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News & politics

Our responsibility as parents/grandparents

(125 Posts)
Rebellious Tue 24-Sept-19 19:52:16

Do we as parents/grandparents have a responsibility to vote in line with the wishes of our descendants? After all, they will inherit our decisions long after we are gone and we do seem to have made rather a mess of things lately grin

GrannyGravy13 Tue 24-Sept-19 19:55:03

I voted in the referendum the way my
AC did as it will (?) be them and GC who will be around a lot longer than I.

Oopsminty Tue 24-Sept-19 19:58:27

I shall vote how I want to vote.

Gonegirl Tue 24-Sept-19 19:59:05

You have to figure out for yourself what is best. Hopefully whatever you decide will the best thing for your children and grandchildren. Why would you vote in any way that could be detrimental to them?

rosecarmel Tue 24-Sept-19 19:59:48

We have multi-generational, political discussions- The youngest seeing things more clearly- So I do use their insight as a guide-

Ilovecheese Tue 24-Sept-19 20:01:49

I don't think we have a responsibility to do so, but we might well consider doing so.

Ellianne Tue 24-Sept-19 20:01:51

If that were the case then maybe it would just be easier to not allow anyone over 55 years a vote!

Rebellious Tue 24-Sept-19 20:01:59

A lot of families are falling out over political views the last few years. Its sad to see. We are a devided nation and that impacts families, friendships even working relationships.

Rebellious Tue 24-Sept-19 20:04:00

×Ellianne× my younger son is studying politics and makes a good case for voting up until retirement only.

Namsnanny Tue 24-Sept-19 20:04:58

I don't agree rosecarmel with the statement the youngest seeing things more clearly.
They're just as likely to make mistakes as anyone else.
We non of us can see the whole picture.

One cannot be expected to do more than their personal best when doing anything that is going to affect others, so that's what I would do.

Rebellious Tue 24-Sept-19 20:06:49

Society changes, sometimes those changes don't come into full effect until the generation who denied and detested the changes has passed on. Rinse and repeat

Nightsky2 Tue 24-Sept-19 20:17:29

No we do not!. I like to think my AC have minds of their own.

MissAdventure Tue 24-Sept-19 20:22:00

In short, no.

M0nica Tue 24-Sept-19 20:23:36

When I vote, I vote for the party that I think has policies that are the best for the country as a whole, now and in the future. I read and listen to all the information I can get and that would include the opinions of family and friends. I have always done this and always will.

Then I make my decision.

Rebellious Tue 24-Sept-19 20:25:11

Monica I'm much the same

Elegran Tue 24-Sept-19 20:31:39

I make up my own mind how to vote. I would not vote for anyone or any policy that seems to me to be probably bad for my children or grandchildren, but the decision is mine - and their decisions are their own. I would not expect them to vote as I told them to, so I don't ask them to tell me how to vote either.

When I get too gaga to decide for myself, I shall also be too dotty to vote at all.

Tangerine Tue 24-Sept-19 22:57:01

I'd make my own decision but I do talk about such things with my AC and I'd consider their views.

HettyMaud Tue 24-Sept-19 23:01:58

The young see things differently to our generation on the whole. For example my AC think immigrants have benefited this country and don't object to more coming here whereas I think the country is overcrowded and our environment is being compromised. I like the Green Party's policies except for the one which says people should be able to have as many children as they like... which I think is totally irresponsible. No doubt this will open a can of worms.

M0nica Tue 24-Sept-19 23:05:56

The young have always thought differently to their parents, it goes with the age. I am one of the 60s generation and we caused riots, but I was not convinced then that we had all the answers to the world's problems, although many thought we did. And looking back, yes, we did much to bring improve the position of women and started the fight against racism, but looking at all the other problems the world still has we didn't know everything or have the answers. This generation will be exactly the same.

LondonGranny Tue 24-Sept-19 23:14:51

My grandparents influenced my moral compass. far more than my parents did. I think my grandparents had a bigger view of the sweep of history as well as the benefit of hindsight. They were old-fashioned tories but with real integrity. They'd be horrified by Boris Johnson (as I am). The man is a self-serving liar with the sexual mores of a pimp. History will not judge him well.

absthame Tue 24-Sept-19 23:38:28

As a parent, grand parent and great grand parent I have always voted for what I believe is in the best interests of the generations that follow me. That's not just for my family but for all those who follow within the nation and the world.

Why else would I not follow the lead of the likes of Boris or Trump, on that path that would put self interest before everything else?

paddyann Wed 25-Sept-19 00:44:36

Immigrants HAVE benefitted the country ,in the main they work ,pay tax and contribute to their communities .How do you see it?
I vote for my country ..SNP ...for now ..when we get independence that might change .With Indpendence ALL parties in Scotland will be working FOR Scotland so every vote will count .Sadly NOT all or even ANY parties in England appear to be working FOR the people ,but I'm looking from the outside ,maybe you think differently?

Alima Wed 25-Sept-19 04:44:52

As regards the referendum we asked what DDs wanted and voted the same way. They will have to live with the outcome for longer than us.

GagaJo Wed 25-Sept-19 05:26:50

I've always voted for the poor and those unable to be in full control of their lives. Mostly, I haven't fallen into this category. But I work with the children of a lot of those that do and in an area decimated by Thatcher's legacy. So I could never vote anything other than Labour.

NOT that I wouldn't change my vote if I thought another party would offer more help. I would do it in a minute.

So not directly for my grandson. Although it is a GREAT theory and one that I'm going to ponder. Problem is we're not awash with better choices. So I'd probably stick with Labour, because my DGS needs a decent education and Labour are more likely to offer that to a working class child than the Tories. Not that a decent education has been available really in the UK for many years.

Rebellious Wed 25-Sept-19 07:41:28

paddyann I don't think it matters where people live, people come in, people go out and it's fine by me.