RIP Margaret Thatcher

[Loose]

I'm looking forward to Loosely's tribute, RIP.

 

That's nice but... don't you have an opinion of your own?

 

It's odd to say because I often thought I'd be pleased when she was dead but I can only feel sorry for her family and the friends who loved her.

 

No political party and their deeds can ever be perfect however if we enjoyed a system where differing governments continually repealed the previous ones acts and changes to society we'd still be executing kings and wearing puritanical garb. I feel that while she did much that has destroyed Britain's manufacturing base and as a consequence the fabric of hundreds of thousands, even millions' way of life and living, that Basildon is correct in that the unions, many of them, were out of control led by men of greed and at times for no other reason other than to oppose, however we will never recover a nations manufacturing - or those skills - or the countries wealth in it's natural resources either, the lack of infra-structure re-investment though in utilities and services cannot be laid at her door, merely at opportunists'.

 

What Maggie Thatcher was though was a strong leader when this country needed one, no, not because of The Falklands - because that debacle has been proved to be avoidable with records released through the Freedom of Information Act but because... as said previously she encouraged and did make available the conditions for working people to improve their lot and much of the breakdown of the class system where instead of who you were born - then we now see a society class system in this country based on what you have made of yourself and your family and not least serving to demonstrate the strength, intelligence and equal abilities of the sexes.

 

To mention Blair in the same breath is surely a travesty, comparing him, a man who if there is a hell will surely be found either in the deepest pit or as the bosses new right hand man. I'm a socialist but not a Labour supporter since the death of John Smith unfortunately.

 

Yes, rest in peace Lady Thatcher, very good innings. This shouldn't be a time or an opportunity for the usual backbiting.

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

'To mention Blair in the same breath is surely a travesty, comparing him, a man who if there is a hell will surely be found either in the deepest pit or as the bosses new right hand man.'

 

Very well said.

[BUFC]

That's nice but... don't you have an opinion of your own?

 

 

 

Of course he doesnt...........he will wait and see how the land lies then post a load of shite against the majority opinion

[missunderstood]

we lose context and perspective unless we remember the country pre Thatcher, i can remember the power cuts, can remember the bullying tactics of the Trade Unions,god knows what Britian Tempestward remembers because in the one i recall the unions were the most racist and homophobic people to be found,he must of forgotten them striking in favour of Enoch Powell.

I'm old enough to remember the country before Thatcher and her party ruined it. The country seemed to be a safer, kinder place where people generally cared for each other more than we do now, and IMO it was a much better place to live than it is now.

 

The London dockers and meat porter who shamefully took strike action in support of Enoch Powell quickly realised the error of their ways and a few years later stood on a picket line side by side with their fellow trade unionists and mainly Asian workers outside the notorious Grunwick factory.

 

I was a trade unionist all my working life and never encountered racism at any time. Working in a male dominated industry homophobia was never an issue to the best of my knowledge because in those days people tended to keep their sexuality to themselves.

[Loose]

I'm old enough to remember the country before Thatcher and her party ruined it. The country seemed to be a safer, kinder place where people generally cared for each other more than we do now, and IMO it was a much better place to live than it is now.

 

The London dockers and meat porter who shamefully took strike action in support of Enoch Powell quickly realised the error of their ways and a few years later stood on a picket line side by side with their fellow trade unionists and mainly Asian workers outside the notorious Grunwick factory.

 

I was a trade unionist all my working life and never encountered racism at any time. Working in a male dominated industry homophobia was never an issue to the best of my knowledge because in those days people tended to keep their sexuality to themselves.

 

I'm afraid that in some ways you are guilty of looking at the structure and behaviour in society through rose tinted glasses Alan and whilst it is true that many things changed during her era and as a direct result of breaking the unions but only having a disastrous effect on those workforces and their way of life and communities, expecting the whole world to still be able to check on neighbours when doorstep milk remains outside etc, leaving front doors unlocked as habit and blaming what we have now it on one person from Britain I'm afraid won't wash.

 

Spending a day driving through France and 35 minutes on the Eurotunnel being sandwiched on motorway and train between an exodus of hundreds of coaches full of school children (180 coach fulls through the terminus alone today) of all the nationalities of Europe they are all identical in their confidence, arrogance, ignorance and rude manners - completely indeterminable from each other in clothes and behaviour other than language confirmed it for me today. The work of many nations and progress and not all layable at Maggie's door.

[Rhodes]

I wonder whether Mark will bother coming back for the funeral

[BUFC]

One for the lefties.....

 

 

 

 

Thatchers only been in hell a few hours and she's already shut down three furnaces. First jimmy saville, now Margaret thatcher! It's certainly been a good year for minors!!!

[Hookey]

[missunderstood]

I'm afraid that in some ways you are guilty of looking at the structure and behaviour in society through rose tinted glasses Alan and whilst it is true that many things changed during her era and as a direct result of breaking the unions but only having a disastrous effect on those workforces and their way of life and communities, expecting the whole world to still be able to check on neighbours when doorstep milk remains outside etc, leaving front doors unlocked as habit and blaming what we have now it on one person from Britain I'm afraid won't wash.

 

Spending a day driving through France and 35 minutes on the Eurotunnel being sandwiched on motorway and train between an exodus of hundreds of coaches full of school children (180 coach fulls through the terminus alone today) of all the nationalities of Europe they are all identical in their confidence, arrogance, ignorance and rude manners - completely indeterminable from each other in clothes and behaviour other than language confirmed it for me today. The work of many nations and progress and not all layable at Maggie's door.

 

When I was a kid we could, and did leave doors open because we was brought up to believe criminality brought shame on the whole family, and anyone that was a thief was a social outcast. Nowadays having a criminal record is more socially acceptable, and for some its actually a badge of honour. Its probably also fair to say that most families didnt have much worth stealing anyway.

 

My experience of school children is different to yours. In the last three years my wife and I have visited at least a dozen countries and are generally impressed by the behavior of the non English kids. More often or not I'm embarrassed by the behavior of my fellow Brits and truly ashamed to be British.

[cup of tea]

I'm old enough to remember the country before Thatcher and her party ruined it. The country seemed to be a safer, kinder place where people generally cared for each other more than we do now, and IMO it was a much better place to live than it is now.

 

The London dockers and meat porter who shamefully took strike action in support of Enoch Powell quickly realised the error of their ways and a few years later stood on a picket line side by side with their fellow trade unionists and mainly Asian workers outside the notorious Grunwick factory.

 

I was a trade unionist all my working life and never encountered racism at any time. Working in a male dominated industry homophobia was never an issue to the best of my knowledge because in those days people tended to keep their sexuality to themselves.

 

I would imagine that gay people would have kept their sexuality to themselves because they were petrified of the consequences of being open about it Alan.

[Eastside Urchin]

I always told people my sexuality,I am straight and proud

[Hookey]

I always told people my sexuality,I am straight and proud

 

I too would like to "come out" and say I'm a screaming heterosexual!!!

[Loose]

When I was a kid we could, and did leave doors open because we was brought up to believe criminality brought shame on the whole family, and anyone that was a thief was a social outcast. Nowadays having a criminal record is more socially acceptable, and for some its actually a badge of honour. Its probably also fair to say that most families didnt have much worth stealing anyway.

 

My experience of school children is different to yours. In the last three years my wife and I have visited at least a dozen countries and are generally impressed by the behavior of the non English kids. More often or not I'm embarrassed by the behavior of my fellow Brits and truly ashamed to be British.

 

I remember some of what you recall too, the difference between then and now mainly being in that the extended family no longer live in the same locations let alone same houses, where grand parents looked after the young and aided in providing role models in addition to parents with natural discipline and respect and then in turn were looked after are now separated by the need to find work and housing in far away locales from each other - the Western World Nuclear Family perhaps responsible for a lack of care resources?

 

I don't doubt your experiences however we've found living part time in rural Italy that there is a difference when you visit the towns and cities. Well behaved, good natured kids in the country who respect adults and property with changes closer to the urban centres.

[cup of tea]

As I'm not gay it's hard for me to comment, but I think it's easier to be accepted in today's society than it would have been in the 70s, unions or not.

[Savagebee]

http://john-holden.hubpages.com/hub/Margaret-Thatcher-The-Myth-Expolored

[missunderstood]

I would imagine that gay people would have kept their sexuality to themselves because they were petrified of the consequences of being open about it Alan.

 

That may well be true Simon although I Would like to think that the majority of my former colleagues would have either been supportive or completely disinterested. My own view is that a persons sexuality is a personal thing and should remain private, that maybe a generation thing though.

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

Society today is definitely far more tolerant of people, although you do still get bigots on both sides of arguments (the other day, some clown on You Tube called The Amazing Aethiest was demanding that every Bible be burnt...)

 

As for sexual identification, even as a relative young 'un I do get confused by these new names for personal expression; I once met a girl who described herself as Pansexual. How anybody can find pans sexual is beyond me....

Edited April 8, 2013 by The Mayor Of Simpleton

[cup of tea]

There's no doubt that society has changed and in some respects not for the better - families are now more split and we have become more materialistic. Not sure I can blame Thatcher for that, although I didn't agree with a lot of her government's policies.

[BUFC]

 

Just seen the plans for Margaret thatchers grave. It looks very nice but think the dance floor could have been bigger!

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

Sickipedia is chock-full of the Maggie jokes tonight...

 

Lots of confusion with the hashtag #nowthatchersdead. Cher isn't dead.

 

David Cameron has just sent his offical letter to the Thatcher residence. It starts "I regret to inform you that due to recent events you now have too many bedrooms..."

 

When a stroke strikes its important to act F.A.S.T. Opinions aside isn't it ironic that Thatcher died by something striking?!

 

 

The Pope and Margaret Thatcher are on the same stage in front of a huge crowd.

 

The ex-PM and His Holiness, however, have seen it all before, so to make it a little more interesting, Maggie says to the Pope, "did you know that, with just one little wave of my hand, I can make every Conservative in the crowd go wild?"

 

He doubts it, so she shows him. Sure enough, the wave elicits rapture and cheering from every Conservative in the crowd. Gradually, the cheering subsides.

 

The Pope, not wanting to be out done by such a level of arrogance, considers what he could do. "That was impressive, but did you know that, with just one little wave of my hand, I can make every person in the crowd go crazy with joy? This joy will not be a momentary display, like that of your subjects, but will go deep into their hearts and they will forever speak of this day and rejoice."

 

Thatcher seriously doubts this and says so. "One little wave of your hand and all people will rejoice forever? Show me."

 

So the Pope punched her.