Thatcher Dies

[purpleronnie]

Especially with such charismatic and charming public figureheads like Bob Crow leading the charge.

At least he's not boring.

[sphericalfox]

They're all cut up about the news in Sheffield

[21st Century Fox]

For all the Ben Elton wannabee arse lickers here is a message . Mrs Thatcher did more in her life time than any off you gutless left wing pygmy's could ever hope to do.

I have been working on a musical based on the hits of Black Lace.

Also Louise Mensch's lawyers will be in touch with you shortly.

[MooseBreath]

There are corrupt union leaders, most definitely. The flaw with the union system is the same as the flaw with most things in life, human nature. Unfortunately it is possible for a few self interested individuals to get a little too much power and authority and for them to run riot with it. My father was once black listed from his union by a right moron of a mini-Hitler local secretary for refusing to leave a children's home unattended (having joined the picket on numerous other occasions.)

But to denounce all union activity as the act of the workshy, lazy or egocentric is just mad.

I genuinely don't understand people not interested in union membership in any era. Being collectively organized as a work force enough to at least defend your own working conditions is surely an important thing if you don't want to be resoundly bullied by an employer holding all the cards.

At the end of the day, the mid to low level workforce represent the majority, not just in a single company, but in the wider population. We have a democratic vote in our lives away from work and we should have a democratic say in our lives at work.

It's probably because we rarely hear about unions doing anything other than causing havoc in an effort to get above inflation pay rises for people like train drivers who are already in well paid jobs. For most of the private sector the thought of a teacher striking because she is unhappy with her £34k + 15% pension + 14 weeks holiday is just a bit annoying. I think we're a nation of people who respect integrity and hard work and this whole more more more for me me me attitude of the unions fails to give many people an erection these days.

It's a shame of course, because if they weren't abused they could definitely be a force for good.

[I am Rod Hull]

Agreed its worrying how much distain some have of the unions in the UK nowadays especially the younger generation.

I remember being a spotty little 17 year old and in a new job when a union rep came up to a few lads and I in the canteen, he asked if we were in the union, I jokingly said I couldn`t afford it.... I then spent the next 5 minutes being made to look a tvvat as he raped me with his lecture, I`m sure my chin was wobbling

It was about 25p a week membership and I`v lost count of how many times they got me out the shit

Solidarity is strength

[Uncle Albert]

Trying to workout out of everything in this thread an exchange of words between me and Lamby have been removed?

[BoneDog]

I still can't believe that Bilo of all people compared Thatcher to Hitler.

[Haydos]

Trying to workout out of everything in this thread an exchange of words between me and Lamby have been removed?

You both sounded like 9 year olds and made twats out of yourselves. Get over it.

[Mark_w]

I still can't believe that Bilo of all people compared Thatcher to Hitler.

[Guest]

I still can't believe that Bilo of all people compared Thatcher to Hitler.

And so another 30 odd pages ensues....

[Zingari]

maggie had bigger balls

[Guest Bilo]

I still can't believe that Bilo of all people compared Thatcher to Hitler.

[broughtonblue]

We'll have to disagree on the 'evil' point. I'm not a religious person, so what I really mean by evil is probably more akin to a psychopath. I think she had no regard for the pain and suffering she caused. She was also responsible for many deaths, whether that be suicides caused in communities where all hope for the future had gone, (not everyone had a bike) IRA terrorists shot on sight, or young, conscript sailors drowned on the General Belgrano, A war, by the way, she caused by her defence cuts.

Why are people celebrating her death? Well, why did people mourn Diana? There must be a collective need for people to do so. Something exists in the minds of many people which leads them to act in a similar way. It does seem similar to celebrations seen when dictators have died. It's not pleasant to watch from the outside but people must need to do it. There is obviously a great need in many people for them to act in a vulgar and distasteful way to mark the death of this particular prime minister.It might have to do with the powerlessness of people who are abused by their governments.

I know Thatcher was elected but I don't see a huge distinction between someone who seizes power to abuse a proportion of the population and someone who is elected and abuses a proportion of the population. There are the same feelings of being abused and powerless regardless of how the particular person gained their position of power.

Personally, I haven't celebrated her death but this is probably because I am a miserable middle aged man. I have sat in my living room, ranted to anyone who will listen about it and posted my opinions on an internet forum. I am amused by the people celebrating however, as I have a deep rooted hatred of the woman. I will not cry any crocodile tears for her either.

If I were you, instead of criticising individuals, I would sit back and experience what is a pretty unique phenomenon in Great Britian. Maybe the reasons for it will be explained in the fulness of time by people better able than I.

so she caused the falklands war? ffs

[ScouseFox]

"@ReadingFC: Before Saturday's game with Liverpool, fans of both clubs will hold a minute's silence for 24th anniversary of Hillsborough disaster @LFC"

[Lamby]

"@ReadingFC: Before Saturday's game with Liverpool, fans of both clubs will hold a minute's silence for 24th anniversary of Hillsborough disaster @LFC"

And this has got to do what with this thread?

[Leicester Lass]

And this has got to do what with this thread?

Madejski isn't one to hide his political standpoint, and has been quoted as saying Thatcher deserves a minutes silence. Obviously with their next match being against Liverpool it wasn't exactly going to go well. Saying the silence is now for the Hillsborough disaster ensures respect from both sets of fans.

[ScouseFox]

And this has got to do what with this thread?

Quite a bit, but you probably wouldn't understand.

[Deucalion]

so she caused the falklands war? ffs

In 1976 I think it was, the Argentinians were making noises as if to invade the Falklands. Talks had stalled over the thing they always stall over, Britain would not concede without the say so of the inhabitants and the inhabitants would not budge an inch.

Callaghan quietly sent reinforcements to the island. This was enough to persuade the Argentines to leave well alone. Contrast this with Thatcher removing Endeavor from the South Atlantic.

You won't read about this in The Sun but that doesn't make it any less true.

[Deucalion]

Ok, 1977.

'However, a more serious confrontation occurred in 1977 after the Argentine Navy cut off the fuel supply to Port Stanley Airport and stated they would no longer fly the Red Ensign in Falklands waters. (Traditionally ships in a foreign country's waters would fly the country's maritime flag as a courtesy.) The British Government suspected Argentina would attempt another expedition in the manner of its Southern Thule operation. James Callaghan, the British Prime Minister ordered the dispatch of a nuclear submarine, HMS Dreadnought and the frigates Alacrity and Phoebe to the South Atlantic, with rules of engagement set in the event of a clash with the Argentine navy. The British even considered setting up an exclusion zone around the islands, but this was rejected in case it escalated matters. These events were not made public until Parliamentary debates in 1982 during the Falklands War.' Wikipedia

Read it and weep Thatcher fans.

[Lamby]

Ah propaganda

[Guest Bilo]

Madejski isn't one to hide his political standpoint, and has been quoted as saying Thatcher deserves a minutes silence. Obviously with their next match being against Liverpool it wasn't exactly going to go well. Saying the silence is now for the Hillsborough disaster ensures respect from both sets of fans.

Probably the best compromise all round.

Madejski as a dyed-in-the-wool Tory wants a silence, Liverpool fans definitely don't, timing is right for Hillsborough and there's no way Liverpool fans would want their team to wear black armbands in memory of Thatcher.

[Deucalion]

Ah propaganda

If you mean the above, it is not propaganda, it is historical fact.

If you want propaganda then look no further than the myth of the Iron Lady rescuing the Falklands from an unexpected attack. It was her government's cuts and diplomatic ineptitude which encouraged the Argentines to invade. And as a result, apart from the human cost, left a legacy of a hugely expensive military base to pay for on the Falkland Islands.

Callaghan showed what an intelligent and consistent approach could achieve and at a hugely reduced cost.

[flowwolf]

Madejski isn't one to hide his political standpoint, and has been quoted as saying Thatcher deserves a minutes silence. Obviously with their next match being against Liverpool it wasn't exactly going to go well. Saying the silence is now for the Hillsborough disaster ensures respect from both sets of fans.

Why don't we have a minutes silence for the absolute disaster that was Tony Blair and the Labour party the last time they were on government ? especially to remember the thousands upon thousands who died in the illegal war in Iraq .

[Lamby]

Why don't we have a minutes silence for the absolute disaster that was Tony Blair and the Labour party the last time they were on government ? especially to remember the thousands upon thousands who died in the illegal war in Iraq .

This, although I don't think the war was illegal (personal opinion)

I've gotta go up north on saturday, why do I think there will be more confrontation due to this event

[The Doctor]

So then... Number four in the charts - I need it to hit number one at half 7, I've got a sweepstake with a few friends as to when it'll hit number one.

****! It peaked at 2 in iTunes and reached #1 on amazon at about half 5, meaning I lost and owe one of my mates a couple of pints.