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Political stereotyping

(63 Posts)
kittylester Wed 11-Dec-19 15:49:16

I know I'm asking for a tirade but...

Why are people who vote Tory regularly described as 'the haves' as though that is somehow something to be ashamed of and something that makes us unaware of the world around us?

We are fairly 'comfortably off' because DH worked hard till he was 71. Previously, he had worked hard at school and university. But I bet that applies to a fair few labour voters on here so why are we derided for it?

We just happen to think that the Tory way forward is better for the country.

MaizieD Thu 12-Dec-19 10:22:54

I have several Tory voting friends and they are the epitome of kindness to me; but there seems to be a yawning gap in their thinking when they refer to government activity.

This is why I keep saying that politics is about everyday life. There is a huge disconnect between people's interactions with their friends and families and their inability to understand how their political choices affect every area of daily life.

GracesGranMK3 Thu 12-Dec-19 10:25:30

I think both the words "middle-class" and "have's" are both outdated and may be a symptom of the age group on here. Age may also be a reason why what some perceive as middle-class women" are not leaving the Tories.

There is a shift in who the parties are appealing to and who they are attempting to appeal to. The Brexit-Tories need to appeal to the lower-income pro Brexiteers. They decided to only offer one thing in this election so their votes must come from people who voted Brexit and, as we know these are generally lower-income, less educated. The very people the Labour Party would once have appealed to.

The Labour Party, which is offering policies closer to those of the Nordic countries, is appealing to the middle-income, better educated and appealing to proportionately more women than men in that group.

Both are trying to appeal to "Generation Rent", the 18 to 34-year-olds but I am not sure they really understand them. Perhaps the LP has an advantage in that a lot of them joined prior to the last election.

We have so many more socio-economic definitions that the old ones seem destined for the scrap heap.

growstuff Thu 12-Dec-19 13:23:25

I've just spent twenty minutes reading through some threads. I would say there are very definite political stereotypes which have a weak link with "class" or even wealth. hmm

knickas63 Fri 13-Dec-19 08:36:03

@callistemon - becuase those are the people I am surrounded with in my everyday life. I love some of them dearly - but they are quite ignorant, never look further then the headlines, never looked furthering their knowledge. All pretty well off and yes - hard workers, but very blinkered. Very much the I'm alright Jack types when it comes to politics. They truly believe that people on benfits - of anytype - are lazy. That no immigrant or foreigner is welcome and that they want to return to good ol d Britain. White Van man -is a euphemism for the modern working class. Very few actually drive a white van - quite a few started that way though. My examples come from looking up the demographics of typical voters. I wanted to prove tha tyour average Labour voter isn't a lazy chav, and that the average Tory voter isn't from the blue rinse brigade. That a lot of 'Haves' would like to see an end to the appaling numbers of 'have nots', and that perversly, a large no of 'have nots' blame it on everything but themselves or the Torys.

BlueBelle Fri 13-Dec-19 08:51:56

I have a Tory friend, yes, just the one, he too was upset by last nights vote he has been a local counsellor and strangely to me (we never talk politics) he told me he doesn’t recognise his own party he will always be a Tory but he is a Tory with a social conscientious (his words) and can’t abide the far right that has claimed the Conservatives
I will always be Labour but can’t abide the hard left so in a way we were almost agreeing and how strange is that
after talking last night I felt a glimmer of hope but not sure it ll come about soon enough for my life to be soothed

I guess it’s got to get a lot worse before it gets better
How much have we got to lose first Europe then Scotland
and NI
Sad sad times

Callistemon Fri 13-Dec-19 09:13:25

knixkas
I don't believe in stereotypes
I do know that Labour voters are not lazy chavs

I never said that confused

Poor you, living amongst all those bigots.

Callistemon Fri 13-Dec-19 09:22:48

Sorry, stiff fingers this morning
knickas

Then the site crashed

NannyJan53 Fri 13-Dec-19 09:37:10

How anyone could vote for the Tories based on their record in Government the last 10 years is beyond me.

Missfoodlove Fri 13-Dec-19 09:39:42

We talk about the” haves and have nots” but what about those that just feel entitled?
My work brings me into contact with so many of these people.

merlotgran Fri 13-Dec-19 09:44:58

Estate style housing system?? Is that only in Britain??

We can't all live in the Swiss mountains, jura

You really are a fearful snob sometimes.

Callistemon Fri 13-Dec-19 09:53:52

Comprehensive school kids, people who live on estates, white van man, privately educated Tories

My word, the stereotypes come thick and fast on this thread!

TerriBull Fri 13-Dec-19 13:19:52

I think "the stereotyped" know exactly who is doing the stereotyping, Steve Coogan was on something or other the other day telling an interviewer that his persona "Alan Partridge" would be a Tory because like those voters he was pretty thick. Therein lies the problem, maybe certain personalities who live in the "Twitter/c'leb" vacuum do much damage to the parties they seek to promote by their overt derision of those who don't share their point of view.