Are the UK electorate out of touch with reality?

When our grandchildren's schools are told that their budgets will be cut to such an extent that teachers will be sacked, classes will get bigger and parents are being asked to fund books and essential equipment, we should protest. (I'm not in favour of a pensioners party but we do have a fair bit of clout - and the Tories want our votes).

Tell them to stop any plans for new un-needed "free schools" and grammar schools which will damage the education of most children in the areas where the priveleged few are creamed off, and spend the money on good schools for all of our grandchildren.

I love that sketch Anya

Hear hear varian.

Two quotes about Joe and Jo Public that I like:

“The public is never wrong. We lose elections because we deserve to.” Alan Johnson

"In a democracy, you cannot choose your opponents, your press, or your electorate. If your guide to election victory is based on changing any of these three components, or a misunderstanding of what they are, then you will lose." Conor Pope.

But in summary it was saying that it is possible that the years 1940s -1980s may be seen as an aberration, and in fact we are heading back to what is arguably a more normal economic and social reality.

That is very unnerving, whitewave.

I would agree that the postwar period (up to 1980) was certainly very different from anything before in British history. But what is so depressing is that in 1979 the country voted to return to a condition of servility and they are embracing it even more enthusiastically now.

As it pointed out in the article I quoted from in my first 'Marx' post; the views of the ruling elite have become the 'norm' even though there is no reason why they should be so, apart from deference.

the Tories want our votes

I don't think the tories do anything other than assume (correctly) that they have the older generation's votes in the bag and have no need to particularly please us.

We slightly to the left of centre grannies are an aberration really.

But not for long. I have just listened to a representative of the Labour party talking on PM. My heart is with their policies and the ethos behind them; but she was so vague about the detail as to render them unelectable; I thought Dianne Abbott was bad enough bu this lady truly took the biscuit.

Quite honestly, Luckygirl, I'm inclined to feel that we just need enough opposition bums on seats to make May feel a bit insecure and a bit more considering of the good of everyone in the country. Regardless of their quality.

Though, going on Corbyn's dismal record he'll just whip his members through on the government side of all votes..

As they say, often, on the mumsnet Wesminstenders threads, "We're f*cked really. Aren't we"

I hope not. We need to make our voice heard. We are a large demographic and we are not all complacent compliant Tory voters. Speak up for what we believe is best for our children, grandchildren and our country.

Jonathan Swift on metropolitan elites for you, daphnedill.

I'll see if I can spot any next time I walk past a Costa!

"Speak up for what we believe is best for our children, grandchildren and our country."
I will speak up - Stop the triple lock on pensions - just because I'm a pensioner it doesn't mean I'll vote for a party that guarantees a triple lock - I'm not thinking of myself - I'm thinking of my children, grandchildren and those on low pay who have to fund it.
Why do politicians think we are so self-serving & greedy that we'll only vote for parties that offer us a bribe?

I don't feel comfortable with these "everyone out there's daft except me" type of discussions. I also feel that Political exchanges via social media are rather pointless..

I also feel that Political exchanges via social media are rather pointless..

So?

I have been a member of gransnet for a while and enjoy the posts but have not posted as yet, but feel I have to post in support of this excellent and well researched comment and am in full agreement with it. I also feel that whatever Party wins the election it will not effect the downward slope that leaving the EU will bring. I will vote LD because I feel I have no choice as I am a firm "remainer" and nothing can sway me from that.

I base my vote on how I see my Councillors working locally. The Labour team have 3 locally, I see the work they do,they regularly attend community meetings and are easily contactable that's enough for me. Our local MP defected to the Conservatives but was still our Councillor for several months; never saw sight nor sound of him unless there was a photo opportunity...... speaks volumes as do their policies.

Well said daphnedill - completely agree. Voters bombarded with positive stories about TM from biased newspapers and BBC tv and radio. It scares me how divisive and right wing we have become since the Brexit vote. It seems to have given the green light for all the closet racists to come out. With a collapsing NHS and education system I fear for the future of my grandkids under the Tories.

As an ex teacher I completely agree Varian

I followed the BREXIT debate closely and it dawned on me how brainwashed the British public have been over the years, mostly by the papers but also from the BBC which I am so shocked about. The way they fixed audiences and debates to sway people to their point of view really horrified me. I feel as though I have had my eyes opened at last. I have cancelled all papers and now watch other world news programmes. I refuse to be brain-washed anymore! It is not just the BREXIT experience, it is everything. We are being brain-washed by each Government but especially by the BBC and I refuse to play the game any longer. Very upsetting I think. I trusted the BBC and believed their every word, but NO LONGER! The BBC is no more than a propaganda channel for the Government. They tried and tried to convince people not to vote to leave the EU and at the end of the day they did not put this country first, they were just thinking about themselves and their friends and how they could make them richer than they already are at the expense of the poor workers. I am so angry about this as I am sure others are too.

I believe that the two party politics thing is dead in the water the world over really, parties are just so close that no one is ever in power really. The ping pong effect gets us nowhere.

I am bitterly disappointed when I watch debates that politicians are so thick, how dare they be thick, they want to represent us, me and they are stupid.

We as a population need to be instigating new parties and new ideas urgently but are stuck withthe old time 'religions' of the political parties.

Brexit it hugely important this time round, I voted fir it and we may as well get the best possible deal, what is wrng with that?

I am also dismayed watching young people on TV being so absolutely lazy, one said 'there should be a phone app to tell us all this' .........FFS grown up everybody and either take a real interest or leave well alone, expectng the phone to give you an insight is puerile. The media does not have all the answers, experience counts for much more.

I think all the parties stink and we need different choices, not them rinkering with the deckchairs while the ship sinks.

The 'Today' Programme on Radio Four had a breakfast interview with a group of ex Labour voters who were undecided about their vote this time round. They hadn't a clue about anything. They thought May's utility price ceiling was a Labour measure and hadn't heard the phrase 'strong and stable' at all. The interviewer gave up trying to get any sense out of them and just started to ask them wind-up, taking-the-mickey questions.

Of course, as a teacher, I was shocked but not at all surprised at how low the level of sentience fell.

And we all have a vote!

"Vive la Revolution!" eh, radicalnan?

...and would that be like the French Revolution or the Russian one?

Have posters only just realised that: not every voter is intelligent/not every voter is interested in politics/ different newspapers have different political bias/ you can't believe every comment or even photo you see.
and that has always been the case!
You have to make your own mind up and forget anybody else.At least with a democracy if things become really bad the government can be kicked out next time around.

I heard the interview mentioned above and was equally shocked at the responses of those interviewed. However, on reflection, I am not entirely sure that I would have fared much better. I feel that the days of clearly-attributable policies are gone. Nigel Farage was on Radio 4's 'Any Questions' recently, and responding to comments from the other panellists about UKIP being an irrelevance these days, he read out a list of policies, which he claimed as UKIP's from 5 years ago, and which have now been trotted out by the Conservative Party.

Have posters only just realised that: not every voter is intelligent/not every voter is interested in politics/

Be careful, roses; some people don't like the implication that they're not intelligent..

Of course posters realise that it might be so. But it's something to lament rather than condemn