Are you right wing?

[Hobbit]

An observation on another thread suggests that this forum is predominantly right wing. Is it? Without doubt there's some very strong characters but does that make them right wing or left wing? Some appear to perceive that if someone is strong on law and order they must be right wing. Does that mean Labour and LibDems might be anarchists?

In my 40+ years of voting I've voted for all 3 of the major parties. The votes cast have been based on 2 things, 1) current performance, whether in power or opposition, and 2) the manifesto on offer.

In the late 70's it was get rid of Labour at all costs. Growing up seeing report after report of strikes, 3 day weeks and power cuts. Arthur Scargill helped me decide on the Tories. As the Tories yo-yo'd further right my vote went to the Liberals, and then to Toxic Tony. What a great time New Labour brought to politics. Some great changes and increases in wealth for the working class. But then there were broken promises, e.g. university tuition fees. Toxic Tony said no way, yet it was one of the first changes. The invasion of Iraq and WMD... And my votes went to the LibDems again. Cue Gordon and spend spend spend, and my vote went to the Tories once again.

I thought David Cameron's early years, like Toxic Tony's, were good. But look where we are now, and just look at the choices!

A Tory vote? No. A Labour vote? Oh please, no. A LibDem vote? Who are they and what do they stand for?

Am I right wing? In some areas yes. My views on policing and sentencing are definitely right wing. But what about my views on taxes, benefits and healthcare? Definitely left wing. Liberal? Mmm, there's still a bit in there but I'm not sure where I stand on change. Old people shouldn't vote LibDem, its for young, long haired, thick wool jumper wearing yoghurt knitters. Harsh, and just for fun really. I do wish the LibDems would get their act together, but that could be said of all 3 parties at present.

Is the forum right wing?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Certain threads bring out extreme views, those threads are predominantly the same posters discussing a topic they are interested in.
It would be wrong to judge the forum on those few threads, but as in life there are people on all sides of the political divide.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

...Without doubt there's some very strong characters ....

You sure aren't joking there..........Some people are just overpowering the forum but little will be done.

Sorry nothing to add to the thread really, as no one party really fits me as it is so limiting and there is no one answer.

 

[Orikoru]

I've never been hugely into politics, wasn't interested at all until the last few years when I've become slightly more interested. Probably an age thing. But I would say I'm more left than right in my views.

In terms of political parties though, they're all as bad as each other it seems.

 

[backwoodsman]

I'd say the forum, like my golf club and i suspect most other golf clubs, is definitely conservative (with a small "c"). Whether that counts as right wing I'd not care to say with certainty. I think I'd say the forum generally, is politically further right than me, but I'd also say I'm not as left as I used to be ... (But I fear that just comes with age as grumpy-old-gittishness creeps in.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Many people are too ashamed to own up to being right wing in public, only their voting paper would show up their true colours.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Many people are too ashamed to own up to being right wing in public, only their voting paper would show up their true colours.

Why should people be ashamed of being right wing?

 

[Mrs Wiggles]

I spend a fair bit of time on political sites, as politics fascinates me. I believe my politics are common sense politics, and whilst I have some socialist values, most people would consider me very right wing. Until UKIP collapsed they had my vote, but I am not sure where to go now. That said, I will probably vote Conservative at the next election just to keep Corbyn out. The people that make me laugh (and we all know them) are those who hold very right wing views but always vote Labour. The OP is right, whilst most of the people I play golf with are very working class, they are all pretty right wing. That said, I meet very few people with socialist or liberal views. I tend to think these people are very over represented in society, but we live in a country where any form of minority group has more power than the majority.

 

[Mrs Wiggles]

Why should people be ashamed of being right wing?

I was thinking exactly the same thing. My views by most people would be considered very right wing, but I am proud of my beliefs

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I played right back as a youngster.

Other than that, I'm distinctly Liberal.

 

[Mrs Wiggles]

I played right back as a youngster.

Other than that, I'm distinctly Liberal.

Other than my son, I have met very few liberals, and never on the golf course.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Other than my son, I have met very few liberals, and never on the golf course.

Well, if we ever meet you'll have met one more

 

[IanM]

I play golf with plenty of Left of centre folk .... 2 former teachers, a 30 yr old working in insurance, a solicitor and other

Plenty of folk right of centre too... conservative "with small c" ...

Definitions are also interesting... the guys above would call Tony Blair "right of centre!"

There seems to be a trend in popular culture that "Right" is wrong and "Left" is ok. Funny that.

 

[cookelad]

Brother and father are openly right wing and many "Facebook friends" also, oddly enough my old man has been saying for some time that politics in the UK is like 1930s Germany, just didn't realise at the time which side he'd be standing on!!

I consider myself 'centrist' (whatever happened to just being normal?), I agree in places with the left and with the right and can make up my own mind which, I also see the humour that both sides complain about the BBCs bias without realising that their opposit number is saying the exact same thing.

During the last election there were (as you'd expect) many online quizzes to take to tell you which way to vote I always came up a pretty even split between blue red and green.

 

[Beezerk]

I wouldn't even know the true definition of right and left wing, I just am what I am.
I've voted all over depending on what I deem to be right so I've no tendencies either way really.

 

[Pathetic Shark]

I'm just to the right of Attila the Hun

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Definitions are also interesting... the guys above would call Tony Blair "right of centre!"

There seems to be a trend in popular culture that "Right" is wrong and "Left" is ok. Funny that.

If that refers to me, I wouldn't say right of centre was wrong full stop, just that I disagree with some of the policies that are created by some of the parties from that side of the line. The same can also be said of those parties on the left.
To me Blair was a Thatcherite in policy, because he knew that would get him elected, not because those were his beliefs.

All parties can come up with worthy points, even those I normally totally disagree with. I remember listening to Paul Nuttall at one of the leader debates (the one May sent Rudd as her spokesman). He was booed at just about everything he said, but some points (even to a LD voter like me) actually made sense, but were ignored by the press & baying mob in favour of his more extreme points.

 

[Sweep]

The OP sounds like he just wants a centre party. All the parties fight for the centre ground - what New Labour did in the mid 90s is a prime example - but then desert it as they become more used to being in power.
Usually, I think most people want a centre party. Right now Brexit has changed everything and your politics are defined on whether you are leave or remain, but I think things will return to normal after Brexit has been dealt with.

As for me, well as a leaver I am branded far right on a daily basis. It’s like the real far right - Hitler and jackboots - never existed. In truth I am a little bit right of centre. Never voted Labour but believe if we cannot help and protect the old, young and vulnerable then we have no real society.
On balance I would say that the forum has more right wingers than left, but I think the vast majority have sensible views.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Why should people be ashamed of being right wing?

Nobody should be afraid of declaring themselves right wing (whatever that means) - but those who do, and who support policies that knowingly and deliberately impact negatively on the poorest and most vulnerable of society, should be honest about that - and not pretend to themselves and others that the policies are fair and equitable and that it's OK for the poorest and most vulnerable to suffer as they will and do.

 

[tugglesf239]

I zig zag left and right in my thinking.

Hate party politics though.

I also despise any form of extremity from Nazis on the right, to the blanket silencing of opposing views by neo liberals. The latter being my own personal irritation at the moment and arguable the biggest threat to free speech going.