Anyone else struggling to integrate with working class people?

I think the attitudes some parents have can be disruptive to children, like don't mix with Tyler because his mum is a chav. I'll be sending my children to state schools because I want them to make friends with people based on their own attributes, not because their parents are on benefits. Hardly the child's fault.

I agree with you, if you're born poor, there should be nothing stopping you from getting rich...

I think social mobility was much higher in the 1960s-70s etc, not now, because of the lack of jobs. I'm not defeatist, if I have a goal I am determined to achieve, but I do want to be richer than my parents are. It may take a long time though.

Agreed. I'll be sending mine to a grammar or private school, my experience of comprehensive was less than stellar. They will however learn the value of money, i have no intention of spoiling them and i will make them get a part time job at 16.

I think it was relatively but that's because we've seen a huge expansion of the middle class since so there's simply less people intelligent enough to climb the social ladder that are of the working classes at the moment. Certainly i have seen little to impede my progress. The job problem should also be short term, until 2008 the job market was as good as it had been since the 70's.

On the contrary I'm struggling to integrate with middle class people.

The UK has put all its eggs into one basket re the service sector. Manufacturing gave the working class jobs, now they either have to join the university system or get low paid menial jobs in retail or cleaning. Apprenticeships are a good idea though. Sons of electricians and plumbers I know are doing well too because they will own their fathers' companies one day.

For the most part, yes. Although it's worth baring in mind that the service sector is still quite diverse. I do agree with moves to expand manufacturing though.

Missed out call centres For me I think the UK was functioning better in the 90s and early 00s, because of Labour.

The Tories left Labour the best economic conditions in around a century. Growth was high, inflation was low, unemployment was collapsing. Labour simply stuck to the plan, especially in the first term.

And legal, finance, consultancy and accounting are all service.

I don't know much about 1980s economic history but I think the average person is best with Labour.

But they require qualifications/experience, I meant menial jobs working class people typically take.

I was talking about post-1992 (the Major government). I don't think the average person is much worse off under either over the long term. Indeed, bar a few headline messages the message from Balls is that he will stick to the Tory plan. For every working tax credit Labour will throw at you, the Tories will throw you a share issue like Royal Mail, the right to buy ect.. or soon to be the banks and BBC so as long as Labour don't go back to their policies in the 70's i don't see much difference for the average person. Both are firmly subscribed to the Thatcherite consensus.

Fair point.

Only because of FPTP as it's electorally safe and most voters like the middle ground (not that Thatcher was middle ground, but Blair is between left Labour and Thatcher) or continuity. More marginal parties or views aren't represented because of majoritarian system.

Some can be really whiny and childish don't you think?

I just find the whole 'keeping up appearances' thing tedious. I really don't care which school you attended, what your father's job was and how often you go skiing or which third world country you saved during your 'gap-yah'. Even worse is when they try act all 'ghetto' and 'urban', so cringe worthy. Also the pretentiousness of some people, ergh.

It isn't fair to judge people by class though. Not all middle class people are like that, but struggle to get along with those who are. Was a bit of a culture shock coming to university and meeting people like that, I thought it was just a caricature. The middle class people I knew back home just seemed a lot more down to earth.