Anyone understand why Johnson is so far ahead in the polls?

And here's one reply to John Harris' tweet:

"Or, you could do what so many will in response to this and similar tweets: just call the voters in Hartlepool morons, racists etc.., and then scratch your head wondering why your lot never get elected."

You'll get nowhere unless you really listen.

Whitewave Do you read John Harris in the Guardian? I think he is one of the few journalists who gets out from behind his desk to visit places and really does try to understand why people vote as they do.

He tweeted this yesterday.

growstuff

You can't tell people how to vote if they genuinely see things differently.

But I don’t! I’m not at all sure where this is coming from.

I will argue my perspective, and find certain things extremely difficult to reconcile with my particular world view. I may understand an alternative world view, but I may never agree or change my mind or assimilate it into my particular ideology, particularly if I feel it is inhumane, or doesn’t make ideological sense.

Of course I can understand alternative views, but that doesn’t mean that I have to agree with them.

If that was how the world was made there would be no politics or different ideological stances.

I am certainly open to change, we all are and that process is happening continually.

Interesting post Casdon. It explained your take on the Welsh situation well. Thank you for taking the time.

Can I ask you - do you think job losses might be due tothe fall out from the pandemic as well as Brexit?

Whitewave, that is the point you should realise the sense it makes.

I have often found that you hear a very cogent argument on one side of a discussion that is totally acceptable and understandable and you wait for the person with different views to explain why they believe the opposite, only to have them come at the problem it from a point that had never ever occurred to me and which has nothing to do with the first sides argument and turns the whole problem upside down and inside out.

You can't tell people how to vote if they genuinely see things differently.

Whitewave It doesn't make sense to me either, but I (like you) have a different perspective.

Whitewavemark2

The wealthy have increased their wealth by a whopping 35% since the pandemic.

Food banks have increased by 33%

Yes, but in Hartlepool, which I mention because that's where the forthcoming by-election is, the majority of people are still not using foodbanks, so that percentage doesn't affect them. The wealth of the wealthy doesn't affect them directly either. There will even be some local people who are richer as a result of the pandemic, as at least a third of the population is.

What they probably see is that their town is run down and that voting Labour in the past hasn't improved anything. It was a Brexit Party stronghold in the last election and isn't going to transfer its vote to Labour, when the Conservatives are still seen as the party which got Brexit done. The Labour candidate has made no secret of the fact that he was/is a strong Remainer.

M0nica

Whitewave if you cannot understand where someone else is coming from you are either not listening properly, or you lack the ability to stand in their shoes.

Oh I can very much understand where they are coming from, but you are not listening to me.

I said that it makes no sense to me.

Now I suggest you try to stand in my shoes and understand where I am coming from.

The reasons people give make sense to them. Telling them their reasons are nonsense will make no difference at all because their views are entrenched.

Whitewave if you cannot understand where someone else is coming from you are either not listening properly, or you lack the ability to stand in their shoes.

The wealthy have increased their wealth by a whopping 35% since the pandemic.

Food banks have increased by 33%

This is the mountain they have to climb

“A senior official said that there was “a widespread cluelessness” about what levelling up meant. It was understood that a running joke among No 10 staff was that “it’s a slogan without a purpose”

Today’s ‘Times’

The trouble is I listen, but still don’t understand. I can quote word for word the reasons people have given for voting for Johnson on GN, but it makes no sense whatsoever.

However I can give reasons as to why I think the traditional Labour supporters voted tory and undoubtedly will in this weeks election.

I can understand their reasoning. I also think that unless the Tories ensure that jobs and living standards for the working class rise then they will lose the vote in future.

Two ears one mouth?? ?‍♀️

“When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.”

― The Dalai Lama

I heard an interview on radio 5 today. Nihal. He was interviewing a lady who’d written a book on difficult conversations. Her premise was it’s either an exchange of views with no result (other than upset) or a proper discussion where you exchange ideas and information. If someone makes a statement you should ask questions about that. Even if you still don’t agree you might learn something and in the telling, they might too. Obvs it’s more complex than that but I thought it was interesting. A way forward instead of I think this and you think that and never the twain shall meet. ??

This why so much political debate is wasted and useless as it is the deaf talking to the deaf.

Spot on, MOnica

Perhaps because people don't want to admit that they voted for deceit and fraud and rejected honesty and commitment.

Perhaps, trisher they do not agree with you either on the honesty and commitment as well as the deceit and fraud.

You have very strong political beliefs and see everything form a very particular view. You would find, if you ever had a an open-minded conversation with someone of the opposite persuasion, that there view of the choice would be unrecogniseable to you and your view to them.

This why so much political debate is wasted and useless as it is the deaf talking to the deaf.

It’s as if Labour have got some sort of death wish. Still going on about Starmer being to blame for Corbyn losing elections. Annoyed that Keir now accepts brexit having fought hard for a people’s vote. What choice is there when Johnson won an election standing on a get brexit done manifesto. Keir is totally sensible and pragmatic. He’s worked with the government during the pandemic because it’s the sensible thing to do, but held them to account when necessary. He makes Johnson look a complete idiot each week at PMQT with no help from the (pro brexit Labour) speaker. I honestly don’t know how he could have done any better.

I'd very much like to know what KS could have done over the past year or so. He became party leader in April 2020 when we were already into the pandemic.

He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. If he had attacked the govt he would have been accused of party politicking. But other people decry him for supporting the govt on many occasions. During all the times I've watched KS and BJ on PMQs KS has asked reasonable and sensible questions and Johnson has not directly responded to the questions. Johnson has been abusive, has lied and obfuscated. The Speaker has pulled him up on some occasions, not enough and MPs from other parties have accused Johnson of "telling untruths"

trisher

Perhaps because people don't want to admit that they voted for deceit and fraud and rejected honesty and commitment.

Agree ?.

Lemon can I ask how you know that your list is all people want? Sincerely- how do you know??

Purely based on charisma - but how long can that situation last. I am waiting to see if the cladding crisis gets sorted, and if so, by whom

Many people voted for Johnson last time solely to keep Corbyn out, yes I agree with you, many have said so, but this does not explain why many people are voting for Johnson does it? Who are they trying to keep out this time? I am one of the many thousands of people who are now politically homeless as I am still waiting for Starmer to step up and say what we can all see is going on, but one thing is for sure, I would never, ever vote for a party which considers lies, corruption and broken promises perfectly acceptable, people who would make my decent, law abiding Tory supporting parents and grandparents turn in their graves.

I can't see how the Tories can lose Hartlepool with an extra 25% who previously voted Brexit Party now homeless - they aren't going to vote Labour are they! The rest of the country will probably give us a strange mix.