How would one describe Thatcher's Britain
Discuss issues related to the politics of the UK, such as the actions of any MP, any current or potential law, or any other factor affecting the British political system.
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's Britain(Original post by Cannotbelieveit)
Ha! Take a look at the late 1970's, and ever heard of the Winter of Discontent? This 'great' nation was on the brink of collapse, and Thatcher saved it through a lot of radical changes that were needed at the time.
Thatcher saved the UK, simple as.
Nope, she simply set us up for a later fall that another future PM is going to have to deal with (arguably we are already trying to deal with it). -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's BritainSurely that can be said of anyone saving anything ever. I you save a child from drowning, it can be argued that you've merely set it up to die of something else later.(Original post by Azog 150)
Nope, she simply set us up for a later fall that another future PM is going to have to deal with (arguably we are already trying to deal with it).
Of course Thatcher didn't permanently save the UK, but she gave us a relatively stable economy which delivered over a decade of prosperity. -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's BritainEssentially yes. The idea is that socialism would suffer universal poverty for the sake of universal equality, while Thatcher would rather some people be extremely rich, provided that nobody was starving.(Original post by kka25)
Ah, thank you very much
What I understand from what you wrote; Thatcher sees that if socialism were to go on, everyone would be eventually made poorer and the rich will be less rich because no progress would be made, just for the sake of equality over prosperity.
Would that be correct? -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's Britain"You have reached the limit of how many posts you can rate today!"(Original post by chrisawhitmore)
Essentially yes. The idea is that socialism would suffer universal poverty for the sake of universal equality, while Thatcher would rather some people be extremely rich, provided that nobody was starving.
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's Britain(Original post by chrisawhitmore)
Surely that can be said of anyone saving anything ever. I you save a child from drowning, it can be argued that you've merely set it up to die of something else later.
Of course Thatcher didn't permanently save the UK, but she gave us a relatively stable economy which delivered over a decade of prosperity.
She has made this country entirely reliant on the notoriously unreliable financial sector, which in turn is what left us very exposed to the financial crisis. Our over reliance on the financial sector and our lack of a manufacturing industry has also left us in a poor position to profit off of the growing BRIC economies.
Not to mention all the unemployment black spots she left dotted about the country which are now home to a large underclass and generation after generation of people living off benefits. Prosperous indeed.
Now I'm not saying she didn't bring a level of prosperity not seen in the 1970's, but the way in which she went about bringing it was incredibly short sighted. -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's BritainIncreased inequality, increased poverty, increased working hours (for the same or lower reward).(Original post by kka25)
I was disappointed that you didn't go on. Please do => -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's BritainWhich would all sound great, if it weren't for the fact that poverty went up under Thatcher and only the rich got better off, and growth was slower than the post-war social democratic (NB: not socialist) period, which had also achieved relatively egalitarian growth.(Original post by chrisawhitmore)
Essentially yes. The idea is that socialism would suffer universal poverty for the sake of universal equality, while Thatcher would rather some people be extremely rich, provided that nobody was starving. -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's BritainBritain only survived financially by the skin of the teeth due to the receipts from North Sea Gas and Oil in thatcher's first term. Her first term was so disastrous that she had the lowest approval rating of all post world war 2 leaders. It was only by the fortune of the Falklands Conflicts which saved her, and even then it was down to the fact that America pressured the French into not arming the argentinians.
And lets not forget the war crime she committed which was the sinking of the General Belgrano, a ship which was in international waters -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's BritainFairly sure you can sink a warship which is international waters if you are at war with the country who owns it. Otherwise you would station all your aircraft carriers just inside international waters and bomb enemy shipping with impunity. As to sinking the Belgrano, it was a tough call, but it effectively ended the Argentine Navy's involvement in the war, potentially saving hundreds of British soldiers and sailors. If you want to blame somebody for the Belgrano, try blaming the people who invaded British territory in the first place.(Original post by Pogiberto)
Britain only survived financially by the skin of the teeth due to the receipts from North Sea Gas and Oil in thatcher's first term. Her first term was so disastrous that she had the lowest approval rating of all post world war 2 leaders. It was only by the fortune of the Falklands Conflicts which saved her, and even then it was down to the fact that America pressured the French into not arming the argentinians.
And lets not forget the war crime she committed which was the sinking of the General Belgrano, a ship which was in international waters -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's BritainIt was a war crime= simple as.(Original post by chrisawhitmore)
Fairly sure you can sink a warship which is international waters if you are at war with the country who owns it. Otherwise you would station all your aircraft carriers just inside international waters and bomb enemy shipping with impunity. As to sinking the Belgrano, it was a tough call, but it effectively ended the Argentine Navy's involvement in the war, potentially saving hundreds of British soldiers and sailors. If you want to blame somebody for the Belgrano, try blaming the people who invaded British territory in the first place.
If Argentina had done the exact same thing Britain had done, you would not be very happy about it -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's BritainPoetry is one of the best things man ever created, you an uneducated barbarian.(Original post by chrisawhitmore)
yet still poets, who are essentially the second most useless profession after trade union leaders, enjoy complaining about her ... -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's BritainThe thing is, people often confuse 'Thatcher's Britain' with what Thatcher would ideally have everyone living like. Sorting out our finances should rightfully come before all the comfort a money spending, and then borrowing, Labour party would bring us.
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's Britain(Original post by nulli tertius)
Just point me to your authority that you can't sink your enemy's ships in time of time of war, will you?
im not saying that there was nothing wrong with sinking enemy ships, but in the context off
It was in international waters
It was sailing away from the conflict area.
Its a pretty cowardly attack to be honest. -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's BritainNo.(Original post by Pogiberto)
im not saying that there was nothing wrong with sinking enemy ships, but in the context off
It was in international waters
It was sailing away from the conflict area.
Its a pretty cowardly attack to be honest.
You said it was a war crime. That has a very specific meaning.
So was the Bismark.It was in international waters.
It wouldn't have mattered if it was sitting in Buenos Aries harbour.It was sailing away from the conflict area.
The Royal Oak as well as other battleships have been legitimately sunk in harbour. -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's BritainYou said "Some coal miners for example now congratulate Thatcher closing down the mines".(Original post by tomcol23)
Thats a bit of a broad question dont you think?
Who? -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's BritainMe no an uneducated barbarian, you an uneducated barbarian.(Original post by Ferdowsi)
Poetry is one of the best things man ever created, you an uneducated barbarian.
Seriously, poetry is very good, but it is not useful. Poetry does not feed anyone, nor does it clothe them, house them or provide them jobs or means to survive. -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's BritainEh? You'll have to explain how an increase in GDP makes everyone richer, when wages have stagnated.(Original post by chrisawhitmore)
I think your argument is that, as wages have not grown as a share of GDP since Thatcher, then workers must therefore be worse off. The problem with this argument is that it does not allow for an increase in GDP above inflation, increasing the wealth of everyone without wages necessarily increasing as a share of the overall GDP. -
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Re: How would one describe Thatcher's BritainIt doesn't look "saved".(Original post by Cannotbelieveit)
Ha! Take a look at the late 1970's, and ever heard of the Winter of Discontent? This 'great' nation was on the brink of collapse, and Thatcher saved it through a lot of radical changes that were needed at the time.
Thatcher saved the UK, simple as.
