dead Margaret Thatcher

[Josco 49]

The government has just replied to an online petition I signed a while back, against a state funeral for her Thatchiness on account of her support for Pinocet and her general inhumanity to her fellow beings.

 

Probably not a sign of her impending demise since they usually reply after a set time, but for the record here's what they said:

 

In the event of the death of any former Prime Minister, the Government is responsible for liaising with the family and representatives of the deceased about arrangements for a suitable service of remembrance, including any administrative support from the Government. For reasons which we hope will be understood, it would not be appropriate to make any comment about detail of any discussions.

 

Which is more or less saying "we'll do as we please, so bugger you you ignorant bunch of leftie scum"

 

I had the same unfortunate mail too, which just goes to prove all petitions are cock. We can therefore feel justified in walking past the poor naive clipboarders hanging around our local pedestrianized thoroughfares as indeed our signatures are not worth the paper they are written on.

 

Although the petitions are spin and propaganda, NAP's succinct comment "so bugger you you ignorant bunch of leftie scum" is valid, but probably not from Gordon's government.

[themaninblack 2,112]

The government has just replied to an online petition I signed a while back, against a state funeral for her Thatchiness on account of her support for Pinocet and her general inhumanity to her fellow beings.

 

Probably not a sign of her impending demise since they usually reply after a set time, but for the record here's what they said:

 

In the event of the death of any former Prime Minister, the Government is responsible for liaising with the family and representatives of the deceased about arrangements for a suitable service of remembrance, including any administrative support from the Government. For reasons which we hope will be understood, it would not be appropriate to make any comment about detail of any discussions.

 

Which is more or less saying "we'll do as we please, so bugger you you ignorant bunch of leftie scum"

 

I had the same unfortunate mail too, which just goes to prove all petitions are cock. We can therefore feel justified in walking past the poor naive clipboarders hanging around our local pedestrianized thoroughfares as indeed our signatures are not worth the paper they are written on.

 

Although the petitions are spin and propaganda, NAP's succinct comment "so bugger you you ignorant bunch of leftie scum" is valid, but probably not from Gordon's government.

 

I still reckon Thatcher will avoid going down the road of a big state funeral (a la Churchill). Big Memorial service, yes most probably, but not

a big funeral...

[Tuber Mirum 125]

Although the petitions are spin and propaganda, NAP's succinct comment "so bugger you you ignorant bunch of leftie scum" is valid, but probably not from Gordon's government.

 

Although that particular petition is neither spin nor propaganda, but an expression of an earnest wish from a very large section of the population based on genuine concerns, I think the current government couldn't be accused of pots and kettles if they called other people ignorant leftie scum.

 

Apart from the "ignorant" bit obviously.

 

And "scum".

[Josco 49]

Although the petitions are spin and propaganda, NAP's succinct comment "so bugger you you ignorant bunch of leftie scum" is valid, but probably not from Gordon's government.

 

Although that particular petition is neither spin nor propaganda, but an expression of an earnest wish from a very large section of the population based on genuine concerns, I think the current government couldn't be accused of pots and kettles if they called other people ignorant leftie scum.

 

Apart from the "ignorant" bit obviously.

 

And "scum".

Just re-reading this tonight and think I may have been mis-understood. By saying that all "petitions are spin and propaganda", I meant that the Government petition website is just spin, not the earnest populace that propose and vote in them. They were designed by a cynical executive as a sop to the public. If they actually counted for anything then Mr Clarkson would be both PM and MFH.

[Windsor 2,233]

I don't think Margaret Thatcher was at the Cenotaph today. All other former PMs - Major and Blair - were present.

[time 8,597]

I don't think Margaret Thatcher was at the Cenotaph today. All other former PMs - Major and Blair - were present.

 

The Daily Mail reports

 

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who has suffered from ill health recently, viewed the proceedings from a ground-floor window at the Foreign Office. It is believed to be the first time she has been in the country and not taken part in the ceremony.

 

How long did the Queen Mum last once she started watching from a window?

[Windsor 2,233]

I don't think Margaret Thatcher was at the Cenotaph today. All other former PMs - Major and Blair - were present.

 

The Daily Mail reports

 

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who has suffered from ill health recently, viewed the proceedings from a ground-floor window at the Foreign Office. It is believed to be the first time she has been in the country and not taken part in the ceremony.

 

How long did the Queen Mum last once she started watching from a window?

 

 

The last Remembrance Service the Queen Mother attended was November 2001 - but not from a window. She died in March 2002.

I think they were possibly keeping Thatcher out of public view in the fear that she was seen speaking to a tree, or asking where Dennis was at.

[Cereal Killer 2]

'Thatcher' is Dead... kinda...

 

'Thatcher dead' text sparks fears

 

Oh dear

[time 8,597]

'Thatcher' is Dead... kinda...

 

'Thatcher dead' text sparks fears

 

Oh dear

 

Moggie Thatcher...

[millwall32 114]

I don't think Margaret Thatcher was at the Cenotaph today. All other former PMs - Major and Blair - were present.

 

The Daily Mail reports

 

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who has suffered from ill health recently, viewed the proceedings from a ground-floor window at the Foreign Office. It is believed to be the first time she has been in the country and not taken part in the ceremony.

 

How long did the Queen Mum last once she started watching from a window?

I noticed that she wasn't there, but I still think she's going to have a very long dotage.

[The Miser 18]

Why so much venom towards Ms. Thatcher by our Brits? I'm serious in my inquiry since the U.S. seems to be more forgiving. Nixon's death was met with respect. Carter was a terrible president but people let him go about saying whatever. Teddy K was drunk and accidentally killed an intern. Sen. Byrd was a member of the KKK. Even the W will not get as much dislike as MT is getting. Although it does not appear that any British PM is liked on this board so maybe thats it.

[honez 79]

Why so much venom towards Ms. Thatcher by our Brits? I'm serious in my inquiry since the U.S. seems to be more forgiving. Nixon's death was met with respect. Carter was a terrible president but people let him go about saying whatever. Teddy K was drunk and accidentally killed an intern. Sen. Byrd was a member of the KKK. Even the W will not get as much dislike as MT is getting. Although it does not appear that any British PM is liked on this board so maybe thats it.

Her policies were directly responsible for the shutdown and destruction of entire industries and the towns that depended on them. Mass unemployment -- we're not talking about 10% unemployment, we are talking about entire towns and large portions of industrial cities. Percentage unemployment doesn't paint the picture anywhere near as bad as it was. There were riots, mass unrest and the feeling was almost one of civil war as the north/west of the country suffered terribly from her and her party's policies. The less industrialised and seemingly more affluent south east of the country, although affected came out it much better. This is where the media was centred and always painted a much better picture than the grim, dark reality of it.

I don't know if you can get hold of some DVDs to see what I am talking about -- The Boys from the Black Stuff would probably be a good start -- maybe other DL members could suggest others. The Full Monty for perhaps for a lighter take on the whole thing, but it does give a small inkling.

I remember when the coal mines around my home town were closed, and the steel mill and the other heavy industries. There wasn't a family in the area that didn't have kids, mums, dad, uncles all unemployed. Generational unemployment with no alternatives. No income. No future. They were skilled workers, indentured apprentices who'd worked the industry their fathers and grandfathers had, the one their sons were working in, their brothers, their cousins. Industries that were the sole employers in their towns, and Margaret Thatcher shut them down almost overnight. There was no planning for what happened after. no retraining. No replacement industries. Just the free market. Cut their legs from under them and see who survives. What she she did to those communities -- my community -- was criminal.

If something like that was done as part of an armed conflict, then there would be some form of recompense and restoration at the end.

To me, she is and always will be resented for what she did to my community and others like it.

When she dies, I will laugh and drink to her demise. She will be gone and I will be damn happy about it.

That, Mr Miser, is why I have so much venom for the bitch.

[millwall32 114]

Why so much venom towards Ms. Thatcher by our Brits? I'm serious in my inquiry since the U.S. seems to be more forgiving. Nixon's death was met with respect. Carter was a terrible president but people let him go about saying whatever. Teddy K was drunk and accidentally killed an intern. Sen. Byrd was a member of the KKK. Even the W will not get as much dislike as MT is getting. Although it does not appear that any British PM is liked on this board so maybe thats it.

 

I dpnt think that its a quetion of the Brits being unforgiving so much as not being hypocritical at the time of a politician's death.

no point in suddenly sayig that she was great if you've always dlsiked her

 

by the way, i dont completely disagree with the lat post (terrible,terrible things happened to mining towns but unsustainable industires are called that for a reason) but i do think that he should get a state fneral for purely historical reasons....three general election victories,first woman p.m. and all that

 

only problem is thatif you give her one you might have to give one to Blair too.

[Dr Hackenslash 25]

only problem is thatif you give her one you might have to give one to Blair too.

 

Not necessarily.

 

Harold Wilson won four General Elections, at a push (1964, 1966 and both the 1974 ones). Though the February 1974 one is somewhat arguable.

 

As for the views on Thatcher, I'd argue the split between those who remember her positively and those who remember her negatively isn't as clear cut as it may appear at times!

[Monoclinic 39]

I think some keys are not working on your keyboard, perhaps you should put it in the washing machine to fix it up nicely.

 

I dpnt think that its a quetion of the Brits being unforgiving so much as not being hypocritical at the time of a politician's death.

no point in suddenly sayig that she was great if you've always dlsiked her

 

by the way, i dont completely disagree with the lat post (terrible,terrible things happened to mining towns but unsustainable industires are called that for a reason) but i do think that he should get a state fneral for purely historical reasons....three general election victories,first woman p.m. and all that

 

I know she had balls but she was no Jamie Lee Curtis; Carole and Mark are potential proof of that.

 

only problem is thatif you give her one you might have to give one to Blair too.

 

I think several of her allies probably did.

[Lord Fellatio Nelson 6,218]

Hmmm, I think you need to be little circumspect when looking back to the Thatcher years.

Yes, she did rip apart many Industries, the primary one was the Coal Industry.

It could be argued, however, that Arthur Scargill was the actual architect of the Coal Industries downfall, infact you could widen that to whole Industries that were held to ransom and fucked up the arse by Militant Union leaders who were more instrumental in bringing this country to its knees in the 1970s than any Political leader could ever do.

Anybody who was an adult in the 1970s or a boy ( me ) will remember the three day week, power cuts, Grunwick, the almost daily and farcical British Leyland Strikes and, of course dear old Arthur Scargil who had us all by the bollocks as he had the key to all our energy needs.

It was fucking bleak and we had a labour Government who was completely in the pockets of the Trade Union Movement.

By the time the 79 Election came about, people had had enough, it was time for a big change.

What Thatcher did right was rid us of the shackles of Union power gone barmy. She introduced secret industrial balloting allowing people to vote without fear of reprisals, she banned "Flying" Pickets ( Secondary picketing) and began to try and make this country, at the very least, competitive in a World that had moved on and left us behind.

To do all of the above meant taking on the Unions head on, unfortunately wankers like Arthur Scargill used loyal, hard working and decent people as his "troops" and what followed was terrible. HE, not Thatcher was pivotal in destroying communities.

I suppose it will all depend on what side of the fence you sit as to whether Thatcher was good for Britain or bad.

I grew up in a working class family, lived in a council house and remember times when my parents were dead poor, not destitute but poor. I think that makes me reasonably objective but, then again, I didnt live in areas destroyed by unemployment, I lived in the "affluent" South East of the Country.

Love her or hate her, she was a statesman that pricks like Gordon Brown could only dream of being.

[maryportfuncity 10,645]

It was fucking bleak.

 

Aye, but we had Clive Dunn and Richard O' Sullivan to keep us smiling, just like today.

[Tuber Mirum 125]

Certainly Scargill and the unions were instrumental in the downfall of industry.

But it was Thatcher who pulled the plug on them. And she didn't do it because it was unavoidable, (it would probably have been possible to salvage quite a bit more in spite of the unions etc.) she did it because she hated socialists and miners and northerners and trades unions. She put those people out of work knowingly and deliberately because she felt they deserved it.

Of course those with any backbone at all got on their bikes and found jobs as estate agents and stockbrokers but the rest of them could go to hell.

But then she never was one for giving freely of the milk of human kindness.

Or of any other kind of milk for that matter.

[Lard Bazaar 3,799]

I know nothing about politics, but I do know that during the Thatcher years we were poor as fuck and my dad never had a job, apart from the short amount of time we lived abroad. I've never seen him happier than the day she walked.

[Windsor 2,233]

Baroness Thatcher was in the House of Lords for the State Opening of Parliament today.

She looks fine enough, if not a little dottled.

[Lard Bazaar 3,799]

Baroness Thatcher was in the House of Lords for the State Opening of Parliament today.

She looks fine enough, if not a little dottled.

 

What does dottled mean, I assume it's a Scottish term? The only thing I can find is that it means 'foolish' but I'm sure you don't mean that? Or maybe you do.....

[time 8,597]

Why so much venom towards Ms. Thatcher by our Brits? I'm serious in my inquiry since the U.S. seems to be more forgiving. Nixon's death was met with respect. Carter was a terrible president but people let him go about saying whatever. Teddy K was drunk and accidentally killed an intern. Sen. Byrd was a member of the KKK. Even the W will not get as much dislike as MT is getting. Although it does not appear that any British PM is liked on this board so maybe thats it.

 

She also sold our nationalised industries to the people who already owned them, i.e. the general populous, in order to fund income tax cuts with which to bribe people. A good percentage of these industries are now in foreign ownership, meaning that we are not now 'held to ransom' by the unions, but by people we can have no control over.

 

She was also instrumental in selling off the council housing stock and forbidding councils to build more, without which, I would venture to suggest, the problems of todays first-time buyers being able to afford houses wouldn't be half as bad.

[Windsor 2,233]

Baroness Thatcher was in the House of Lords for the State Opening of Parliament today.

She looks fine enough, if not a little dottled.

 

What does dottled mean, I assume it's a Scottish term? The only thing I can find is that it means 'foolish' but I'm sure you don't mean that? Or maybe you do.....

 

I mean she looked confused...away with the fairies...

Then again, that could apply to 75% of the members of that chamber.

[millwall32 114]

I wonder why it is that whenever Thatcher is disscused in this forum we always talk about how she effectd the coal industry?

 

Strictly sepaking she didn't close down the coal industry; she ended its subsidy and changed the trade union legislation regarding it.

 

I'm much more bothered by "There's no such thing as society" ,myself.

[honez 79]

I wonder why it is that whenever Thatcher is disscused in this forum we always talk about how she effectd the coal industry?

 

Strictly sepaking she didn't close down the coal industry; she ended its subsidy and changed the trade union legislation regarding it.

 

I'm much more bothered by "There's no such thing as society" ,myself.

The question was why is there so much venom directed against ex-PMs and in particular Mrs T.

In my case it comes down to her policies fucking up most industries north of Watford. The coal and steel industries were my local ones.