The politics of envy

Isn't it eye-opening that supporters of Johnson are afraid to watch a video which is just and only of the man? Presumably they don't want their worst fears confirmed.

It always seemed a stupid and also rude saying..."The Politics of Envy"
Doesn't it just mean those with money look down on those who do not have money.?

That the wealthy want the poor to not even aspire to being better off?
That the wealthy are a nasty bunch of people who never learnt to share!! That was how I saw it when Thatcher was PM.

And there you go Gransnetters, proof if ever you needed it, that some Labour supporters just don't like anyone having any more than they have - That the wealthy are a nasty bunch of people who never learnt to share - even if they've worked hard for their wealth their whole lives! And THAT is envy politics!

Urm Perhaps you should open the link. You might be pleasantly surprised.

It's not Gonegirl. It is completely the opposite of what the parable means. YOU are doing exactly what Johnson does and making the story fit your own view of life.
There is no point saying anything to anyone seeing life through such selfish, lying lenses

What, moi?! bugger orf

Gracesgran* you are mucking up a beautiful story.

In the Gospel of Luke chapter 10, the parable is introduced by a question, known as the Great Commandment:

Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"

He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself."

He said to him, "You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live."

But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"

— Luke 10:25-29, World English Bible
Jesus replies with a story:

Jesus answered, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he travelled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the host, and said to him, 'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.' Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?"

He said, "He who showed mercy on him."

Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

— Luke 10:30–37, World English Bible

Please don't do that.

Her interpretation was entirely correct, Gonegirl, so what is the problem?

If we can twist parables to fit our own beliefs please can I point out that with an efficient ambulance system and a working NHS there would have been no need for the Samaritan (rich or not) at all.
It was Boris's explanation of intelligence as the measure for achievement- top 2% do it and bottom 16% don't, that got me. Has he never heard of Mike Ashley?

I actually am starting to feel deeply depressed at the way peopel think and vote in this country. The thought of another 5 years under Tory rule completely terrifies me - and that isn't an exageration! All i can see is more and more misery, sucides, poverty and hopelessness. It is made worse by people thinking they are 'good' people who cannot see the harm that the Tory Government have done to this country and it's people. Hysteria over Brexit and immigration., Hysteria over 'Lazy Scroungers'. The 'I'm all right Jack' attitude. The absolute belief that a small taxk rise (which for the majority isn't eve in the offing) is not ok and that no one deserve support. I am angry, tired and feeling hateful towards what I clearly think of as selfish, blind and stupid people. Rant over - I am going to bed until it is all over. I may not get up again.

It just might be in the interpretation. GG's is not the parable I have known all my life. And I doubt if it is the same one as Jesus taught.

That is "the problem" maizieD

The politics of envy phrase arose because it very accurately describes Labour philosophy.

They ARE envious of successful people who have made a good life for themselves and their families through hard work.

It’s so obvious to see in Corbyn’s attitude.

It's the high-fallutin' way some posters express their views that gets right up my effing nose. Phrases like "neo-liberalism" when referring to a bible
parable. Oh please!!!

No one is fooled.

Jesus did not say your neighbour is the person who is well enough off to support you"

No. He said it was the one who stopped, and cared, regardless of creed or ranking in society.

Precisely, Gonegirl. The one who stopped and cared regardless of creed or ranking (and one who was despised and disliked by the Jews).

That is what GGMk3 said. It was Johnson who twisted the meaning of the parable to infer that the Samaritan did it because he was rich. (Incidentally, so, probably, was the poor soul who the Samaritan helped, before he was attacked and robbed)

Have you watched the clip she posted?

JenniferEccles I couldn’t agree with you more.

Opal

NEWSFLASH I am NOT a Labour supporter.
You are an idiot though. you are part of the reason this country is on it's knees and you won't admit it!

Ug It is not a case of Remain against Leave. I voted Leave but there are other issues that I think are more important as do many people.
Others voted Remain but will vote for the Tories.
It should never have been a party political issue and there should have been a cross party panel dealing with negotiations. We would probably be out by now if that had happened.

Opal

you seem oblivious to the idea of helping people to better themselves with good education, access to Libraries and a decent paid job.
you want the zero hours and the low paid so you can force people to work for a pittance while you and your Tory friends have a nice life.
I don't resent other people having more than me I resent being held back and seeing others held back.

I resent people being rude about the poor, born poor , by the middle and upper classes who have never known a difficult day in their lives.

But Jaycee can’t you see that if you voted Leave this is your ONLY and final chance to get it done? Everyone else in the other parties are for fudge and delay.

Get Brexit Done.
First.

Then move on to all the other pressing issues. We can always vote the buggers out if they let us down.

But Thursday is very important for Brexit. At the moment everything else is secondary because we can have another bite at various cherries. Just not THIS issue!

I do, in a funny way, agree Urm.

Brexit is the important issue in this election,

This is our best opportunity to STOP BREXIT.

You are going to be disappointed URM about being on the winning side. There is more to life than Brexit with far more important issues needing sorting.

pq get off your high horse. Firstly, you SOUND like a labour supporter. Secondly, I have always been part of the working class in this country, you know, the ones who keep the welfare state going to support the less fortunate.
My taxes have contributed towards education, libraries, the NHS and the economy, just like everyone else who works. I think zero hours contracts have their place but don't work for everyone. I don't think anyone should work for a pittance, but neither do I think living off the welfare state should be a lifestyle choice. Those who receive benefits should NOT be better off than those who work. I wouldn't wish anyone to be held back, I believe in people helping themselves, rather than relying on the State to provide everything for them. And you don't know what difficulties I have faced in my life, so cork it.

Jennifer Eccles If the "politics of envy" accusation is the basis for Labour philosophy, how do you explain people who are very comfortably off but who campaign and work for changes, which may well negatively impact them, in order to achieve a fairer society? Oh, wait a minute, I know, another catch-all insult - "champagne socialists".

Whereas, of course, all people on the right are highly intellectual, moral and altruistic, having only the interests of the country at heart.

It is true there are people on the left who adopt that political stance because they resent not having what other people have - and who are quite willing to change their political allegiances once things start looking up for them personally. But there are also many people who don't have a particular axe to grind with regard to their own lives but who do believe that there is a great inequality and injustice in our society, which should be addressed.

No doubt there are people on the right - rich and poor - who genuinely feel enterprise and self-determination alone are the key to a thriving economy, and that this benefits everybody in the long run. But surely there are also people on the right who, like Boris Johnson, praise the "Greed is good" mantra of the fictional Gordon Gekko and who have no particular concern for anyone other than themselves and those closest to them and who believe their good fortune is entirely down to their own superior qualities, and thus well deserved.

So, in reality there are self-absorbed and self-seeking individuals in every area of the political spectrum, not primarily on the left of it. It is, in my view, lazy, irrational and insulting to try to discredit a whole group of people by characterising them as morally and intellectually dishonest.

Opal

I am not on a high horse. I do not understand how you support the Tory Party who are destroying all that is good in the UK.
And I do NOT sound like a Labour supporter.
I just hate the Tory Party for all the suffering I experience and observe around me.
Hospitals closing, Libraries closing. lack of GP's. Rubbish education.
No Social Care when it is needed etc etc
All the knife crime that we barely take notice of anymore.
there is so much more as you know, but i am tired.
The NHS is already being sold off.
The big Pharma companies in the US are waiting to push up drug prices and then we will be unable to get the meds we might need. As too expensive.
I wish I was wrong
But look how much harder and harsher the UK is now.
Utility bills are very high, too high.
I have to start to choose between heating and food. Great.