I Wonder How Many Realise What Margaret Thatcher Did For Us?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2306560/Margaret-Thatcher-did-workers-Leftie-critics-did.html

This article makes interesting reading and destroys the false myths invented by the left.

[bednobs]

or maybe it's false myths perpertrated by the right?
anyway, there's the truth as i see it, the truth as you see it, and the actual truth

[Zeuhl]

Some do
Some don't

But let's not reduce complex political debates into simplistic idolatry of individuals

[youngmafbog]

As with any political decision it depends on which side of the fence you fall. Some, such as council house buyers undoubtedly, others who did loose their jobs in tight communities will naturally not be so happy.

Mrs T was on the right, it is the job of the left to find fault, just as it is the job of the right to point out the fault of the left. Hopefully along the way we end up with a happy medium.

I suppose the main difference here is the bitter and often unfounded hatred that is held by many who probably would not have recognized her in the street let alone understand what she stood for and indeed in many cases probably not even born.

[bednobs]

for the first time ever (i think) i agree wholeheartedly with young

[Zeuhl]

Indeed ymb

It is difficult for anyone to have an objective view of Margaret Thatcher (faults and mistakes included) who did not experience the shambles of the Three Day Week, Winter of Discontent and the ramblings of Michael Foot

[sp1814]

Dominic Sandbrook is by some considerable distance, my favourite modern historian.

His books are entertaining, engaging and written with real style and wit.

I am sure that he believes what he has written, but I'm a little disappointed that he hasn't deployed the same level of objectivity he uses in his books ('White Heat' and 'Never Had It So Good' being prime examples) here.

[fbg40]

Youngmafbog
Brilliant answer.
FBG40

[murraymints]

I worked with Michael foot in the ministerial suite at Scottish office....he was nobody's fool...a very clever man..I was fortunate to know quite well....

[bednobs]

being clever does not make you a good leader by default though MM

[Zeuhl]

Yes sp

For example, it would be fair I think to balance his positive commentary on Council House sales with the accusation that MT ideology deliberately fixed the numbers so that Local Authorities couldn't use funds to replace them thus a major factor in today's housing shortage and inflated rents

[Zeuhl]

murray

no one is saying Michael Foot wasn't clever, or sincere or well meaning

but he was a disaster as Leader of the Opposition and would have been catastrophic as a PM

[murraymints]

At that time he was a minister not a leader bed...he did not ramble as was suggested..his comments in my experience...and I have more personal experience of the man than most here....were always measured and informed...I had to do his research...I know what was behind his statements....

[Zeuhl]

I know what was behind his statements.... /

That's fine if he had been a University Don

Sadly he was unable to communicate with the electorate other than appear a doddery old fool who would be taken to the cleaners by the Unions

That is a bit of an issue for anyone trying to be a elected politician

[DangerUXD]

The problem is that an entire generation have been brainwashed by lefty teachers. Many of those celebrating her death have been taught to hate her. Ask them about their own experiences and you get a blank look. Most weren't born in 1979 some weren't even born during her tenure. I PMSL yesterday when some idiot tried to blame her for Hong Kong. We had leased in 1898 for 99 years that expired when whe was not even in office and started before she was born! Then there was another idiot who blamed her after another county in economic melt down run by a military dictatorship invade the Falklands to shift attention away, that was her fault too! It seems that every thing is MrsT fault! That's MTH sheep for you.

[murraymints]

Zeul..I agree that communication en masse...and leadership were not his forté...but he did not ramble ...ever !!

[Gromit]

Sell off the Council Housing stock so that the next generation of poor people can make private landlords wealthy. She was a genius.

[sp1814]

DangerUXD

The problem is that an entire generation have been brainwashed by lefty teachers.

That would only really be true if the generation you speak of only had one source of information about the 80s.

Young people have many media outlets from which to form their views, as well as teacher, parents etc etc.

[Brenden]

Let in thousands of immigrants (legal and illegal) as Labour did (they still do not know how many). These people were given priority housing before the indiginous population.

[sp1814]

Can anyone answer this - where did the money from the sale of council houses actually go???

[Zeuhl]

Fair enough murray
I give way to your personal insights
perhaps 'ramblings' was the not the most appropriate word to use

My recollection is that his overall political message was unfocused and provided less certainty than Maggie's

And he appeared less in control of his cabinet and allies than might have been wanted at the time