Amazulu

Disagree. Australia, Canada, Norway etc exploit and export resources from a high wage, HSE cost base. Investment in new projects in these countries continues. I reckon that much of the UK coal industry was unviable in the mid-'80s and was only kept going because it was nationalised.

Whether she could have handled it better is a good point. Maybe she could have.

IvanM

The change happened too quickly and nothing came in its place leaving areas of high levels of long term unemployment.

High currencies need high value add industry whatever that industry may be.

Zen10

It's true these countries export resources, but how many of those mining interests are owned by Chinese firms? Who does that benefit apart from a few local jobs? Are they more efficient than SOEs? I don't know a lot about it.

Amazulu

Most of the companies that operate in the countries listed are western owned. Some Chinese companies own mines in Australia but their number is limited as our government places restrictions on them

cresta57

It's not a case of how much do you want it's a case of how much money will the govt. have to put in the coffers to pay the wages. Not many of the pits were running at a profit, some were but the ones running at a loss meant a net loss across the board. It's all well & good saying pay them X but if X is more than the product they produce it's a no win situation.
A few of the pits that were profitable were lost due to the strike. Scargil wanted NACODS to come out as well as the NUM. The resulting lack of maintenance closed the pits due to safety issues. Seems weird to me but if you can pump out a mine to keep it going surely you could do the same again
The coal is still there under the ground & one day it may become profitable to mine it again. Hopefully when the rest of the worlds has been consumed lol.

Wol

>>So for me personally it was the best part of my working life.... I really did never have it so good. Got to admit work and life usually always seems good to youngsters starting out so my view could be tempered by my age at the time.<<

Another view of Britain in the 70s: OK, from the Torygraph but very much as I remember it:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/poli...efore-her.html

ozzieeagle

As I said in another thread, the fighting at the semi final was pro thatcher supporters being confronted by anti thatcher Millwall fans.

Heres a snippet of the goings on at Trafalgar square.

bibblybobbly

Why is it ironic to blame the parents. What is wrong with parental responsibility. It is wrong to blame one person. I think the article may make lazy stupid parents feel better about themselves, and nod to each other, See we aren't crap parents, it was all the gov fault our kids are ****ed. You don't think that's stupid. I do think that's stupid. I think its a major cop out

bibblybobbly

So you could not have held up your head had you not let your fury be vented, and you admit you wrote some disgusting things. I guess you and me would never agree on anything. I was bought up to be respectful of people who have passed over , no matter what I thought of them in life. I guess that's how I would hold MY head up.

pintaguiness-pickledegg

This is typical of the kind of rubbish that people write when they want to give someone a 'put down'. They know in their heart that some people are just too affected or passionate about a topic that no matter what they said or wrote it would not change their opponents perspective on the matter. So how else can they stick the boot in? I know, let's attack their moral standing. Would you have said the same thing to Adolf's critics (and how many millions of them?). Think carefully about that one. Some people in history deliberately and knowingly set themselves on a morally wrong path. Maggie knew exactly what she was doing with her policies and ultimately what that would lead to for the working classes. I will not be posting on here again, (don't all cheer at once), the sympathy for Maggie sickens me to the stomach. I will be glad when the funeral is over so we can get on with our lives and not be constantly reminded of her on a daily basis.

Zen10

You should consider that people are entitled to express their opinions on here, even if you find them to be disagreeable. Also, to argue that Thatcher deliberately set out to destroy things is ridiculous. She had to face an electorate, for one thing.

Amazulu

MT was awesome. One of the best PMs your nation has ever had and one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century

pintaguiness-pickledegg

Not ridicuous, we all know she was out to get the unions and they are not made up of you nice middle class people now are they?
And as for opinions? Did you not criticise people for their grammar or was that someone else?

pintaguiness-pickledegg

You Ozzie wind up merchant!!!!

Amazulu

That's what I genuinely believe

She was a true patriot and saved your country