Comments on: Why class still matters

By: Simon R

Simon R — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:00:15 +0000

James- great post.

By: Jennie

Jennie — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:52:19 +0000

What Steph said.

By: Mark Littlewood

Mark Littlewood — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:13:48 +0000

“And the theory advanced by some libertarians that any political party that became pro-smoking would instantly become massively popular is pie in the sky as well and not backed up by any evidence.”

Which libertarian advances this view?

Can you name one?

By: Oranjepan

Oranjepan — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:53:39 +0000

I think Clegg said something admirable when he admitted to still smoking the occasional cigarette (presumably in the Blackadder sense). Namely that it was occasional. Smoking doesn’t need to be habitual even if the nicotine is addictive.

By: ThunderDragon

ThunderDragon — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:20:48 +0000

“It is the problem common to anyone who is convinced that policy makers need only concern themselves with equality of opportunity and “meritocracy” as opposed to outcomes. The theory goes that if you give people the right training and opportunities, they will run with it - unless they are lazy and feckless and not worth bothering with.”

And what precisely is wrong with this? You can’t - and must not - give everyone the same regardless of effort. So long as everyone has the same opportunities, it is up to them to make the best use of it. There is no excuse for not doing what you can to improve your life, whether that be cooking rather than buying kebabs every day or extra training. If I work but they can’t be arsed, they shouldn’t get the same amount of income as I do. Equality of outcomes means that it is rationally in everyone’s interest to do as little as possible, since you all get the same no matter what.

If they are tired “at the end of a long day at work [and] lack the energy to leap in the kitchen and rustle up a meal,” what do they think everyone else does? Everyone is tired after the working day. It’s certainly no excuse to not cook every single day of the week.

Certainly when it comes to cooking or not cooking it has bugger-all to do with “class” and everything to do with laziness.

By: Steph Ashley

Steph Ashley — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:27:11 +0000

Since I have already been described by a lovely anonymous commentor as “mad as a box of frogs” for my pathological openness on my own blog tonight, I might as well continue spilling inappropriate amounts of confessions about my life on the internet *sigh*

I am on a low income and live in a low income area. I am horribly addicted to nicotine and spend more than is wise of my available cash on cigarettes and yes, in the chip shop. I also forgo my trips to the gym more times than I don’t, in favour of sitting in front of Sky TV. Fact is, when life is miserable, there’s an all-pervading sense of can’t-be-arsed that overrides all my well-educated and well-meaning instincts to cook properly, look after myself, and not poison my lungs. It’s my little slice of the instant gratification that everybody wants and seems to feel entitled to have, and harmful or not it comforts me. I don’t know what the answer is. I have no idea at all what would convince me to live permanently in the good habits I flirt with from time to time - given that I already know how much healthier and happier I am when I make the effort to cook a decent meal every night, exercise regularly, and quit smoking, why don’t I stick to it? I’m as mystified as Jamie Oliver, and I give every appearance of being one of ‘them’.