Thatcher dead?

[nirvana]

That took money out of 90% of the populations pockets and handed it to those that could afford to buy shares.  Similarly with the sale of council housing, it was done at a massive discount and handed the profit into then hands of the few rather than the many.

It's an interesting one this because you could contend that they saved us a whole bunch of money rather than took money out of our pockets. It's hard to imagine what tax rates would have to be now if all these things had continued in public ownership.

Council houses - I only wish my family had a council house rather than lived in military accomodation as my parents would have ended up so much better off than they did as a forces family

[kinboshi]

Some interesting arguments in this thread.  I cant agree with a lot of the things that she did.  Privatisation took away huge amounts of assets and sold them at a huge discount to those that could afford them.  If privatisation had been carried out at true market prices then I wouldn't have really had a problem with it but it wasn't because it wasnt politically expedient to do so.  That took money out of 90% of the populations pockets and handed it to those that could afford to buy shares.  Similarly with the sale of council housing, it was done at a massive discount and handed the profit into then hands of the few rather than the many.

For sure some people did well but literally millions didn't.    I am very happy for those that did well out of Thatcher but surely they can see that it wasnt possible for everyone to "get on their bike".  I will give you a personal example.  I was born in Middlesbrough and my Dad was a steelworker.  As a direct response to policies from Thatchers government he lost his job with British Steel in, I think, 1983 when I was eight.  I distinctly remember him, somewhat ironically, getting on his bike every single day and going out and looking for work locally.  Occasionally he would get work for a couple of weeks but at that point because of the decimation of the manufacturing base there wasn't much/any work.  It is hard to describe the effect not being able to work and provide for you family can have on a man.  The best example I have ever seen was Boys from the Blackstuff but it was tough.  I remember my Mother crying on a regular basis and I remember not being able to go on school trips and other stuff like that because we simply didn't have the money.  Eventually in 1988 my Dad got a job in another part of the country and a year later we moved but those five or so years will always live in my memory and they were a direct result of Thatchers policies.  In later years I heard Norman Lamont say he thought unemployment was a fair price to pay for lower inflation and it struck me that could only be said by a man that had never felt the real indignity associated with unemployment. 

I don't buy into the theories that everything was bad and I am broadly in support of market economies and think her approach to the Falklands was principled and largely in line with what the population (of the Falklands) wanted in the face of huge provocation but I cannot help but think she effectively damaged a large part of our country beyond repair.  I know it was bad in 1979 but go to Middlesbrough or Sunderland or Barnsley or anyone of a huge amount of towns in the North and some in the Midlands and you will question where the huge improvement people talk about is.....

NSFW




(via Sheriff)

[Sheriff Fatman]

Just seen some miners on the TV standing outside a ramshackle pit shaking their heads and saying they're glad Thatcher is dead. It's like somebody still moaning about a bad beat 30 years after it happened. There's a whole big world out there fellas, prob time to crack on and look for a different career now.

Exactly the sort of myopic garbage I'd expect to read from someone with no experience of those events.

Not worth wasting more keystrokes on it though, as that's presumably what the troll attempt was intended to achieve.

Not sure why people think miners have a monopoly on hardship.

If we ever have a thread discussing the primary cause of the hardships for your family that you describe then I'll take care not to make any sweeping generalisations or comments about communities or industries that I clearly know fuck all about, based on a few minutes of television footage and general stereotypes that I've picked up over the years.

It's no surprise to me that you were unable to do the same and I'm comfortable enough that you doing so sits firmly in the trolling category.

[Acidmouse]

Mantis pretty skilled troll, defo level 40 on the world of Warcraft standards, using historical references that mean abs fukall, does tend to fend off most on this forum. It's nice to see we have a sheriff in town.

Russell brands posted on huffington post, it's pretty amazing I just wish I could write like him there

[Tal]

Absolute different gravy

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russell-brand/margaret-thatcher-our-unm_b_3046390.html

[kinboshi]

Absolute different gravy

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russell-brand/margaret-thatcher-our-unm_b_3046390.html

"All of us that grew up under Thatcher were taught that it is good to be selfish, that other people's pain is not your problem, that pain is in fact a weakness and suffering is deserved and shameful. Perhaps there is resentment because the clemency and respect that are being mawkishly displayed now by some and haughtily demanded of the rest of us at the impending, solemn funeral are values that her government and policies sought to annihilate."

[kukushkin88]

Absolute different gravy

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russell-brand/margaret-thatcher-our-unm_b_3046390.html

"All of us that grew up under Thatcher were taught that it is good to be selfish, that other people's pain is not your problem, that pain is in fact a weakness and suffering is deserved and shameful. Perhaps there is resentment because the clemency and respect that are being mawkishly displayed now by some and haughtily demanded of the rest of us at the impending, solemn funeral are values that her government and policies sought to annihilate."

This sums it up really well.

[Woodsey]

Russell Brand is an A1 bell end, not gonna listen to a single word that nob says.

[bobAlike]

Russell Brand is an A1 bell end, not gonna listen to a single word that nob says.

Why not Woodsey he's a truly inspirational stand up kinda guy.lol

[kinboshi]

Russell Brand is an A1 bell end, not gonna listen to a single word that nob says.

Why not Woodsey he's a truly inspirational stand up kinda guy.lol

If you can't argue with what someone is saying, there's always the ad hominem attack - as though that somehow undermines the validity of what he's said.

[Woodsey]

Russell Brand is an A1 bell end, not gonna listen to a single word that nob says.

Why not Woodsey he's a truly inspirational stand up kinda guy.lol

If you can't argue with what someone is saying, there's always the ad hominem attack - as though that somehow undermines the validity of what he's said.

I would have said the same about him a few years years ago well before any of this current debate on this thread, so your point is redundant.

In any case I don't think he is a twat because of any of his views, I know nothing of his views, I think he's a twat because he is a errrrr total twat lol.

At least quote the opinion of a respected person rather than a fkn clown lol.

[MANTIS01]

Just seen some miners on the TV standing outside a ramshackle pit shaking their heads and saying they're glad Thatcher is dead. It's like somebody still moaning about a bad beat 30 years after it happened. There's a whole big world out there fellas, prob time to crack on and look for a different career now.

Exactly the sort of myopic garbage I'd expect to read from someone with no experience of those events.

Not worth wasting more keystrokes on it though, as that's presumably what the troll attempt was intended to achieve.

Not sure why people think miners have a monopoly on hardship.

If we ever have a thread discussing the primary cause of the hardships for your family that you describe then I'll take care not to make any sweeping generalisations or comments about communities or industries that I clearly know fuck all about, based on a few minutes of television footage and general stereotypes that I've picked up over the years.

It's no surprise to me that you were unable to do the same and I'm comfortable enough that you doing so sits firmly in the trolling category.

Fatman – This thread about the death of Margaret Thatcher sits at 18 pages and this is my 13th post. I have contributed a lot of info about my views and experiences, involved myself in the humour, debated my points in good order, and done some kinda member-bonding thing. I am in this thread because I was a big fan of Margaret Thatcher and my opening post was very positive about her life.

By comparison you have made 4 posts. Your opening post said Margaret Thatcher personified all the worst elements of human nature. In the second one you posted the spitting image puppet. And in the last two you 100% flame me.

If we had a general election you would win the trolling stakes by a landslide

[Tal]

I would encourage both sides of this not to quote a section of the Brand article; it covers both sides in a genuine and captivating reflection. If you quote a section of it, you're missing the point.

[Sheriff Fatman]

Just seen some miners on the TV standing outside a ramshackle pit shaking their heads and saying they're glad Thatcher is dead. It's like somebody still moaning about a bad beat 30 years after it happened. There's a whole big world out there fellas, prob time to crack on and look for a different career now.

Exactly the sort of myopic garbage I'd expect to read from someone with no experience of those events.

Not worth wasting more keystrokes on it though, as that's presumably what the troll attempt was intended to achieve.

Not sure why people think miners have a monopoly on hardship.

If we ever have a thread discussing the primary cause of the hardships for your family that you describe then I'll take care not to make any sweeping generalisations or comments about communities or industries that I clearly know fuck all about, based on a few minutes of television footage and general stereotypes that I've picked up over the years.

It's no surprise to me that you were unable to do the same and I'm comfortable enough that you doing so sits firmly in the trolling category.

Fatman – This thread about the death of Margaret Thatcher sits at 18 pages and this is my 13th post. I have contributed a lot of info about my views and experiences, involved myself in the humour, debated my points in good order, and done some kinda member-bonding thing. I am in this thread because I was a big fan of Margaret Thatcher and my opening post was very positive about her life.

By comparison you have made 4 posts. Your opening post said Margaret Thatcher personified all the worst elements of human nature. In the second one you posted the spitting image puppet. And in the last two you 100% flame me.

If we had a general election you would win the trolling stakes by a landslide

To be fair, two of my posts were only necessary due to your trolling, but of course you wouldn't have recognised that.

[bobAlike]

Russell Brand is an A1 bell end, not gonna listen to a single word that nob says.

Why not Woodsey he's a truly inspirational stand up kinda guy.lol

If you can't argue with what someone is saying, there's always the ad hominem attack - as though that somehow undermines the validity of what he's said.

Total claptrap, I agree with nothing quoted above. And yes Woodsey is right he is a fucking clown.