... to wonder if I'm the only Conservative voter on mumsnet? Is there anyone else out there or should I just go and hide my head in shame?

[freudianslips]

The title says it all. I'm not a toff. I'm just a normal mum and PhD student. I don't earn much and no-one in my family went to univeristy, let alone Eton. I'm getting the impression I'm in a tiny minority, possibly N=1. I haven't dared post on any of the political threads because I lack time and courage to be a lone voice of dissent. Anyone else out there or should I just accept that I sniff don't belong?

Bruffin, I think my problem is that I have very strong memories of the Conservatives from 1979 through into the 90s. I lived in the Midlands, which was far from the worst victim of the monetarist experiment, but I knew far too many unemployed teenagers/early 20s who were being put down as lazy, not wanting a job etc when there just were no jobs to be had (and what jobs there were certainly weren't going to a 20 yr old with no work experience).

And, genuine curiosity, I'm baffled as to how your grandparents lost their land through taxes - surely, even high taxes are only paid by people who are earning money?

Its also worth bearing in mind that the overall tax burden increased when the Conservatives came to power in 1979, because of the increase in VAT. So effectively they shifted taxes from direct income taxes where the poorer pay less, to indirect VAT which is paid equally by all rich or poor.

bumpsoon You're not alone - I haven't had a pay-rise in 6 years and I'm private sector. Gits. Anyway I'm so sorry that nurses will be affected - have I really read it right that there is now one "admin" type person for every "health professional" now in our health service? Btw, 47p? Hmmmn... You poor think - just imagine the riches you could've bought with that! Every week a different flavoured cup-a-soup!

Skihorse - I believe you are confusing socialism with communism.

Are you perhaps American?

I work in the private sector, and our pay has been frozen for the last two years.

Oh, and what peachy said.^

Yes twirlymum there are lots of people out there who have their pay frozen or cut ,especially in the private sector ,so im not going to pretend im badly done to .I chose to do my job because i love it ,not because i ever expect to be financially well off doing it.

heathen Not at all, I live in a country which runs under socialism and there doesn't seem to be this enormous divide that the UK has. I'm British and I live in The Netherlands. Not quite sure why you'd think I was American?

I personally think you're being hypocritical - but of course politics is an emotive subject. I think you're a champagne socialist and I really don't think you give a monkey's arse about those poorer than you - otherwise you'd do something for real rather than just ticking a box to alleviate your social-conscience.

At least she has a social conscience. It seems as though you were off the day they handed those out.

haha what a odd thing to say - and I hate (obviously!) to be the one to point it out to you - but you've just labelled her a hypocrite by agreeing that her social-conscience comes in the form of a tick on a ballot paper and not through action! So by her own admission and your affirmation - she is indeed a "champagne socialist". Case closed m'lud!

No, I didn't agree with you on that. I only said she had a social conscience.
You're making up the rest.

Ski are your eading the sme posts as anyone else?I note you rneglected to answer mine below asking what we should be doing; there's something I dislike about people who are willing to throw accusations about resourcefulness and of being lazy but not able to provide solutions.

How on earth do we know what Heathen does to help people? She may be employed innvoluntary work or a great philanthropist, you are using an assumption based on very little to dismiss her out of hand.Which is odd really, because whilst you are saying she doesn't really care about those on lower incomes, those here on a lower income (OK, me and FA) are saying we understand her position.

Eiotehr we're really thick or you're really blinkerd, and I am not thick.

peachys This is the Tory love-in, Labour love-in's over there.

You might not be thick my sweet, but your spelling and grammar are atrocious!

I'm saying the things I am about heathen because she's coming across as exactly as I described her. If she did do voluntary work or was a philantropist she'd have mentioned it, non?

You "understand her position" because you're a Labour supporter. It's not rocket science sweetie.

Fuck me ski, you are rude!

yes my typing is atrocious sorry

I have 3 choices

1. read screen and get a migraine

1. wear glassesa nd get nauseous (V strong)

1. just hope poeple can mage my typing,I have started threads apologising before, I may have a link somewhere

I can actually spell very well, I got perfects cores for that at Uni but becuase I can set Woprd to massive letter size (it needs to be about 18) whereas my screen won't do that for MN.

In fact Ski I am a member of the Green Party, although I am having my doubts ATM about them after a few local things (mainly the way they speak to each other- atrocious).

I just disagree with you becuase I do.

And i think you will find I can post where I wish, as I am sure you would post on a Labour thread if ytou so wished.

Oh do calm down dear - when people ask questions/opinions they can't go around crying when they get their answers! Sometimes people don't even answer questions you ask - the world fails to topple on its axis.

If you don't want to read a Tory thread - what do you think you should do about it? Or are you waiting for the advice from a leaflet about to drop through your letterbox?

here you go

Please note some months old, so not a new thing sadly.

If my eyes worsen any mroe I might need some screen reader gadget but I am resisting atm.

Blimey - so you can spell well because you can use a spell-checker? Fucking awesome! Who says too many people are getting in to tertiary education these days?

PMSL at crying- I was vacuuming!

You haven't upset me Ski, you seem to have a very high regard of your own influence.

Actually it wasn't becuase I can use a spellchecker, I can spellwell

Youa re maing things up again!

I can't read my posts back

Taht's different, very much so.

And yes my typing skillas are appalling

But I know I earned my (good) degree. And am earning my hopefully good MA. that'sall I need to know in fact isn't it,over the opinions of someone who never met me?

(and you can'y use sellcheckers in fianls, it's handwritten BTW)

Am off now as getting annoyed at a screen which is pathetic

Don't be annoyed - go hug a tree. Honestly - so many are hypocrites - there you are, claiming to be a member of the Green party - running around with your hoover and the computer left on. No doubt you straighten your hair and buy your run-of-the-mill full-of-parabens-and-sulphates shampoo in Boots. Utter bobbins. Oooh save the planet - but let me make myself up first. What do you do when you're not hoovering? Save whales? Plant forests? Educate Brazilian pygmies?

In response to "the opinions of someone who never met me" - I think you'll find people do judge. It's called life. Without judgement society collapses. When you/I put our opinions out there we must accept that we will be judged.

The only saving grace is that you are wrong and I am, of course, right!

No,provide suport to famillis with a recent ASD dx, help out at school etc

I don't shop in boots, BTW. Big issues with their strategy towards smaller local pharmacies. Oh and there isn't one in my village.

OPC left on becuase DH'sbusiness is an internet shop. I would not hoover but am not a fan of licking the carpet and ds4 is a toddler so would pick anything up.

And yes I know dc4 isn;t particularly environmental either. I am far from perfect. I'm quite nice though,and kind, so I still like myself.

careful, Ski, you are coming very close to describing the real Peachy there.

You are also coming across as an extremely ignorant and seriously condescending person.

Are you actually real?

And please don't say 'dear' in your posts. You sound like Michael Winner.