maggie thatcher

[egnsean]

I think that is a gross oversimplification of the problems we have today. While I don't doubt that Thatcherism contributed, I would argue that there were many other factors which have led to the selfish, petty and spiteful behaviour which is all too prevalent now.

please elaborate, genuinely interested!

[egnsean]

I'm not defending her, what I'm saying is she had the balls to do what she thought was right, same as Churchill did, unlike any politician we've had since who can talk us all dizzy and still end up doing nothing

i know what your saying, but didnt Hitler think he was doing right? imo people are still suffering from her failed policys 30 odd yrs down the line for the things that she thought were right, you must remember with power comes responsabilty.

[felixthelogchopper]

please elaborate, genuinely interested!

 

How about breakdown of family life, successive generations who would rather live on benefits than get out of bed in the morning and go to work, casual violence with little or no consequence, young people who have a media diet of celebrity for celebrity's sake forced down their throats which makes them think the world owes them a living for doing nothing apart from shagging somebody more famous than them and then selling the story, no idea of consequences or responsibility for actions, huge families created by people who can't afford them and only have them because they are too thick/lazy/selfish to use contraception, the 'Me Me Me' culture of consumerism; enough to be going on with?

[WorcsWuss]

This article is worth a read, The Great Miners Strike 1984-5: Twelve Months that Shook Britain: the Story of the Strike | Workers' Liberty irrespective of which side of the fence you sit on, it's very well written and, some of the deeply biased socialist language aside (which is to be expected) it's well quoted and resourced.

But as this is the socialist account of it, an unbiased view would be damming.

There's a line towards the end stating that the mining workforce represented 2% of the labour movement. That's a small proportion of a small proportion of the nation.

And of that 2% only around a maximum of roughly half seemed to want to strike.

So on those figures, the striking miners were not a large proportion of the population and the crushing of the seemingly poorly supported uprising was absolutely right....

[Gnome]

You sunshine are talking about people lifes/livlihoods:thumbdown:

 

Yes and I know allllll too well matey, if we are going down that route.

 

Most of the ex miners I have had dealings with felt betrayed by both the unions and the government. I know the state that this has left these communities, like many I live in them. The smart ones were able to adapt into service industries, manufacturing, computer industries etc in my area. Light work compared to down the pits, but still work. He moved away to find work instead of hoping a job would land on his plate.

 

My good neighbour is in his 80's and has told me all about his time through the strikes. Sure the resentment runs deep but he made sure his kids and grandkids made something of themselves so as not to repeat it.

 

Some were left behind in the last century rightly or wrongly that is not being derogatory that is fact. You are right that we are discussing peoples lives/livelihoods, just like everyone else who had to suffer at the hands of the Unions during this time, relatives let unburried , power cuts, uncertainty etc.

 

It was a mess, someone had to fix it by changing it.

Drastic times needed drastic measures.

 

[egnsean]

How about breakdown of family life, successive generations who would rather live on benefits than get out of bed in the morning and go to work, casual violence with little or no consequence, young people who have a media diet of celebrity for celebrity's sake forced down their throats which makes them think the world owes them a living for doing nothing apart from shagging somebody more famous than them and then selling the story, no idea of consequences or responsibility for actions, huge families created by people who can't afford them and only have them because they are too thick/lazy/selfish to use contraception, the 'Me Me Me' culture of consumerism; enough to be going on with?

You have used a lot of words when i only need ONE (Thatcherism)read your history!

[felixthelogchopper]

You have used a lot of words when i only need ONE (Thatcherism)read your history!

 

Why bother asking me to elaborate when your mind is already closed?

[Gnome]

There is also the change in women's attitude to working. Women had more opportunities available to them under thatcher so I higher proportion going to work full time, changing the family model resulting in the kids being brought up by the media. (A simplified view as it is getting late). I know alot of chaps who feel a bit left behind in that regard. How many women do you see now driving big audis etc. compared to the early 80's?

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

You have used a lot of words when i only need ONE (Thatcherism)read your history!

 

brainwashed

[egnsean]

Why bother asking me to elaborate when your mind is already closed?

its not closed but we all know Maggie instigated the me me me culture ie the yuppies etc, i wasnt being funny i am interested in your opinion:001_smile: