David Cameron: It is your fault if you are fat and poor.

[FairyMum]

Has anyone commented on the David Cameron-speech on moral neutrality? He is a price-dick, isn't he?

Definatly agree that junk food costs more.

Its not about posh people and Etonians not having an understanding of issues outside of Eaton. When they start asking the fat and the poor to "pull yourself together" then I start to go a bit because the only place most of them have ever come across a genuine poor person is watching The Bill. And DC might have done a couple of walks in bullet proof vest around a counsil estate.

And yes, these people are mostly absolutely charming as is probably DC, but if you look a bit closer you might see something else lurking underneath the charm.

I also really enjoyed Arabella Weir's article Riven!

Actually, the biggest cause of obesity in women is the slimming industry. Dieting makes you fat. Dieting again to lose the extra weight you gained after you stopped dieting will make you even fatter. All the godawful synthetic diet 'foods' that are pushed so hard at women (be THIN or you have failed, morally, socially and professionally - so buy this sugar-coated cardboard or else) increase weight gain in the long run. And many of the problems fat people suffer from are at least in part due to the stress of living in a world of fat-haters (it's such fun to know that pretty much every day complete strangers will feel entitled to comment on your appearance, your behaviour and anything you dare to eat. So educational to be turned down for jobs you could do perfectly well because you 'don't fit the company's image'.) SO you diet some more. You think you're safe to stop dieting. You get even fatter.

Fairymom,

Eaton is a Toronto department store. Eton is a public school in Berkshire.

Do people here honestly believe that DC is giving a from-the-gut speech, based totally on his own experiences and emotions.

Don't you think he has some researchers and speech writers, rubbing off all the rough edges?

I don't think anyone would argue that we need to be convinced that politicans are speaking with authority on any particular subject. I am confused though as to why DC is the subject of so many "he's an Old Etonion so what would he know" type comments. Other politicians such as Tony Blair or Nick Clegg don't seem to have got this treatment despite attending educational establishments every bit as exclusive as Eton.

Phony tony was in a rock band at Oxford, so he obviously was in touch with the common man

Do people here honestly believe that DC is giving a from-the-gut speech, based totally on his own experiences and emotions.

Don't you think he has some researchers and speech writers, rubbing off all the rough edges?

But surely with the level of education and the exceptional leadership qualities he gained at Eton, SP, he should be able to craft a from-the-gut speech on his own at such a critical moment in his political career?

Doesn't he feel the voting public are worth this?

Apologies, I didn't use quotation marks.

The post should have read:

'Do people here honestly believe that DC is giving a from-the-gut speech, based totally on his own experiences and emotions.

Don't you think he has some researchers and speech writers, rubbing off all the rough edges? '

no politician writes a speach without the help of researchers and writers, it is impossible for any one person to know everything about every social group in the country no matter where they went to school

I think he is a smart man, as befits a King's Scholar, but not so arrogant to think that he knows it all. Politicians always surround themselves with a broad range of people, so that they can get as many views as possible. They do not have only like minded people in the cabinet/shadow cabinet. That would be a disaster.

Tony Blair got a lot of stick for going to Fettes, especially even from within his own party. It's just not as recent.

I think he talks out his backside, SP.

I wouldn't trust him any more than I'd trust Gordon Clown, which is not at all.

I think he's a wolf in sheep's clothing.

And to be honest, I'm getting put off Etonians just from the posts I'm reading here.

Oh I don't doubt he's a bright chap.

Whether or not he's the right choice for PM is a different matter.

But expat, they're so charming

TFM, nowhere near as much grief as DC gets. If you type Tony Blair and Fettes into Google, you get 9,910 hits. David Cameron and Eton gets 56,101. The effect is even more pronounced when you consider that TB has been in the public eye for 14 years compared to DC's 2 or so.

Read the posts from those that know Eton -personally, Expat. They should not be off-putting.

Do you think you are a person so easily influenced by cheap headlines? Surely not!

It really is quite a remarkable place. I would have loved to be able to send my sons there, but finances do not allow. Instead, my DS2 will be going to the Eton of America for sixth form (DV).

It's a school, SP. Not a cult, but that's the way it's being made out by some of these posts.

Shudder.

Eh, a cult? Chuckle

It misses out on the primary definition of a cult by not having a charismatic leader...

and probably every other definition too

SP, you're not doing it many favours here.

Preconceived notions, I expect.