Privileged upbringings

[anotheoldgit]

There is no need to post the link that this passage came from, one can read similar in almost any newspaper.

/// Gordon Brown set the tone for a class war campaign yesterday by mentioning his 'ordinary middle-class background' while his Labour attack dogs launched spiteful attacks on David Cameron's privileged upbringing.///

The question I ask is, why are Labour constantly going on about 'privileged upbringings'?

Do they not also enjoy a privileged life style, and won't their off-springs also enjoy a 'privileged upbringing'?

[anotheoldgit]

Davethedog

http://www.dailymail....class-war-begins.html

Nothing to hide, I just thought that most people couldn't be bothered to read such a long link, when similar has been reported many times and from different sources.

By attacking Cameron's privileged upbringing isn't Brown childish name calling?

Would David Cameron retaliate and criticise Gordon Brown's upbringing? I don't think so somehow.

Since I have obliged you, can you now oblige me by answering my question?

'Why are Labour constantly going on about 'privileged upbringings'?

[joggerjayne]

Quinlad ...

I don't have any particular leanings ... I'm an open minded Guardian reader.

However, I get peeved with the knee-jerk assumption that people who were privately educated are somehow "out of touch".

I was sent to a private school.

I am also paying for my god-daughter to be educated privately.

Why? Because I loved it, and she is loving it. And because she will come out as a courteous, confident individual, comfortable in any social circle, and with no hang-ups or prejudices.

It's a simple question of choice.

Some people spend their money on BMWs and Mercedes.

Some people spend it on foreign holidays.

Some people buy designer clothes, and jewellery.

Some people have expensive season tickets for football clubs.

And some people spend it on education.

John Prescott had 2 Jaguars at his disposal ...

... Is he less privileged that a family who work their butts off to save the money to pay for their school of choice?

Quite frankly, the people who should not hold office are the state school people who have chips on their shoulders the size of their BMWs.

=0)

[joggerjayne]

As OldGit suggests ...

How come state school MPs can sneer at Private school MPs ...

... but not the other way round.

The state school MPs try to make out that private school people sneer at "state school people".

In reality, it is only the state school MPs who are doing any sneering.

[naomi24]

... and how many of the MPs who champion state schools educate their own children privately? Don't do as I do - do as I say! Hypocrites!

[Garmard]

At the end of the day we have all come from backgrounds that are either privileged or not......What we need to know is what policies the party's are willing to share with us so we can make up our minds on who to vote for.

[joggerjayne]

That's true, Naomi.

That is a horrid trait in MPs ...

They seem to be saying ...

"State schools are good enough for your kids, but not MY kids"

[joggerjayne]

Yes, Garmard.

We can't help our backgrounds.

Some of the parents at my god-daughter's school have had to re-mortgage their houses to pay the fees. Some have move to smaller houses. Some of them never go on holiday, never go out for meals, and never get a new car.

Are they privileged?

Meanwhile, the state school mums pull up in their Merc's and Range Rovers, go shopping in Kensington, and jet off to their villas in Spain.

[Quinlad]

JJ, I think you missed the rest of my post. That it's a collection of shadow ministers drawn from an incredibly narrow demographic rather than an incredibly 'posh' one.

[Garmard]

That's life JJ.

[joggerjayne]

It is life, Garmard ... yes.

My issue is that people should not identify "privilege" by a single criteria.

Why say ...

"You are privileged because your parents sent you to private school" ?

You might as well say ...

"You are privileged because your parents had a Mercedes"

"You are privileged because you went on foreign holidays"

"You are privileged because your parents are still married"

"You are privileged because your parents have a villa in Spain"

"You are privileged because your parents are members of a sports club"

"You are privileged because your father had a season ticket to Arsenal"

Etc, etc ...

[Sandy-Wroe]

Surely a season ticket to Arsenal couldn't be seen as a privilege?

[Garmard]

You are correct there JJ, i quite agree where you are coming from. It has always been and always will be a bit of a Grey area.

[joggerjayne]

If you decide that all people who are "privileged" (ie successful) should not govern, then the country ends up being run by no-hopers and under-achievers.

How would that be? "I'm a complete failure ... never had a dime ... never had a job ... never passed an exam ... I'm a man of the people ... got expelled from school ... went to the "university of life" ... can I be Prime Minister please ?

[Garmard]

Love your interpretation JJ.

[joggerjayne]

Sandy ...

I agree that a season ticket to anyone other than Brighton is a dubious privilege ...

I picked Arsenal because their season tickets are famously expensive, and there is a waiting list of several years to get one. If you get to the top of the waiting list for the Emirates, you are one of a privileged minority.

[naomi24]

The thing is there will always be people who are seen to be more privileged than others, but if we took all the money in the country and shared it equally between everyone, we would still end up in the same situation. Some would use it wisely and to their future advantage - others would fritter it away and be left with nothing. It's a fact of life.

[joggerjayne]

Interesting point, Naomi.

So, in time, the money would revert back to a small group of people who ...

... (despite the fact that everyone had an equal start) ...

... would be accused of being "privileged".

[naomi24]

Exactly.

[Oneeyedvic]

I wonder how true that theory is.

And I wonder why the rich aren't prepared to try it out, if they are so convinced that it will revert back to them anyway?

[naomi24]

Why should they?