GrodsCorp

Bogans not middle class

Monday 21 April 2008, 11:28 am

John Surname

Categories: Bogans, Politics

Tags: Australia2020, elitism, KateHands

I don’t usually read the Herald Sun, but if it’s all that is on offer, like Sunday, I’ll give it a go.

And wasn’t I delighted to read bogan Kate Hands’ pre-conceived take on the 2020 Summit.

“I’ll blog about that” I thought, but the cunning Bridgit beat me to it. So let me take you back in time to see where it all began…

Please note: If you are offended by elitism, don’t read on. Please.

WHEN Kate Hands rang husband Warren to say she had been chosen by the Herald Sun to attend Kevin Rudd’s 2020 Summit, the plumber’s response was a bellow of delight down the phone.

“You little beauty, what a ripper,” he yelled.

Little known fact - he was actually cheering his flatulence.

There was also excitement among work colleagues, who had always ribbed her over her strong opinions about life in the mortgage belt — from high interest rates and poor childcare and education infrastructure, to a lack of public transport and a shortage of facilities for teenagers.

I assume she supports high interest rates, poor childcare and lack of public transport. Good for her.

“I wanted to make sure the views of working people and middle class Australia were heard,” Kate said.

Middle class?

If you say so.

And I lurve the mention of working people, cos, you know, that’s 96% of the population.

And from the Star News Group comes this:

Mrs Hands, 27, believed the Herald Sun editors chose her out of a field of several thousands of willing readers because she’s middle class and has an upfront personality.

There’s that middle class phrase again.

“I think that I’ve got a lot of insight and opinions on quite a few subject matters and that I’m confident and I’m honest,” she said.

I’m simply dying to hear your insight.

“What I went forward with is that I think I represent your average middle class Victoria- I think that’s what they were looking for.”

“What I went forward with this”?

What?

Need I say more?

17 Comments

Dam Buster of Preston (Monday 21 April 2008, 12:31 pm) #

Ms Hands was on Nova the other morning prior to the 2020 as she was also involved in one of their competitions on a trip to Hong Kong as a ‘desperate housewife’.

See the earlier report http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/57191
before she was selected. Top quotes like:

“My generation are soft. I think the complaints you get from the mid 20s that it’s so hard to buy a house is because they’re spoilt and cushioned by the government. The generations that are running it now they’ve seen wars, depression and recessions,” Mrs Hands said.

“There needs to be some challenges in life, otherwise when my generation gets to the top end we’re going to be wussies.”

She certainly knows how to get her face about after being on triple M as well.
Zombie Mao (Monday 21 April 2008, 1:46 pm) #

Ahhh Bogans

Actually In WA, due to the boom and the heavy need for Tradies, the Bogan is doing fine and is well and truly ‘middle class’.

Then again they just have several dilapidated houses (rather than one rented dilapedated house), HSV cars, bigplasma screens, larger collections of AC/DC memorabilia, kashmir flannel shirts and drink Jim Beam Black Label rather than the regular stuff.
John Surname (Monday 21 April 2008, 1:48 pm) #

Bogan misconception - buying a plasma means you’ve made it.

It ain’t so.
David (Monday 21 April 2008, 2:25 pm) #

Elitist bastards.
Zombie Mao (Monday 21 April 2008, 3:04 pm) #

HOORAY FOR ELITISTS!

Mediocrity is so passe

I really hate this use of the term elitist for anything daring to pop its head above the swamp. The Aussie cringe gone mad.
albi (Monday 21 April 2008, 3:51 pm) #

At the risk of being labeled one of those lefties lacking in a sense of humour, I always feel a little uneasy when I see other lefties point and laugh at those from lower socio-economic groups.

As the ‘left’ aren’t we supposed to champion the causes of such people? And since when does being a ‘bogan’ disqualify you from being a member of the ‘middle class’?

Anyway, back to knitting.
Bron (Monday 21 April 2008, 4:00 pm) #

In many ways, I agree with you, Albi. However, it’s free-all if they’re from Cronulla or Penriff. No mercy.
albi (Monday 21 April 2008, 4:22 pm) #

Well if they’re from ‘the shire’ they must be bashed. Preferably by a roving gang on the beach :-)
John Surname (Monday 21 April 2008, 5:10 pm) #

“As the ‘left’ aren’t we supposed to champion the causes of such people? And since when does being a ‘bogan’ disqualify you from being a member of the ‘middle class’?”

1. GROUPTHINK.
2. Owning a plasma TV doesn’t mean you climb the social ladder. I just find the ill-informed and pretentious woman thinking that people might care what she thought. They didn’t.

Aren’t we meant to be a classless society anyway?
John Surname (Monday 21 April 2008, 5:12 pm) #

*just think it’s funny
Wah (Monday 21 April 2008, 5:48 pm) #

Elitist fuckers.
She’s a senior manager of a company. You’re basing your ridicule on her assertion of being middle class on the fact she lives in Pakenham.
The fact she lives in Pakenham might back up her assertion that’s she not willing to sit around renting in the inner suburbs crying poor, poor me. All power to her.

Why should we consider what Lachlan Murdoch, Cate Blanchett and Bob Carr have to say and not her?

Take your latte, fight for an arts grant and fuck off you black skivvie-wearing bastards!

Oh yeah - tap!
Suburban Marxist (Monday 21 April 2008, 6:01 pm) #

Actually, if you don’t own or control the means of production (banks, mines, factories etc) and have to sell your labour power to make a living, you are, generally speaking, working class…university educated or not, white or blue collar. Its your relationship to the means of production, not so much how much you earn, where you live, what car you drive or even what class you think you are thats important.

Sorry comrades, but you and I are mere plebs…
Wah (Monday 21 April 2008, 6:36 pm) #

Sorry, that should have been black-skivvie wearing bastards.
Ray Dixon (Monday 21 April 2008, 7:16 pm) #

They both sounded good Wah - I agree, what’s wrong with Kate? OK, she comes across as fairly lowest common denominator in her views BUT … would you say no to that?
Bridgit Gread (Monday 21 April 2008, 9:14 pm) #

She’s a senior manager of a company.

So she’s either a management lackey of the exploitative bourgeoisie, or she sits in the office answering the phones (and is the more senior of the phone-answerers).

I’ve got no problem with Kate having opinions, hell she could start up a blog or ten. But believing that your opinions carry weight or absolutely must be heard, just because you win some silly contest in a tabloid newspaper, is idiocy. It’s like raffling off seats in parliament and winners expecting to be on the front bench.
Bridgit Gread (Monday 21 April 2008, 9:15 pm) #

Oh and Ray… not getting much lately eh?
Ray Dixon (Monday 21 April 2008, 9:18 pm) #

There’s just something about Pakenham tart.