General Election June 2017

I think that's for the best.
#stopfootball

I think you become more socially conservative to a degree, but at 42 I'm as 'left-wing' (read Socially Democratic) as I ever was.

Ultimately, it's a choice. There's a Stewart Lee sketch, which I've been unable to find on Youtube, where he says that when he didn't have any money he was happy to have people pay their fair share in tax, but now he's earning a decent amount he feels that he should be able to keep everything he earns, because, "it's all mine." He's basically laying into the sort of people you're working with.
Or put it this way: you don't get more right-wing as you get older, you get more selfish.

Also, Liberalism isn't inherently a left-wing thing by any means. Conservatives are economically liberal, if not socially.

Conservatives are economically liberal

1. Some, not all
   
2. Arguably, those who are economically "liberal" are not conservatives in the sense of the word that was meant when the name was applied to the Conservative party. The Tory party has mostly not been conservative since Thatcher.
   
3. The meaning of the word "liberal" changes a little or a lot depending on the context you apply it to
   

I immediately thought of you when I saw that abomination... #damoisdisappoint

Are you Peter Hitchens?

Liberal in that they believe in minimal state interference, privatisation and toothless regulation.

But yeah, these things would be viewed very differently from country to country.

That sounds libertarian, not liberal.

Like all parties, there is a broad spectrum of people. That's why you get people like Ken Clarke and TM in the same party, despite having diametrically opposed opinions on the rule of law.

Broadly it's a combination of both fiscally and socially conservative (small c's) based on the norms of the time.

It's funny how 'conservative' in America encompasses more classic liberal than conservative ideas - individualism, minimal government, emphasis on rights and freedoms.

(Unless you decide to get religion or race involved, in which case restricting people's rights and freedoms is called patriotism)

Which would fall under the umbrella of Liberalism. I was making the point that the terms 'Lefty-Liberal' is a cheap-shot term of abuse that seeks to obfuscate what Liberalism actually entails.

And why the Lib Dems are capable of doing things perfectly in line with liberalism, but which many people (who may have thought they were supporters the lib dems) find problematic.

Having said that, I think a bit of liberal scrutiny is generally a good thing. It's the dogmatic belief in the unquestionable superiority of the ideas which makes liberals insufferable at times.

This is the one, great sketch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyGND49CBYk

That's it!!

Thanks for finding it.

Yes Minister seems to still be relevant!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y4PEqvk0Jg

yes minster informs all my thinking on our political system

fistpump

https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/this-brexit-themed-porno-made-me-think-long-and-hard-about-myself?utm_source=vicefbuk&utm_campaign=global

Condup deal delayed until next week, apparently. Using the Grenfell blaze as an excuse. Queen's speech will be delayed at least a week. This isn't going to work, is it?

The more daylight the DUP are exposed to, the sooner this will collapse.

Before they could stay out of the glare of the media, because the London based media don't give a toss about NI. Now that's changed and it won't be pretty.

Private eye getting ready for this
Their street of shame indicated once fleet Street starts looking it'll be fun times

Two corruption scandals, plus the mysterious £425k EU referendum donation for starters.

(Unless you decide to get religion ... involved)

Slightly tangential: I'm Sure Theresa asked God whether to go for a snap election. God probably said yes knowing she'd cock it up

But we know about all that in NI...and f-all can get done unless the body that investigates referendum cash gets involved.

RHI people think the Tory deal is to scupper any prosecution for the DUP...
NAMA is cooking on, and the only reason things happen is because the USA has gotten involved.

On the other hand, popcorn. I don't want popcorn though, i want people to lose their jobs for a change. Like when the little people mess up...

I am the youngest person in the office where I work, and pretty much the only person with left leanings. I am told again and again that you get more conservative when you get older - does this hold true in practice?

I first voted in the 1970s. I voted Labour then and have voted Labour ever since. HavYes, over the years my views on pragmatic ways to implement my ideals have changed, not necessarily in a rightwards direction. Many people who I knew at university who were then apolitical have since spent their lives as activists. Most to the very left.

I have an on going debate on Twitter with someone I knew at university to, then as now, was at the very right of the Tory party.

In other words, tribalism can be stronger than the rightward shift of years. Stay active; stay left.

Stay active; stay left.

Don't lean, though.

#schicked

My dad is 71 in September, and has always been on the left. Worked in the NHS though, saw his field (drug treatment) ripped to shreds under the Coalition, and now volunteers in a food bank and canvassed for Labour. About half the volunteers while I were canvassing were (at a guess) over 60.

Old = Tory is a generalisation, and the exceptions are there, and pissed off that they're being generalised about.*

*That's a generalisation, and may not be totally accurate.