Margaret Thatcher is dead
Apr 9th 2013, 2:50 am
#151
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Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
I would argue that the policies of the Unions and the previous Labour government were already ruining families across the nation.
Anyone who remembers the late 70s should remember what an appalling state the country was in. This myth that Thatcher ruined the lives of ordinary workers is nonsense. The country was in an appalling state for workers, 3-day weeks, strikes, high tax etc.
The worldwide opinion was that the UK was finished and could never recover. It was cap in hand to the IMF, think Greece and Spain today. The economy had to be taken apart and reformed.
Fast forward 15 years to a country that had the 3rd largest economy in the world. The National debt being paid off, unemployment finally coming down, interest rates starting to fall. The left will always peddle the myth that the rich got rich and the poor got poorer - what nonsense. The working class couldn't get any poorer than they were under the Callaghan government.
Unfortunately too many people forgot what a Labour government could do to a country and believed the lies of Blair and Brown. Once again, a Labour government tried to bankrupt the nation. But make no mistake, without Thatcher's reforms, Britain could not have survived 10 years of Brown and the following GFC and we would be suffering the way that Spain, Italy etc are. For that reason alone people in the UK should be thankful for the life of this remarkable woman.
For Thatchers lasting legacy you only have to look at the map of Europe. The fall of communism would not have happened as it did, without Thatcher's iron will. Millions of people in Eastern Europe have reason to be thankful for that reason.
Anyone who remembers the late 70s should remember what an appalling state the country was in. This myth that Thatcher ruined the lives of ordinary workers is nonsense. The country was in an appalling state for workers, 3-day weeks, strikes, high tax etc.
The worldwide opinion was that the UK was finished and could never recover. It was cap in hand to the IMF, think Greece and Spain today. The economy had to be taken apart and reformed.
Fast forward 15 years to a country that had the 3rd largest economy in the world. The National debt being paid off, unemployment finally coming down, interest rates starting to fall. The left will always peddle the myth that the rich got rich and the poor got poorer - what nonsense. The working class couldn't get any poorer than they were under the Callaghan government.
Unfortunately too many people forgot what a Labour government could do to a country and believed the lies of Blair and Brown. Once again, a Labour government tried to bankrupt the nation. But make no mistake, without Thatcher's reforms, Britain could not have survived 10 years of Brown and the following GFC and we would be suffering the way that Spain, Italy etc are. For that reason alone people in the UK should be thankful for the life of this remarkable woman.
For Thatchers lasting legacy you only have to look at the map of Europe. The fall of communism would not have happened as it did, without Thatcher's iron will. Millions of people in Eastern Europe have reason to be thankful for that reason.
Your partisan assessment of the last 35 years is misguided. Both governing parties have subscribed to the same economic policy, which is why you might have noticed nothing ever changes whoever is in power. The debt Labour ran up started in 2001-2003 because of the wars, and there is no way a Conservative Government would have done any different under US pressure to join the fight.
Ascribing the fall of world communism to Thatcher is also absurd. She played a part, substantively in her role as support act to Reagan, and his defence spending did contribute towards the bankrupting of the USSR, but internal pressures such as perestroika must also be credited.
Apr 9th 2013, 2:53 am
#152
snɐןɔ ʎʇıuɐs
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Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
'Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead' shooting up the music charts in the UK 
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment...-1226615599379
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment...-1226615599379
Doesn't look like they will be able to whitewash a legacy in an age where people's real thoughts come through/can't be blocked. Also looks like a state funeral would be a dicey affair - at least not without keeping the public 100m back and playing constant music to drown out the noise. I'd guess someone is currently sweating over how they prevent that going very badly wrong.
Apparently its not just some of the songs I linked to going up the charts. This one is getting used too :
Apr 9th 2013, 3:20 am
#154
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Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
Apr 9th 2013, 3:50 am
#155
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Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
The BBC are being very consistent in the positives of Thatcher and the sadness at her passing.
If people agree with those celebrating or not it is the BBC's job to provide a balanced overview of the situation from all sides and let people make up their own minds.
If people agree with those celebrating or not it is the BBC's job to provide a balanced overview of the situation from all sides and let people make up their own minds.
Apr 9th 2013, 4:38 am
#156
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Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
The lady's not for breathing.
Apr 9th 2013, 4:42 am
#157
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Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
I think it's instructive the way the media are trying to push and portray things as 'condolences', 'tributes', etc. - yet all signs suggest most people across the UK are celebrating her demise (spontaneous parties in Brixton and Glasgow at least) with twitter coverage being particularly indicative of a majority with a negative view of her misrule. It's not even a north-south thing, plenty in the south are being forthright against.
Doesn't look like they will be able to whitewash a legacy in an age where people's real thoughts come through/can't be blocked. Also looks like a state funeral would be a dicey affair - at least not without keeping the public 100m back and playing constant music to drown out the noise. I'd guess someone is currently sweating over how they prevent that going very badly wrong.
Apparently its not just some of the songs I linked to going up the charts. This one is getting used too :
http://youtube.com/watch?v=W7svqfVu468
Doesn't look like they will be able to whitewash a legacy in an age where people's real thoughts come through/can't be blocked. Also looks like a state funeral would be a dicey affair - at least not without keeping the public 100m back and playing constant music to drown out the noise. I'd guess someone is currently sweating over how they prevent that going very badly wrong.
Apparently its not just some of the songs I linked to going up the charts. This one is getting used too :
http://youtube.com/watch?v=W7svqfVu468
Apr 9th 2013, 4:45 am
#158
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Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
You need to look at the context though. At the time, Kinnock had a nuclear disarmament policy right in the middle of the Cold War, which was just nuts. Middle England couldn't connect with that, plus the disruption of the 1970s (albeit partly caused by Heath) was still strong in their memories. Thatcher was more electable than Kinnock, so she won several times.
Apr 9th 2013, 4:46 am
#159
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Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
If you count Glasgow and Brixton most of Britain then yes. The silent majority (who elected her and her government three times) will no doubt be either indifferent or offering their condolances. The scenes of students and other young people dancing about celebrating the death of an old lady who had no bearing on their lives are plain sick.
Apr 9th 2013, 4:53 am
#160
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Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
If you count Glasgow and Brixton most of Britain then yes. The silent majority (who elected her and her government three times) will no doubt be either indifferent or offering their condolances. The scenes of students and other young people dancing about celebrating the death of an old lady who had no bearing on their lives are plain sick.
That counts for something to me
Apr 9th 2013, 4:56 am
#161
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Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
'Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead' shooting up the music charts in the UK
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment...-1226615599379
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment...-1226615599379
Apr 9th 2013, 6:06 am
#162
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Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
It's the nature of human beings to have very selective memories. When I was still at secondary school I wanted to join the police force until I saw the protests against the pit closures on TV and witnessed "Rent a mob" in action. My uncle, grandad and cousins had been employed at a Kent colliery and reports of legitimate protestors being brutalised by the Police changed my mind overnight. Not the Police's fault entirely-I blamed Thatcher for being so devisive and I wasn't about to help her out.
For all you "Pro Thatcher" people out there-well I hope your consciences are clear! Nice that you are able to comment on other fellow brits' devastated lives of the 1980's from your comfortable homes!
For all you "Pro Thatcher" people out there-well I hope your consciences are clear! Nice that you are able to comment on other fellow brits' devastated lives of the 1980's from your comfortable homes!
Apr 9th 2013, 6:16 am
#163
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Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
It's the nature of human beings to have very selective memories. When I was still at secondary school I wanted to join the police force until I saw the protests against the pit closures on TV and witnessed "Rent a mob" in action. My uncle, grandad and cousins had been employed at a Kent colliery and reports of legitimate protestors being brutalised by the Police changed my mind overnight. Not the Police's fault entirely-I blamed Thatcher for being so devisive and I wasn't about to help her out.
For all you "Pro Thatcher" people out there-well I hope your consciences are clear! Nice that you are able to comment on other fellow brits' devastated lives of the 1980's from your comfortable homes!
For all you "Pro Thatcher" people out there-well I hope your consciences are clear! Nice that you are able to comment on other fellow brits' devastated lives of the 1980's from your comfortable homes!
Apr 9th 2013, 6:22 am
#164
snɐןɔ ʎʇıuɐs
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Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
If you count Glasgow and Brixton most of Britain then yes. The silent majority (who elected her and her government three times) will no doubt be either indifferent or offering their condolances. The scenes of students and other young people dancing about celebrating the death of an old lady who had no bearing on their lives are plain sick.
And as for people celebrating that the 'old lady' is dead - I'd suggest the behaviour that can generate that, 20 years after she was last in the public eye, is the main thing. THAT is how reviled her actions were. The main story is one not of bullshit about 'socialist' bandwagons, it's one of destructive actions forming long lasting enmity.
Apr 9th 2013, 6:33 am
#165
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Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
Nope, I'm talking wider than those parties. Tracking the traffic and location its widespread across the UK. The views in scotland/north are a bit more forthright, but even focusing down on Guildford the suggestion is the same - and that's hardly labour territory.
And as for people celebrating that the 'old lady' is dead - I'd suggest the behaviour that can generate that, 20 years after she was last in the public eye, is the main thing. THAT is how reviled her actions were. The main story is one not of bullshit about 'socialist' bandwagons, it's one of destructive actions forming long lasting enmity.
And as for people celebrating that the 'old lady' is dead - I'd suggest the behaviour that can generate that, 20 years after she was last in the public eye, is the main thing. THAT is how reviled her actions were. The main story is one not of bullshit about 'socialist' bandwagons, it's one of destructive actions forming long lasting enmity.
Who would have thought that her death could lead to a resurgence of the labour party?
