’t have a right to comment. Your attitude towards your niece seems a little jaundiced - she’s successful: be happy for her. And respect her opinions if you want her to listen to yours.

Out of interest why do you do for work @Dennien?

That can often be the reason though. 2 of the highest earners I know - my Dad and my close friend- both grew up in council houses with parents who either never worked or worked inconsistently. Both feel that if, with the really tough starts they had, they can do really well for themselves, then anyone can.

Totally agree with this and you don't sound proud of her, you sound bitter and envious of her.

To answer your question though, of course she is is entitled to have an opinion. She is a tax payer, some of which you benefit from!

@Hurdygurdy123, as I said in my earlier post, PPs might agree with OPs sentiment. The initial
objection may have been spurred by the delivery of the thread post.

There is another thread, OP opines the impact of the budget on an income of £140k, resulting in a
pile on from a different and some would say (not necessarily mine), justified position.

As you allude to, the deeper points of the debate, may well get lost in the ease of the ability to click on ‘post’!

Your envy is dripping venom into your brain. Don't be daft, of course she gets a say.

Good for her I say. I hope she spends it well and meaningfully.

with regards to her political views, they are pretty mainstream so perhaps reflect on why you are so angry with her as an individual.

She made differen choices op you made yours she made hers.
Tbvvvvh i prefer her choice free childless, jym, living with a good mate, good income, girl as it set.

Bit like my life, without the jym and flat mate.

Oh dear OP, this didn’t quite go how you thought it would, did it? 😂

So you think a higher rate UK taxpayer shouldn’t have a say on the UK budget because they are young and privileged?

What about those “privileged young people” in the financial sector (who earn the same and possibly more than your niece) whose job it is to comment on and advise clients on the budget and how it affects their finances? You are being ridiculous. Get that sack of potatoes chip off your shoulder.

We live in a democracy, I take it you know what that means

I agree with this 👆

I would imagine there are a few high earners out there today feeling resentful about paying more tax to support those you have children that they can’t afford.

I'm assuming she pays tax so sounds like the budget does effect her. She might disagrees with you, but doesn't mean she is not entitled to have an opinion to what direction the country she lives in is going towards. Maybe if she wasnt british, never visited/lived in the uk and hadn't voted then i would possibly agree that she shouldn't be having super strong opinions.