Quote Originally Posted by the other bob wilson View Post
I feel morally superior to many people these days because I struggle to see why so many of them are prepared to forgive essentially bad, selfish people anything if they represent the Conservative or Republican parties (I realise there are bad people in more liberal parties as well) but I agree that it’s not a healthy viewpoint to have. I’ve lived my life to a set of morals though that I feel are based on fairness and decency and it surprises and disappoints me that other, fundamentally decent people are prepared to, it seems, back the likes of Trump and Johnson no matter what they say or do. If they are prepared to do that, then I can at least rest easy in the knowledge that I’m not doing anything to keep such people in their positions of power, hence my feeling of moral superiority - this is something that is well beyond just party politics.
Yeah, I mean we all have different opinions on things, but feeling morally superior isn't a great look and I suspect doesn’t feel good. In terms of morals, forgiveness is actually up there amongst the finest traits you can have.

Also, I don’t think it’s wise or useful to clump Trump and Johnson in together. Both very different people and whatever else you think, Johnson is a liberal in the true sense of the word. It’s obvious why some choose to tie them together, but I don’t think it’s accurate at all – baffling hair styles aside.

Also, bear in mind many Conservative voters don’t like Boris Johnson, so just as it’s unfair to tar all Labour voters with the antisemitism of Jeremy Corbyn, so it is unfair to tar all Tory voters with the lying of Boris Johnson.
https://www.conservativehome.com/the...stays-top.html

My profoundly held belief is that there is good and bad in all parties, just as there are in all genders, religions, sexualities etc. Aside from some extreme examples, such as the BNP or Communists (whose voters no doubt still love their families etc are not wholly bad) political party support is not a good way in which to align a moral compass. Indeed, forming an opinion of people based on party politics is in fact a historically awful way of doing it –many people have been put to death or otherwise had their life chances ruined for it.

I perfectly well understand people’s moral objections to Johnson with his lying, affairs, sometimes offensive, laissez-faire approach to things etc. In contrast to that I do think he was absolutely morally right on honouring the referendum result and I think he is fairly praised by Ukraine on his response there, and some of the lying accusations are a little hyperbolic…nonetheless, I understand. However, ultimately if someone believes that despite someones lack of moral purity, their leadership or their party would still make a better government and make things better for their kids or country or whatever else, then that is the over-riding moral objective. The archbishop of canterbury may be a moral authority, but who is more likely to give my kids better opportunities in life etc?

It’s not easy applies morals to politics, but I think it’s best to acknowledge we all have slightly different approaches, but fundamentally all want the best for the country and it’s people