Gransnet is right wing?

Welcome yankee. Lots of differing opinions on here, which is great. I quite like DC as a person but suffer his politics with increasingly less patience!

Is this country a good place to live?

I have just found and joined this forum, si I hope there will be some right wingers I can argue against. I think Cameron is a privileged idiot - how he got to be PM, I'll never know. If he gets his way and we end up out of the EU, ourecobomy will collapse. But that's what hecwants because he will then justify cutting everything that makes this country a good place to live.

Being a white male?

Bullingdon Club anyone?

I suppose attending Eton is one qualification - or sharing chambers with Blair.

Lilygran Qualifications and experience for being Chancellor of the Exchequer seem even thinner on the ground.

You're right, there, vq. My DH and I were discussing this the other day and also exactly what skills and experience anyone needs to be an MP. Answer (apparently) none at all.

Omg don't get me started on the class traitor lol.

I agree, VQ, but it sometimes seems that the Westminster environment corrupts even the most down-to-earth arrivals - like John Prescott.

We need to change the way candidates are elected. We shouldn't let them go from university to Westminster researcher to candidate. We need MPs who have lived in the real world for a period of time.

Really miss Old Labour. Loved Michael Foot.

I'm inclined to agree, Greatnan.

I'm dyed-in-the-wool socialist, but find both the UK Labour Party and the Australian one are letting the true believers down.

I am very clear which party I would support - none of them! I am totally disillusioned and whilst I feel sorry for those MPs who genuinely want to serve their fellow men I am beginning to believe that most of them are in it to feather their nests and make sure they get cushy jobs when they retire.

I consider myself to be a socialist but I find no affinity with the labour party.
I would definitely join the GN party. I would like to work in the department for -the vulnerable citizens the underdog.
I also think there should be a continuity division which is non party political to include, health, education and justice.

Nanadog

JessM I think she quite often holds conversations with herself – but perhaps not about knitting.

What, talking to herself about knitting? Surely not! (no offence meant!)

Yes, but absent isn't (aren't?) most of those JO under some of her reincarnations?

I understand that current membership of Gransnet is now about 15,000 – double what it was when last mentioned a year or so ago. It stands to reason, given that this is not specifically a political site, that members' views will cover a wide range, including no interest at all in politics. In addition, there are plenty of people who post on forums and threads that are unlikely to touch on political matters, such as knitting, weekly weigh in and the one about physical exercise, and don't post on other threads. It always surprises me when I have been kidding myself that I am familiar with the names of most regular posters and I stray into a forum that I don't often access – loads of completely unfamiliar names busily posting away on – yes – a regular basis. In other words, I think it would be idiotic to suggest that Gransnet is right wing, left wing or bat wing.

Personally I tend to lean to the right of politics, as I am sure some GN's may have noticed.

However, I hope I am mature enough to leave the politics of bias where it belongs, out of my mind. If an idea is wrong then I would say so, likewise if I feel something is a good valid point I would say so, irrespective of whichever party has said it. That point does not however come over very well when you are answering a thread in favour of one party but if people waited they may see you commented favourably against that party on a different subject later on. I know I have jumped too quickly in the past to 'sound off' so I fully appreciate that is easier said than done. It only comes if GN's don't judge too quickly what they make of fellow GN's.

I do really hate the politics of spin and hypocrisy, sadly that applies to all parties and the majority of their die hard supporters.

I dislike it though when someone makes a snide, obvious politically biased retort to a perfectly reasonable comment made by someone of a different political view. This childish behaviour only stops a thread from progressing with intelligent debate or, as in some cases, does make the poster feel they are intruding in a sort of a one party forum.

Why does it have to be so clear cut which party you support. Isn't there a serious point of watching, listening and making a judgement call as to who you support at that time?. I like to think I am not particularly 'shackled' to a party and would vote for them even if I thought they were bad for the country or my town .

The ideal party for me would be a bit of a 'mix and match'. That will never happen so I appreciate the naivity of that comment, just wishful thinking on my part.

The word 'lurkers' is often used on threads and I believe a lot of GN's choose to keep to the old saying, 'Never talk about politics or religion'. That doesn't mean they are not interested in either subject, they probably can't be bothered to argue their case nor find it a worthwhile pursuit disagreeing with those who are not interested in listening to another point of view. No more no less than that.

I was brought up in a politically opinionated family; any opinion about anything was OK as long as you could justify it through logic. Most of us were left-wing; at the age of around 12, I decided to be a conservative just to oppose my parents, but could not find any justification. I ended up further left than them in some ways. One brother was a bit to the Right, but came back to the Left after Thatcher.

I believe that thinking people often belong to the left of centre, because it is more logical imho! At our age, most of us will have learned that extreme politics in any direction are pointless - they just cause misery. I have Tory friends, and enjoy a bit of political banter with them.

When still in England and living in Ossett with my husband, we had some older family friends who were conservatives, and old Dennis used to take us for a drink at the local conservative club, which was a few doors down from our house. He would openly say "I've brought my socialist mates in for a drink", and we'd get drinks bought from all quarters!

When working in polling booths at elections, party workers from all of the political spectrum get on well, share sandwiches and a few laughs. The only exception was in the late 1990s when we had a far-right racist party called 'Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party'. They talked politics (a no-no among booth workers) and got nasty with other party members. In the end they got the cold shoulder from everyone.

Political banter - bring it on - it's fun!!

Night all

night all from me to x

Night jeni

Night all