maggie thatcher

[pycoed]

RIP the only decent prime minister I can remember this country having. I wish to God we had one now.

I'm 63 (& from the S Wales valleys BTW) & can remember the mess the Soviet inspired unions had got this country into during the 60's & 70's.

She was just about the only politician I've ever had respect for: she spoke her mind & acted from conviction. These days no one does or says anything unless the party line OKs it. Tw*ts, the lot of them.

[daveindales]

RIP the only decent prime minister I can remember this country having. I wish to God we had one now.

I'm 63 (& from the S Wales valleys BTW) & can remember the mess the Soviet inspired unions had got this country into during the 60's & 70's.

She was just about the only politician I've ever had respect for: she spoke her mind & acted from conviction. These days no one does or says anything unless the party line OKs it. Tw*ts, the lot of them.

 

well said

[DM TREES]

RIP the only decent prime minister I can remember this country having. I wish to God we had one now.

I'm 63 (& from the S Wales valleys BTW) & can remember the mess the Soviet inspired unions had got this country into during the 60's & 70's.

She was just about the only politician I've ever had respect for: she spoke her mind & acted from conviction. These days no one does or says anything unless the party line OKs it. Tw*ts, the lot of them.

 

Ditto well said

[WorcsWuss]

So she gave the unions a damn good hiding? They were only trying to stick up for the working man (admittedly in a far too dogmatic fashion), compromise on both sides would have kept this country great, but history is always written by the victors

 

 

Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

 

I disagree with the whole union structure. A good idea spoiled.

Holding the country to ransom, you either want your job or you don't.

If it's not good enough let someone else have it. And the union leaders rabble rousing and manipulating the members, as it transpired not in their best interests, should have been stripped of all their cash and assets.

It was unfortunate that the UK mining industry was no longer viable in it's traditional form, and that the unions destroyed any chance of a more streamlined mechanised version of the industry continuing to employ a smaller number of workers.

 

What it wasn't, was entirely the government's fault. Modern history shows time and again that unions harm workers more often than they help them.

Business and industry is, like it or not, led from the top. When mass action by employees tries to strong arm management into a business model which cannot work, the workers end up with less than they had before.

I'm not saying the closure of the collieries was right, but I do think it could have been avoidable in more cases than it ended up being, had union leaders not been so arrogant insisting they knew better than NCB leaders. Even if they did, they didn't hold the deeds so it wasn't up to them.

 

It was a sad period of our history which, just like the failure of BL and latterly Rover, should have been a wake up call to unions, and their members.

Unfortunately humans rarely learn from our own mistakes....

 

FWIW, I think she was, without compare, the greatest post war PM this country has had, and that will probably hold true for some years to come.

[s.varty]

I disagree with the whole union structure. A good idea spoiled.

Holding the country to ransom, you either want your job or you don't.

If it's not good enough let someone else have it. And the union leaders rabble rousing and manipulating the members, as it transpired not in their best interests, should have been stripped of all their cash and assets.

It was unfortunate that the UK mining industry was no longer viable in it's traditional form, and that the unions destroyed any chance of a more streamlined mechanised version of the industry continuing to employ a smaller number of workers.

 

What it wasn't, was entirely the government's fault. Modern history shows time and again that unions harm workers more often than they help them.

Business and industry is, like it or not, led from the top. When mass action by employees tries to strong arm management into a business model which cannot work, the workers end up with less than they had before.

I'm not saying the closure of the collieries was right, but I do think it could have been avoidable in more cases than it ended up being, had union leaders not been so arrogant insisting they knew better than NCB leaders. Even if they did, they didn't hold the deeds so it wasn't up to them.

 

It was a sad period of our history which, just like the failure of BL and latterly Rover, should have been a wake up call to unions, and their members.

Unfortunately humans rarely learn from our own mistakes....

 

FWIW, I think she was, without compare, the greatest post war PM this country has had, and that will probably hold true for some years to come.

 

Well said and completly agree..............BRITISH LEYLAND!

[Rich Rule]

RIP.

 

Did she really have a hand in Mr Whippy?

 

I remember in the early eighties here doing a science piece on kids TV. Something like, Bicarb of Soda, plus a mint and a bottle makes a gushing volcano.

 

I lived in the North East Growing up. Not too many pit yackers near me but I remember it well.

 

She definitely lived a life, thats for sure. She will go down in history.

[Eddy_t]

I disagree with the whole union structure. A good idea spoiled.

Holding the country to ransom, you either want your job or you don't.

If it's not good enough let someone else have it. And the union leaders rabble rousing and manipulating the members, as it transpired not in their best interests, should have been stripped of all their cash and assets.

It was unfortunate that the UK mining industry was no longer viable in it's traditional form, and that the unions destroyed any chance of a more streamlined mechanised version of the industry continuing to employ a smaller number of workers.

 

What it wasn't, was entirely the government's fault. Modern history shows time and again that unions harm workers more often than they help them.

Business and industry is, like it or not, led from the top. When mass action by employees tries to strong arm management into a business model which cannot work, the workers end up with less than they had before.

I'm not saying the closure of the collieries was right, but I do think it could have been avoidable in more cases than it ended up being, had union leaders not been so arrogant insisting they knew better than NCB leaders. Even if they did, they didn't hold the deeds so it wasn't up to them.

 

It was a sad period of our history which, just like the failure of BL and latterly Rover, should have been a wake up call to unions, and their members.

Unfortunately humans rarely learn from our own mistakes....

 

FWIW, I think she was, without compare, the greatest post war PM this country has had, and that will probably hold true for some years to come.

 

Pity, because we need another like her now!

 

 

Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

[Garyjp]

Whilst i dont agree with all her policies i totally respect her work ethic and the fact that she didnt pander to the spin - doctors.. there was no doubting that she was in charge and knew what she wanted. That lady was not for turning!

 

Sympathy for her family after she has suffered a long illness.

 

Love her or loathe her, she commands respect for her utter commitment and love of a great country.

Daughter of a green grocer, became the most powerful woman in great britain.

 

RIP

 

 

 

 

 

Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

[spudulike]

I'm old enough to remember the four day working week and the threat of the three day working week, power cuts, car worker strikes, newspaper strikes and the miners strikes....Oh - and the Irish problems - and we think we have problems now:lol:

 

The Callaghan Goverment was proving pretty ineffective in resolving these issues, difficult to show strength against the Unions when your government depends on their money!

 

Something had to be done - just think of the mess if it had carried on another four years.

 

I do remember earning some good dosh through the eighties, solid economy, good growth and some decent times - it didn't end too well though but we still managed well exporting to Germany......and in Manufacturing!

 

Maggie wasn't good for manufacturing but it was the ex Eastern Bloc countries and China that did us in in the end and not Maggie.

 

Like it is often the case....we had a leader for the times - just my opinion!

[adbat234]

I don't think the country would be in the mess it is now if we had someone like maggie in charge throughout the craziness of the last few years.

The country needs a leader with balls! Oh the irony