Gransnet is right wing?

I have voted labour all my voting life.

I agree,VQ - it would be very bland if we all agreed about everything! I can't honestly say my views have changed about newspapers which constantly criticise single mothers or the unemployed but I am always open to be persuaded by rational argument.

I would say the majority of posters lean to the left politically. However, as has been said previously, this is not a politics site so what does it matter. In some cases I am somewhat to the right of Genghis Khan! but would consider myself more just right of centre.

As for education, I went to a (poor) secondary school and left when I was 16 - all my education has come from life itself. Most of the teachers in my school were just marking time until they could retire. I only had one good teacher, a Miss Kerslake, who taught English and instilled in me a love of books and reading.

You'd have to be very far to the left to view the regular posters (like me!) as right wing.

Crikey; instead of looking at any news items when I get back from work now, I just go straight to gransnet for in intelligent, informed, up to the minute resume [is that the right word] of what's what in the world. Never a right wing propoganda forum. Heck; look at the all round sigh of relief when Obama was re elected!

We all make assumptions, we all generalise and some are not open to any view except their own entrenched one. As you move through life, hopefully you meet a wide variety of people and a wide variety of views. I don't like being labeled as I don't conform to any particular category - a sort of pick and mix person.

As regards politics, things won't change. The Left is funded by the Unions, the Right by business. In my simplistic view, business creates wealth and takes the risks neeeded to do that. That wealth is needed to support those that require it and to care for and educate the people.

As petallus said, I'll get my coat (love that!) I'm off to spend money to help the economy

We did have a couple of Cameron supporters but they seem to have gone to ground. Can't blame them.

I'e always voted Conservative, but I won't be next time!
Mind you,I won't be voting Labour either!

Ella - you are not alone. Those of us who used to be Labour voters were disenfranchised when Blair turned the party into his personal fiefdom and Brown allowed his personal angst to interfere with his judgement. Now, we can only see what Milliband does and hope he can reverse some of the worst onslaughts onto the poor, the unemployed, the sick, the disabled, and the elderly, the NHS and education.
I have not used my postal vote since I moved to France - I just felt too disheartened, but I think I will vote next time, if I am still in Europe.

Not a politics site?
I look on the politics forum first, but I only joined a couple of weeks ago.
There are 136 discussions on the politics forum. That sounds quite political to me. And many of the other forums are political, too, like the epetitions and environment ones.

Right-wing? Well certainly NOT moi.

Although I was recently voted in as a Councillor here and I had only 2 parties to choose from if I wanted to get involved here, the extreme right, or a centre right party, which here if called the 'radical-liberals' (which they are not, lol). But it gives me a chance to get involved with the education system and also the more positive integration of immigrants, so be it.

So come on all you left-wingers. Read the article in the Guardian about the GPs who are now millionaires by selling off their out of hours group to Careuk and then sign my petiton to look into govt. ministers links with private healthcare companies.
The link ishttp://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40126
Then join the National Health Action party, particularly those of you who live in London and can go to their inaugural meeting on Thursday.

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40126

I abstain from beans! I find politics boring.

Sorry, I do not understand. Get off the politics forum if that's how you feel.
I'm vegetarian by the way and love beans, but I still do not understand your comment.

Jendurham - Abstain from Beans refers to the practice in ancient Athens of voting by putting different beans in a receptacle - if you didn't want to vote you abstained.
I will sign, even though I don't live in England - plenty of my family do.
I agree that there is no point in posting on a thread that you don't want to post on that thread! I don't post on knitting or gardening as I have no interest in either.

Signed - Jen, do you read Private Eye? They have been highlighting this scandal for many issues, along with so many other corrupt practices, such as the awarding of contracts to very poor companies, and the 'revolving door' which allows retiring MPs to join the boards of companies who have benefited from the policies in which the MP was involved.
Please have a look at my thread 'Who are the masters now?' and you will see how there is a web of contacts between a limited number of people at the top of the social heap. I cannot understand why so few people appear to recognise this, or be angered by it.

jendurham there is no need to be rude!
I was interrupted but meant to go on to say, that if all the politicians weren't so seemingly self serving and a fair number corrupt I would be interested!
At the moment I think all the parties are as bad as each other and feel that the interests of the country are not their priority!

Jeni, I am sure jendurham did not mean to be rude - remember what we have all said about how the written word can be misinterpreted?
It is the very fact that politicians seem to be so self serving that makes me keenly interested in all that they do (or as much as we can find out about what they do!) If I thought they were all dedicated and honest I would not spend so much time checking up on them!

I have noticed that the petition is now trending on the govt. website!
4 signatures in the last hour. Never thought I'd ever be trendy!
You did say, Jeni, that you weren't interested in politics. And I still woyld not have understood the beans.
Thaks for the info, Greatnan.
I actually tried to put on an epetition to stop companies involved in tax dodging from being eligible to apply for NHS contracts.
They would not accept that, so that is obviously being really political.
I can only presume that that was because of confidential information having to be made available. Why should any company buying out the NHS be able to hide financial information?

If only we could start our own political party.
Any suggestions for a name? And who'd be wiling to serve and in what capacity?

The senate party.
As in older/elder states people?

I am a retired tax inspector so I could volunteer to be treasurer - but I am also a retired English teacher so I could be the secretary. I can't do much door-stepping, though, as I live in France. (No, I have no interest in French politics as my three pensions all come from the UK government.)

Yes, Greatnan, I do read Private Eye, and the Green Benches website which has also been highlighting it for ages. I have joined the National Health Action party, and "unjoined" the Patients Association since they informed me that they had linked up with BUPA. I wear a badge for KONP, i.e., Keep Our NHS Public, and sign up to masses of websites and groups to keep tabs on the NHS.
Like you I think, why do people not notice what's happening. I am really worried that soon it will be too late.
Although this time last year my husband had bad experiences with the NHS in our local hospital, I certainly would not want it to be privatised.
I do quite often think why bother, but then I start to feel disloyal to Ken, my parents and my grandparents.
Anyone who doubts that the NHS is being privatised needs to read the article in the Guardian. However, I have noticed that, although it was the headline in yesterdy's Guardian, it has already gone off the front page of their website.

Actually I had you down for a more senior role great .
jeni getting there ... but senate is too close to senile perhaps?