Margaret Thatcher

[meganiwish]

Oh gosh, what am I doing? I don't want to make a memorial to her. But I can appreciate that she had a vsion, though she was misguided. But I just saw a clip of an American news item where the chap said she'd come to power after 30 years of socialist rule in Britain. Is that what's believed? So Heath was a socialist, MacMillan was a socialist, Churchill was a socialist!? (Actually, a lot of us rather like socialism, but I don't want to get all political). But Churchill a socialist! You'll be expecting me to believe next that Nixon wasn't Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party. I'm not so gullible.

[SF]

I thought she was wonderful.... The "Iron Lady" and Ronald Reagan were a wonderful combination.... Rest in Peace Lady Thatcher, you will be missed. sf (I will avoid the political "chatter." It would be a "lose, lose" argument anyway......)

[at9]

Megan, I think you put that rather politely. I refrained from commenting since I doubt I would have been so restrained. I live less than half a mile from her old constituency office. There were 4 satellite news trucks outside yesterday. Megan, please remember that in American eyes (well Fox news anyway), socialism is anything even slightly to the left of Ghengis Khan. Yes, Churchill was a dangerous leftie because he was party to the setting up of the welfare state at the end of WW2.

[Foxyheels]

I loathed the woman, she created a two tier society, sold off the countries assets and destroyed our industry but it was ok because her own people got richer off her policies and the working class were put in their place. I take no joy in her passing away as I wouldn't celebrate that as it's wrong but her politics were awful and she divided our country.

[ilikekicks]

I loathed the woman, she created a two tier society, sold off the countries assets and destroyed our industry but it was ok because her own people got richer off her policies and the working class were put in their place.

I take no joy in her passing away as I wouldn't celebrate that as it's wrong but her politics were awful and she divided our country.

Your post put a smile on my face but for a rather interesting reason. Its one that will probably make a LOT of people actually sit back and say ' No sh1t! '.

Your comment could be applied very sincerely to what I presently live with in ' elected officials ' from my local, state and federal levels yet its from the totally opposite perspective of things.

If we were to look at things from a ' left or right ' perspective, One could make the same comment, unchanged in wording about the guy running the U.S. right now and it would hold the same merits.

Imagine that? Seriously!

It shows how much in common everyone has in their perspective. Where we might like one way of doing things and have disregard for the ' other ' way, its really ' all the same '. People dont like the commonality of it though.

As for Maggie...

I have the highest admiration for her. Its not because of her political views, but for her fortitude. She entered into the ' boys club ' and stood toe to toe with the best of them and held her ground quite well. The fact that many people dont care for her and blame things on her proves she did so.

Unlike most of the political figures of today ( dirtballs ) , you actually knew where you stood with Thatcher. She was confrontational and she had her own way of doing things.

Megan :

"But I just saw a clip of an American news item where the chap said she'd come to power after 30 years of socialist rule in Britain. Is that what's believed? "

*I* dont believe such Megan BUT, you have to understand something. The Media in America is bought and paid for by political parties. They are more hateful then the KKK or even the NSDAP of the 1930's Germany. I wouldnt trust the American Media for ANYTHING.

[Foxyheels]

I agree with ILK that she was an extraordinary woman and a great role model for women. She clearly did wonders for women in society and ran the gauntlet in a male dominated environment but it doesn't change my overall view of her.

[hh4evr1]

I heard on the news her funeral is going to be on the same scale as Princess Diana and other important people. I don't agree with this. Most of her policies made the rich people richer and the poor people poorer. One policy was stopping free milk for children in nurseries and schools.

[Bubba136]

One policy was stopping free milk for children in nurseries and schools.

I always thought that was the parents responsibility. Not the governments.

[meganiwish]

In the 1930s, in a depressed, largely urban country in northern latitudes, there was an alarming number of cases of rickets among working class children. It was seen after the War that the nation's health could be improved by providing milk to school children. By the 1970s that need had gone and Thatcher, as Education Secretary, abolished it. Probably the right move, but politically foolish - she never lost the tag Thatcher, Milk Snatcher. Indeed, I heard it in a vox pop thing on the news today. Interestingly, in 2010 there was a plan to end free milk in schools for children from low income families. David Cameron vetoed it. Lesson learnt, apparently.

[SF]

~

Edited April 10, 2013 by SF

[meganiwish]

Well, nothing's free, is it, but we all benefit from a healthy nation. Still, someone once said, 'There's no such thing as society, just individual men and women.' Seems to me a misguided judgement on a social animal. In response, might I quote John Donne?http://web.cs.dal.ca...try/island.html That should be the anthem for our times.

[ilikekicks]

I always thought that was the parents responsibility. Not the governments.

Bubba..

Therein is the huge difference that *used* to be in our 2 societies. We have differing views on where real responsibilities lay.

[yozz]

I always thought that was the parents responsibility. Not the governments.

So what are you going to do, when the parents do not take their responsibility?

Let the children get sick?

Sue all the parents that do not give enough milk to their children?

If the nation can afford it you opt for the practical solution and give the milk in school.

Y.

[Foxyheels]

They were talking about having a minutes silence at football matches this weekend. Thankfully this is not happening as it would have been a farce and would not have been observed, I would have booed for a minute.

[meganiwish]

So what are you going to do, when the parents do not take their responsibility?

Let the children get sick?

Sue all the parents that do not give enough milk to their children?

If the nation can afford it you opt for the practical solution and give the milk in school.

Y.

Parental responsibility really wasn't the issue. North America is a very different place - vast areas of sparsely populated land. Europe is small and crowded and has always struggled to feed itself and in 1945 had been ravaged by six years of war. It took decades to recover. I remember some bombsites still there during my childhood in the 1970s, and I didn't grow up in one of the big industrial towns that took the real battering. The government knew that no recovery was possible with a malnourished population. You've got to remember, food was still rationed into the 1950s.

[anulfo]

whether you loved her or whether you hated her,whether you agreed with her policies or not i think the so called 'celebrating' her passing is in bad taste!!! She has been and gone,what's done is done and we sure are never going back to a pre-Thatcher era of 3 day working weeks and rubbish piling up on the streets.Maybe she wasn't what the UK wanted but more what the UK needed at the time.I certainly would never rejoice in anyone's death.Interesting seeing the pics in the papers of the people celebrating.....they barely look old enough to remember Thatchers Britain.

[at9]

whether you loved her or whether you hated her,whether you agreed with her policies or not i think the so called 'celebrating' her passing is in bad taste!!!

As is recalling parliament at the taxpayers expense to have a "debate" about her. Could have easily waited until parliament returned from Easter recess next week. As is giving her something close to a state funeral with military honours, again largely at the taxpayers expense. I just hope they don't do the same for Tony Blair or any other prime minister when they join Mrs T.

[meganiwish]

She has been and gone,what's done is done and we sure are never going back to a pre-Thatcher era of 3 day working weeks and rubbish piling up on the streets.

You think? With huge numbers of people having to take part time jobs. Anyway.

Mark Anthony: Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

The evil men do lives after them;

The good is oft interred with their bones;

So let it be with Caesar.

William Shakespeare Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 2

[manluvheels]

Hmm - well the 3 day week era was in 1974 which was well before she came to power and was due to striking miners and the need to conserve fuel. And was the sort of strife she wanted to stop as it had ended up in the Winter of discontent. She was following the Wilson government in removing milk - they removed it for 11 - 16 year olds. Because they were running out of money. She said There is no such thing as Society - going on to say it is made up of individuals, like us, who should look after themselves first and then look after their neighbours. She was referring in particular to State Benefits that are funded by us the taxpayer, not a nebulous thing called Society or the government but were being abused by some people who thought it was funded by Society so it was OK to make false claims - sound familiar? Sadly so much of this is perpetuated by people who tell truth, half truths and falsehoods to justify themselves and some ofthe younger generation buy into it. Much like the 60s - you had to live through the 70s and 80s as an adult to understand it. We are talking here about an old lady dying, who last had any real influence more than 20 years ago. Time to move on. Far better to look ahead with optimism than look back with bitterness would be my view.

Edited April 11, 2013 by manluvheels

[meganiwish]

I don't think anyone here has implied that Thatcher was to blame for the three day week. You're right, of course, it was caused by the striking miners. I was merely saying that one shouldn't be too sure that we won't return to those conditions. We have increasing numbers of people able only to find part time work amd increasing enrgy prices. The effect on the individuals is much the same, whether caused by irresponsible unions or large private companies. Thank you for pointing out the thing about the Wilson government. I hadn't known that, largely, I suppose, because 'Wilson' doesn't rhyme with any word for thief. Had his name been Humphrey that might have been different (That'll test how well your remember your 1970s adverts.) I'm not sure that one has to live through a period as an adult to understand it. I like to think that I have a fair understanding of, say, the English Civil War and the Interregnum, but I wasn't there. What you do need though is to be able to look at things dispassionately. I think we've shown that's not yet possible for the eighties. I'm not surprised. Thank you and goodnight.