Is this photo an insult to the working class?

[ALB]

[DJP]

Yes. You should always park your van front facing outwards.

[SocialistPunk]

Not really. The picture suggests a stereotype of ignorant, nationalistic, working class people. But as we know, there is more to the working class than that which the picture suggests.

[ALB]

DJP wrote:

Yes. You should always park your van front facing outwards.

You mean that is what the "middle class" do? Seriously, it is a stereotype of how the media and, apparently now, the politicians (after all, one of them was forced to resign over it) depict "the working class". It doesn't conform of course to our conception of the working class as anyone obliged by economic necessity to work for wage or a salary, irrespective of what job they do or how they spend their leisure time or adorn the place where they live or what sort of vehicle they drive.This is what we mean when we use the term, but are we sure it is what most of those who read or hear us understand us to mean?

[DJP]

ALB wrote:

This is what we mean when we use the term, but are we sure it is what most of those who read or hear us understand us to mean

Most people probably don't mean the same thing as we do when we use the term, but then "those whose living does not come solely through ownership of capital" is a bit of a mouthfull…

[ALB]

The Labour Party has gone all workerist over this. Yesterday's Sun quotes two of them.Here's John Mann, MP for Bassetlaw:

Quote:

White vans, England flags, are Labour values.

I don't suppose that'll help Labour's campaign to regain support in Scotland or go downwell in Wales.And here's Simon Danczuk, MP for Rochdale:

Quote:

Hard-working White Van Man represent the backbone of this country.

The Sun also published the political views of the owner of the house in the photo:

[rodshaw]

ALB wrote:

This is what we mean when we use the term, but are we sure it is what most of those who read or hear us understand us to mean?

Most definitely not. We are at odds with the vast majority in our interpretation of the term 'working class'. Most people don't see the world as simply divided into working class and capitalist. They see things as being far more complicated than that, with at least three classes and various shades of grey in between, because they don't get the essential political distinction.So unless we always qualify the term whenever we use it, people will mostly misunderstand what we mean. Not their fault, really.Maybe we should switch to using 'producer' and 'parasite' instead.

[DJP]

rodshaw wrote:

Maybe we should switch to using 'producer' and 'parasite' instead.

But then we get into the issue of productive and non-productive labour, in value terms….

[jondwhite]

Emily Thornberry MP and the Labour party are the big long-term insult to the working-class. As far as I have read, White Van Dan doesn't claim to represent working-class politics except insofar as The Sun pay him to put his name to the 'Danifesto' and a publicity stunt. Nomoreso than an oaf in a pub. In fact he looked a little embarassed afterwards.The Labour Party does claim to represent working-class politics but their politics is holding the working-class in contempt. Whilst some Labour party members even personally hold the working-class in contempt too. Emily Thornberry MP daren't openly challenge nationalism and instead resigned. Cowardly and craven politician.

[Author]

Posts