Thatcher Dies

[LJS]

Margaret Thatcher ruined 100 000s of people's lives to pursue her ideologically led economic policies. She allowed London to become wealthy, but at the expense of jobs and lives and prospects in other parts of the country.

She also changed Britain from a place where social democratic fairness was the political norm to one where it was a virtue to be rich and to look down on those less fortunate than yourselves.

She also began the process, which the current government are continuing, of overturning employment rights, the right to free healthcare and to a fair and equal education.

Am I celebrating her death? Well, not really. Do I feel any sympathy for her in death? No I don't, I wish she would've suffered more as some kind of recompense for the suffering and destroyed prospects which she inflicted on other people.

If anyone wants to take this as justification to climb higher on to their high horse and get shriller in their santimonious protests then go ahead !!

Whilst I've no desire to get in the way of a bit of Thatcher bashing it's worth remembering that Callaghan was already making pretty nasty cuts and that his harsh treatment of public sector workers split the Labour Party. Callaghan's economic policy was the result of pragmatism (he had a big IMF loan to pay off) rather than ideology but things were already a bit shit for most people.

But to get back to the far more enjoyable criticism of Thatcher, a couple of quiz questions:

Which PM ran the largest structural deficit? Was it Gordon Brown. Or was it Thatcher?

Which PM oversaw the biggest discrepancy between tax income and spend and was thus spending far too much compared to what was coming in? Was it Brown? Blair, perhaps? Or was it Thatcher?

Answers on a postcard.

Hint: Tories won't like the answer to either.

[Daggers]

Anyone gloating at her death is either lefty sponging scum or weren't even alive when she was PM.

Wrong and, err, wrong.

Have another go.

Whilst I've no desire to get in the way of a bit of Thatcher bashing it's worth remembering that Callaghan was already making pretty nasty cuts and that his harsh treatment of public sector workers split the Labour Party. Callaghan's economic policy was the result of pragmatism (he had a big IMF loan to pay off) rather than ideology but things were already a bit shit for most people.

But to get back to the far more enjoyable criticism of Thatcher, a couple of quiz questions:

Which PM ran the largest structural deficit? Was it Gordon Brown. Or was it Thatcher?

Which PM oversaw the biggest discrepancy between tax income and spend and was thus spending far too much compared to what was coming in? Was it Brown? Blair, perhaps? Or was it Thatcher?

Answers on a postcard.

Hint: Tories won't like the answer to either.

Nice.

[BoneDog]

And then there is the relationship with Regan, which was very Churchill esque.

Churchill wasn't very American friendly.

[Guest MattP]

I think this forum has plummeted to new depths today.

Predictable from the obvious, but im surprised at a couple.

[ADK]

We now have bunting!

Have to love this picture. I wonder how many would swap their cushy student lifestyle for a full time job down a mine.

[Daggers]

I think this forum has plummeted to new depths today.

Ha! The prostitute-fvcker things people on here have dropped the tone.

[Deucalion]

Whilst I've no desire to get in the way of a bit of Thatcher bashing it's worth remembering that Callaghan was already making pretty nasty cuts and that his harsh treatment of public sector workers split the Labour Party. Callaghan's economic policy was the result of pragmatism (he had a big IMF loan to pay off) rather than ideology but things were already a bit shit for most people.

But to get back to the far more enjoyable criticism of Thatcher, a couple of quiz questions:

Which PM ran the largest structural deficit? Was it Gordon Brown. Or was it Thatcher?

Which PM oversaw the biggest discrepancy between tax income and spend and was thus spending far too much compared to what was coming in? Was it Brown? Blair, perhaps? Or was it Thatcher?

Answers on a postcard.

Hint: Tories won't like the answer to either.

I think monetary policy was a condition of the IMF loan but you are quite right. Also, I'm certainly not saying that this country could continue as it had been up until the 70s. Things needed to be changed.

But...I happen to think it is the responsibility of government to govern in the interests of all citizens. Both Tories and Labour had pretty much done this since Attlee's shifting of political poles following WWII.

The way Thatcher went about change was vicious and heartless. There is plenty of evidence that her harsh economic policies actually worsened the recession at the beginning of the 80s. She governed for a minority and managed to to convince some of the majority that the fact they had purchased their council house suddenly made them posh or middle class or successful or something.

I also think many of today's ills are a result of her governments. The benefit culture has arisen out of generations within communities having no prospect of work, manufacturing industry was weakened by the recession she worsened and has not recovered to this day. The only place which actually became wealthy was London, based on financial services. Nowadays, all investment is into London and the South East to the detriment of other industries and other parts of the country.

The Credit Crunch of 2008 was her last time bomb for the nation. It was at this point that US inspired banking practices pushed out the respectable banking which had existed in this country previously. Again, things needed to be changed in banking but revolutionary change to anything is likely to result in unforeseen results.

Anyway, I think I'm beginning to repeat myself in these posts now.

To sum up. I think she was evil, heartless, wrong and left the country with many unpleasant legacies. She was a bit like Hitler* !!

*

[Fox in the North]

I think this forum has plummeted to new depths today.

Predictable from the obvious, but im surprised at a couple.

To be honest I think it was always going to be inevitable. I'd think most forums have sunk in these terms.

[Guest MattP]

Ha! The prostitute-fvcker things people on here have dropped the tone.

First time ive ever read your stuff tonight and actually felt sorry for you, not even pissed off despite how vile its been.

I know you've got a lot of demons from the past you've posted on here but the effect must have been enormous.

Enjoy your night.

[BoneDog]

It wasn't a stroke anyway. I suspect foul play.

I just need El Empty to tell me who was behind it and why.

She's still alive. Gone to live her final years in peace at one of those Island bases where Elvis lives.

This is all a cover story to save her from press intrusion in her final well earned rest years.

Edit : I made that up and don't really believe such a thing. Editing this on the small chance that anyone believes I meant it.

[Daggers]

First time ive ever read your stuff tonight

Of course it is.

Got a whore with you now or do you just see them in city parlours?

[Guest MattP]

Of course it is.

Got a whore with you now or do you just see them in city parlours?

Monday night? Im not that lucky.

Don't party too hard, you wouldn't want to be late for work tomorrow.

[BoneDog]

willy puller! I've been saving that gif for 6 months to use at an opportune moment! Knew I should have used it ages ago

[Daggers]

Monday night? Im not that lucky.

I guess on your salary once a week is all the abuse you can afford.

[BoneDog]

Jesus christ there are some nasty little men knocking around this forum.

Says the guy who recently said all men with beards in a whole continent were 'stone age' and deserved death. And who also said something similar about poor folk being culled or castrated.

You nasty little man!

[Daggers]

Says the guy who recently said all men with beards in a whole continent were 'stone age' and deserved death. And who also said something similar about poor folk being culled or castrated.

You nasty little man!

As I said, he is the Nazi nurse, the reason why hospitals are copping so much flack because he has no compassion and is so ill-suited to his profession. No wonder his girl-friend left him.

[Guest MattP]

I guess on your salary once a week is all the abuse you can afford.

Well when you have just flown business class to New Zealand and back you clearly aren't earning enough.

Maybe I could have a breakdown and see what I can claim on the side.

[Daggers]

Well when you have just flown business class to New Zealand...

Of course you did, prostitute guy.

He never reads my posts, that MattP. Never.

Fvcks whores in brothels but never reads my posts.

[Guest MattP]

Of course you did, prostitute guy.

In bed now but I whack the pics up tomorrow for you.

Read whay I actually said as well. Just scroll up.

'First time ive read your posts and actually felt sorry for you'

[Daggers]

In bed now but I whack the pics up tomorrow for you.

S'alright - I have a wife and a sexual relationship. I don't need pictures of your hookers, you wack away all you want.

[Guest MattP]

I bet she is ****ing gorgeous.

[Daggers]

Reports of Margaret Thatcher dying this morning of a stroke

Thread panned out as you hoped?

I bet she is ****ing gorgeous.

No. She looks like your mother only not as fat.

[Guest MattP]

Hilarious!

[Charl91]

As I said - that's your opinion: So the fvck what?

Yes, I'm celebrating the death of an old cvnt who died of a stroke. I don't give a shit how much it offends you or anyone else...in fact, the more offense it cause the happier it makes me.

You try really (pathetically) hard to come across as 'edgy', but you really are just a fvcking idiot.

I really hope you die of a stroke, so I can hold a street party in your honour.

[Freeman's Wharfer]

I have no particularly strong opinion on Thatcher due to my age (24), but to see the way in which she is hated so passionately by half of the country tells me there must be something in that (and having done some reading I see what). As a person and a leader it seems to me that she was strong and in many ways inspirational but then I also see the devestation that she created in the North hence the vitriol up here (I live in Sheffield). I also think it's quite easy to come through any war in which you are successful, looking like a great and strong leader - The Falklands stuff I take with a pinch a salt therefore.

Her passing is nothing other than symbolic though. Nothing can change what she did and for the last however many years she hasn't had the power or the position to make any further changes, she has simply been a symbol of a by-gone era from which Britain as it was can never come back (be that a good/bad thing you decide). I'm not therefore going to get too offended by people celebrating or making light of her death.

They are not celebrating the death of the woman as a person, they never knew her and if they did I doubt they would do so (whether they liked her or not). They are celebrating the death of what she represented, what she stood for and how that alligns with or against their political views. They are celebrating a full stop in, an end to, a period of British history that they do not like. Let's not get too emotive about it.