So how do you feel about Margaret Thatcher's death

[TheEvilCheese]

I was not alive during the Thatcher years, but she made decisions that are negatively affecting britons to this day, in particular the selling of council homes which were never replaced, this means that there aren't enough council houses for those who need them and they end up having to pay very expensive private rent (which comes from the taxpayer pocket).

This costs the government more in the long run while giving those who bought the homes for the going price 30 years ago the ability to charge extortionate rent and know someone will pay because they need to live somewhere.

Many of her economic policies were short sighted and took no account of the working class, instead making life cushier for business owners and the wealthy, something the tory party is doing again right now.

That said, I have no true animosity for the woman, she was elected three general elections in a row, which certainly says something about public opinion at the time, and I can't help but respect what she accomplished in her life. (She was a very smart woman, a chemistry degree, qualified lawyer and longest serving prime minister in almost a century, and 7th longest serving overall. Not to mention first and only female to hold the title.)

 

[Barciad]

Typical responses from those born during and after her term who didn't experience what came before her.

The never ending curse of youth.

True, there were problems, but the 'cure' created even greater problems.
Instead of outdated manufacturing methods and too many union leaders drunk on their own power you have the following:-

Over powerful bosses
Over powerful landlords
Over powerful financiers
Out of control journalists
Corrupt and out of touch politicians

In other words, we have, as Peter Oborne remarked 'a feral elite' which shats daily on us normal people. Plus, you might also remember this little 'financial crisis' that we've been having of late. De-regulate the banks, she said, what could possibly go wrong? Jesus wept.

Dearie me, Margaret Thatcher didn't "deregulate the banks", she deregulated the mortgage market, which is something entirely different. Gordon Brown and Tony Blair setup the FSA and deregulated the banks.

Doth mine eyes deceive me or is someone trying to push the 'Big Bang' onto someone else? You do know what the 'Big Bang' was, don't you. And you haven't even begun to talk exchange controls.

 

[Colour Scientist]

I see Margaret Thatcher is a very unpopular person.

Not really, only people who consider themselves left wing dont like her, because they seem to think living in a failed state would have been preferrable to what she did.

Unless you consider other countries. In Ireland she's pretty unpopular (huge understatement). You're kind of raised to hate her, I'm fairly certain that there're kids in school now who loathe her but aren't entirely sure why.

 

[Asuka Soryu]

Oh... no? Ah, another person I've never heard of dies.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I didn't like her or her politics. She basically destroyed the North of England where I grew up. I have kept it to myself though with facebook posts etc. If you haven't got anything nice to say don't say anything.

 

[Gearhead mk2]

I was never around when she was, but given that she bassically screwed over the whole country, I did kinda hate her. When I heard the news though, I was shocked and a little... sad. Sure, she may have been an absolutly horrible homophobic coporation backing ***** who scrwed up my country so hard that it's still feeling the effects today and it's only being ruined more by that shiny-forheaded asshole who wouldn't know economics if they cracked his skull open, but she was still a person, and it's sad to hear anyone go.

 

[Mr.Squishy]

First Roger Ebert and now Thatcher. Huh. Well, I really don't give a toss, I haven't any basis to.

 

[Panorama]

I never lived under her time as prime minister, she had no really affect on me, i admit it had quite a large affect on my parents/grand parents, but i have no wish to hate the woman. Overall disagreed with her policies however i am not pleased shes dead.

 

[TrulyBritish]

She did what she thought was right for the country. All of her methods, although extreme and they caused the unemployment of more than a few, were done with the aim of economic prosperity in the long run. Her actions were always with the best of intentions, so I bare no malice towards her. Depending on who you ask she either set the country on course for long term economic growth or she destroyed the North of England and she's a war criminal and quite possibly the Emperor from Star Wars. Oh and she called Nelson Mandela a terrorist once.

I'm not well enough versed in the politics of the era to argue the other points, but I strongly disagree with the allegations of war crimes that crop up from time to time. Other than that I try to stay out of it.

Exactly, she may be viewed as evil by some people, but I really can't see her bad enough for people to cheer her death. I was disgusted when they did it for Bin Laden, and I'm certainly disappointed now. I don't agree with her policies at all, but I can't agree with celebrating the death of an 87 year old woman, that had been suffering dementia and failing health, from a stroke.

 

[TrulyBritish]

I'd also like to just point out I live in Hull (Northern Britain in Yorkshire for those who don't know), one of the places possibly considered to have the most grievances against Thatcher. But then, she was before my time.

 

[Me55enger]

The people whose politics I value actually thought she was a great Prime Minister. They also agree she destoryed countless jobs, societies, and lives. No-one is denying that. But she also led us in the Falklands and brought down the Iron Curtain.

You just don't see many people defending her here because of the traditional demographics between age and political leaning; hence all the Witch is dead rubbish.

As someone who takes pride in having thier own opinion, but admits he was born some 2 years after her term ended, I will say this:

When all this clears, and history sits down to actually consider what it was she did, I believe she will go down in history as someone who actually ACTED.

She made enemies because she did something; regardless of whether folk see it as good or bad. We need someone in the UK who does something, and not be a spineless twatbadger like, say, almost all polticians right now.

We may not need another Thatcher, but we sure as hell need someone who is willing to make some enemies by acting.

 

[JimB]

I am an American and I just want to know how most people feel about her death.

How long ago did Thatcher step down from power? Twenty years? I get disagreeing with her policies and actions, but I've seen a lot of cheering for the death of someone whose damage was done and whose course was run two decades ago. It's a little unsettling.

Then again, I'm American and nothing she ever did really affected me much, so maybe I'm allowed to feel that way.

 

[fix-the-spade]

I am an American and I just want to know how most people feel about her death.

I am ambivalent.

However, my mum rang me up specifically to tell me that Thatcher had died and (I quote) this is a great day.

Of course my mum was working in social housing in North Yorkshire though Thatcher's reign, during which time she dealt with thousands of people who lost their jobs, savings and homes. So for her there's a big personal element.

 

[Tropicaz]

As much as I disliked her time in office, the way people are celebrating her death is sickening. I think it's sad when people rejoice over someones death, whoever they are.

 

[zumbledum]

Im both English and old enough to remember her years in power.

she destroyed the unions , saw to the total destruction of the steel coal , ship building and a lot of damage to farming led to huge poverty and unemployment especially int he north, she broke up and privatized a lot of nationalized industries like rail electric and gas.

there was the Falklands thing, and when people refer to England and Americas special friendship we really are talking about her and Reagun.

oh and she stopped free milk for school kids, and a generation breathed a sigh of relief , no more luke warm afternoon milk brakes ! /shudder


so its easy to see why a lot of people resented her and even hate her. But there uncomfortable truth is she was right on most things. the Unions had far too much power and were running the country down , the industries she destroyed were huge burdens on the nation and were all massively subsidized.

She enabled the modernization of the English economy and set us up for the future. If England had continued on the path it was we would probably now be a second world country.

 

[ninjaRiv]

I can see why people celebrate her death, they're venting. We've taken a lot of shit because of her policies and her attitude was awful. She was a terrible person. But I wont be celebrating her death. As I said before, in another thread, the only real justice would be if she had changed her ways and tried to put things right. As it is, I just don't give a shit. Mourning is what I do for people I care about and actually like.

 

[snyperal]

I am neither saddened nor elated by her passing. I am sure she will be missed by her family and friends. She had balls, cant take that away from her compared to some of the limp wrists in parliament today she had more gumption than any of them put together.

Apart from boris, he has style.

 

[solad_nathair]

I feel about her death the same way I felt about Bin Laden's death: the departure of a human being who caused countless suffering, but a human being nevertheless. I can't find a reason to celebrate someone losing their life.

Thats OK Ill celebrate for you along with the rest of Ireland but I dont think she counts as Human.