Margaret Thatcher is dead
#376
Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
Like manufacturing, the main issue is cost of wages, and also health and safety costs. Thatcher knew Britain could never compete with companies using Chinese slaves, and with zero H&S costs as well (hence all the weekly Chinese mine collapse stories in the newspapers).
She knew that, and she acted on it. This part of her policy I have never had a major problem with, but she could have handled it better, and put more in place to help with the transition of the economy. The problem was her faith in the "free market" to sort everything out.
She knew that, and she acted on it. This part of her policy I have never had a major problem with, but she could have handled it better, and put more in place to help with the transition of the economy. The problem was her faith in the "free market" to sort everything out.
Whether she could have handled it better is a good point. Maybe she could have.
Last edited by Amazulu; Apr 15th 2013 at 6:13 am.
#377
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,555
Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
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.
High currencies need high value add industry whatever that industry may be.
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 inly kept going because it was nationalised.
Whether she could have handled it better is a good point. Maybe she could have.
Whether she could have handled it better is a good point. Maybe she could have.
#378
Banned
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,300
Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
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.
Whether she could have handled it better is a good point. Maybe she could have.
#379
Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
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
#380
Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
How much money would you have wanted to be paid as a miner.... ? Everyone asked themselves that question during that first dispute. I think the newspapers at the time posed that question on more than one occasion. So no one I knew of anywhere objected to them getting whatever they wanted.
One thing I have never understood is why did more of these mines not reopen after the unions were broken? UK still has a few mines operating, but only some of them are truly profitable, the rest are marginal and probably going to close. If more mines were cost effective they would be working today.
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.
#381
Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
>>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
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
#382
Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
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.
Heres a snippet of the goings on at Trafalgar square.
#383
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 128
Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
The irony of it, BLAMING (in your words) the parents!!!
Blaming just one person is perhaps simplistic....a bit like Adolf was not responsible ALONE and should not take responsibility for the extremists in Rostock as it was 60years ago (FFS you cannot be serious!!). In the context of the article its not stupid at all - you reject it fine, but its not stupid.
Blaming just one person is perhaps simplistic....a bit like Adolf was not responsible ALONE and should not take responsibility for the extremists in Rostock as it was 60years ago (FFS you cannot be serious!!). In the context of the article its not stupid at all - you reject it fine, but its not stupid.
#384
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 128
Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
Not surprisingly I agree, but have to say that within minutes of her death, my reaction was to post my 'real' thoughts and fury and not hold back and I knew there and then the consequences that were coming. I know some people (including non thatcher fans) are disgusted but I would not have been able to keep my head up had I not let this 'fury' be vented. Fortunately (tho not surprisingly) millions in the UK feel the same as me.
#385
Iwannagohome.
Joined: Mar 2013
Location: Lovely BOP but bloody pricey!
Posts: 47
Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
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.
#386
Banned
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,300
Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
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.
#388
Iwannagohome.
Joined: Mar 2013
Location: Lovely BOP but bloody pricey!
Posts: 47
Re: Margaret Thatcher is dead
And as for opinions? Did you not criticise people for their grammar or was that someone else?