The Conservatives

[MammaBrussels]

I cannot believe someone, even someone in the Conservative Party, would say this.

How can anyone support them?

Not understanding the flexibilty of language, especially metaphor, seems like a sin to me.

(That's a simile.)

'Not understanding the flexibilty of language, especially metaphor, seems like a sin to me.'

Agree, that's another thing I don't like about New Labour.

the word 'sin' was used in a wider moral context and is of course my POV.

There is no sin of inequality. Indeed it may well bea moral good. It is certainly the fact that means we are here today, given how our species has developed over 2m years.

I like it, custardo. 'The sin of inequality.' Nice metaphor. Although the Tories might think it an oxymoron.

Ah ha!!

everytime the tories use the term equality it's an oxymoron.

I didn't understand Xenias last post - is she saying that it's pretty much survival of the fittest and the poor should try harder? or have i wildly gone of course?

Wow the problem seems to be that whislt the conservatives are happily situated in the middle of the political ground with their social democratic policies. The vast majority of those anti cons, libs etc here seem to be way off of the far left.

You really need to sort yourselves out as your politics of jealousy are what lead to huge debts for the country.

Jealousy about what others have achieved through hard word is pathetic and expecting that everyone else owes you a subsidiesed house, income, benefits etc.

Oh dear.

Conservatives as a socially democratic party

Xenia do you mean the species has evolved over the last 2m years?

So the the poor are poor because they're lazy, stupid or genetically inferior and the wealthy are an evolutionary step forward? You do know where those arguments have been presented before don't you? Except they weren't referring to the poor in the 1930s.

I don't want to put words in your mouth but you've not given enough detail for me (after a couple of beers at lunch) to completely understand what you mean.

I like Diana Abbott but she was out of order saying what she did about white people. She would be the first to jump in and condemn generalisations. I think what that awful Winterton woman said about those Chinese cockle pickers who drowned was a million zillion times worse. She should have been thrown out of the party. Horrible hateful woman.

Homo sapiens (i.e. humans) evolved in Africa approx 250,000 years ago. Fully anatomical humans evolved in Africa and possibly in areas outside Africa later than that.

It was in the neolithic after the invention of farming that stratified societies appear to have developed in many parts of the world, some much more stratified than others seeing the advent of the 'gatekeeping' of natural resources as well as differential access to symbolism and political power. In Europe we have a legacy of 'extreme' stratification. But it is really very relatively recent, and certainly not a 'given'.

MarySA I don't think that was the first or last 'joke' she made.

i think you will find fat greedy bankers are what lead to great economic crisis novack.

I want more equality of opportunity, and saying that poor people don't work hard is disgusting.

I still can't decide whether Novack is coming from a position of ignorance or one of deliberate belligerence. Think I'll sit on the bridge fence a bit longer.

Deliberate belligerance I'll out my fiver on.

'Jealousy' is a word that gets a frequent outing.

Quite possibly both

put not out

claig-

I don't remember the Bible saying that inequality is a sin. Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman and most of New Labour have much more wealth and privilege than any of us, but that is not a sin.

Then you clearly haven't read much of the Bible at all.

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What the Bible says about rich people

b They are going to hell.

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. -- Luke 16:19-25

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. -- Matthew 19:23-24, Mark 10:23-25

But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. -- Luke 6:24

Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. -- James 5:1 

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Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." -- Mathew 19:24

Excellent Bibblecraft.