Thatcher dead!

[Berserkadin]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/apr/08/margaret-thatcher-dies-aged-87

To bad it took that old witch such a long time.

[Weren]

[Tennenoth]

Interesting that people from other countries, who were unlikely to have lived during her stay in office find her to be in such a negative light.

She changed a lot of things and although she made mistakes (like believing that some of the populace wouldn't be against the poll tax which I believe in theory is more than reasonable, but that could just be because I've been indoctrinated by my Grandfather on that matter) as do all world leaders and indeed everyone from time to time.

Her time has passed and at least a little respect should be shown, even if you didn't like her or what she tried to do, I mean, she was the first female Prime Minister and I don't think that anyone can deny that was an achievement she should be remembered for.

[CrazyCracka420]

As someone who doesn't know much about her, the only things I could tell you off the top of my head was that she was hands off when it came to regulations in the financial industry, and the child poverty rate was ridiculous high under her reign.  Both are big negatives in my mind, but I don't agree with most conservative policies, unless it's keeping spending under control (mainly by prioritizing the most important things we need to spend on)

[Overdriven]

You either love her or you hate her.

But regardless she was prime minister for 11 years and in that time changed the face of the country. A very powerful figure, a patriot and she even indirectly revamped the labour party. It was pretty much because of her and the tory party dominance that new labour arose. Not to mention when she came to be prime minister there were an estimated 30 million days a year lost because of strike action, by the time she finished it was down to 2 million.

She certainly deserves some level of respect and it was sad that she suffered so much from dementia in her later years.

[Kafein]

With my limited knowledge, I think she led Britain to become one of the most important players in global finance. Even though now in retrospect that doesn't seem like such a good idea, I wish current day political leaders had as much courage and actually fix things. Hell, all countries in Europe today are sinking in loans, a new Tchatcher would be a blessing for the future.

[Henry_Broodsonson]

[Prpavi]

i think Joey Barton said all it needs to be said 

"I'd say RIP Maggie but it wouldn't be true. If Heaven exists that old witch won't be there..."

[Osiris]

Thatcher was one of the great PMs, Before her Britain's economy was in decline, we had 3 day weeks, 25% inflation and trade unions running the country. Privatisation of major companies forced them to become competitive or die, taxes were cut and people could buy council houses.

Love her or hate her seems to depend on whether you worked in mining and state run companies or not. She served Britain for 11 years so she cant have been that unpopular, The fact the labour party got into power and continued "thatcherism" and the fact Blair etc praise her says something.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing sure she made mistakes which leader doesn't, she did however change the face of Britain.

[Tennenoth]

What hacks me off is the footage of people celebrating her death and burning pictures of her! She wasn't some military dictator oppressing you, the hell are you doing? She didn't even ransom your dog, she just ran the country, and as Osiris said, she can't have been that unpopular seeing as she was voted in again.

Also if the "Joey Barton" you're talking about is the footballer, then he would have been 8/9 when Maggie left office, what solid political views could he have possibly had? I'm sure he didn't know her personally. I was born in 1991, I have no political views on her first hand, they're from what my parents and their parents have said and my own research into what she did. I'm absolutely sure I didn't give a toss about politics until I was 17, looking to go to University when it suddenly meant that it would effect me, I mean, I knew Major, Blair, Gordon were "in power" throughout my life but I didn't care what they were doing.
To similarly put this, John Major was in power for the first 6 years of my life, all I know is that he was on Strictly & can't dance!

Anyway, what I am getting at here is it whether or not you liked her, a minimal level of respect surely is courtesy? I don't know how to phrase this without sounding arrogant, conceited or any other form of "thinking oneself better than others" but have a little respect. If someone I didn't like died, I wouldn't start fist pumping let alone burning pictures of them.

(click to show/hide)

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I can't even tell if this is a man or a woman to be honest. I'm thinking man but...

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"According to a report by the UK's Daily Mirror, a number of liberals, socialists, and communists are literally dancing in the streets of Britain to celebrate the passing of conservative stalwart and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher."

I know it's a minority, I know what I am typing is specifically my, albeit strong opinions and I know I am technically in a well off position thanks to my family but I was always taught to show respect for the dead, unless they made their soul purpose in life to make others peoples a misery. She didn't go out of her way to screw people over, she might have "divided the nation" but that was nearly 23 years ago...

[Overdriven]

The one that cracked me up (saddened as well) was the picture of some 20 somethings spraying a bottle of champagne in celebration in Trafalgar Square. All I could think was:
1. You weren't alive/aware of her at the time.
2. You can afford to spray a bottle of champagne all over the place so she really can't have ruined your lives.
3. Fucking twats.

As for those pictures: Scots. That's all I can say (ok not all Scots).

It definitely is a minority though. They showed videos of some of the 'main' parties in public places and most of them had like 20 people and the occasional guy with a megaphone. It's just sad it's 'cool' to hate her amoung University aged people, particularly at lefty uni's and as a result that age bracket of between 20-30 seems to feel they know exactly what happened at the time and how ruined their lives are.

There are legitimate people who did have a hard time as a result of her policies, undoubtedly. But equally much of what she did can be considered necessary, and people have enjoyed a great deal of affluence in general since then, particularly as a result of service industry jobs, of which there are now millions in the UK and provide higher wages in general. I don't want to turn this to political but arguably many of the major complaints of recent years occurred as a result of labour administration, yet people still feel the need to blame their current troubles on an old figurehead. If people wanted things to be better they should take their head's out their arses and do something about it, not just whine and moan and above all, certainly don't disrespect someone who has died.

/rant

[Tennenoth]

The one that cracked me up (saddened as well) was the picture of some 20 somethings spraying a bottle of champagne in celebration in Trafalgar Square. All I could think was:
1. You weren't alive/aware of her at the time.
2. You can afford to spray a bottle of champagne all over the place so she really can't have ruined your lives.
3. Fucking twats.

As for those pictures: Scots. That's all I can say.

It definitely is a minority though. They showed videos of some of the 'main' parties in public places and most of them had like 20 people and the occasional guy with a megaphone. It's just sad it's 'cool' to hate her amoung University aged people, particularly at lefty uni's and as a result that age bracket of between 20-30 seems to feel they know exactly what happened at the time and how ruined there lives are.

There are legitimate people who did have a hard time as a result of her policies, undoubtedly. But equally much of what she did can be considered necessary, and people have enjoyed a great deal of affluence in general since then, particularly as a result of service industry jobs, of which there are now millions in the UK and provide higher wages in general. I don't want to turn this to political but arguably many of the major complaints of recent years occurred as a result of labour administration, yet people still feel the need to blame their current troubles on an old figurehead. If people wanted things to be better they should take their head's out their arses and do something about it, not just whine and moan and above all, certainly don't disrespect someone who has died.

/rant

My post was doctored about twelve times before I released it, removing things such as "pictures from Scotland" since it really does make people think that everyone is like that. I'm 100% sure my Grandmother wouldn't have done that and she was a nurse so would have been quite close to the "student nurse uprising" over poll-tax.
As I say, it's a minority and not specific to one region but I agree wholeheartedly with number 3.

There you are!

[Overdriven]

My post was doctored about twelve times before I released it, removing things such as "pictures from Scotland" since it really does make people think that everyone is like that. I'm 100% sure my Grandmother wouldn't have done that and she was a nurse so would have been quite close to the "student nurse uprising" over poll-tax.
As I say, it's a minority and not specific to one region but I agree wholeheartedly with number 3.

Yeah I added more to my post about the minority thing.

[Molly]

It doesn't really matter if you liked her or not. It's just a question of proper conduct really. Everyone deserves a basic amount of respect.

I am quite the old fart around here and I keep thinking this a lot of times: There is no more respect.

And it's not just about some internet forum that is rather low-priority. When I see young people on the street, it's the same thing. There is nothing left from "respect your elders" or anything similar. If you go around and ask people about their definition of respect, pride and honour, I am very sure that you won't get a proper answer.

I hold respect, pride and honour in a pretty high regard in my personal life. After all, there is not much else you have for yourself. If you say that out loud, you have to watch out that you won't end up in same Neo-chocolate chip cookie/Facist corner... but I digress...

You can think a lot of things but the only thing that matters is what you do. That's what people judge about you...

[Overdriven]

It doesn't really matter if you liked her or not. It's just a question of proper conduct really. Everyone deserves a basic amount of respect.

I am quite the old fart around here and I keep thinking this a lot of times: There is no more respect.

And it's not just about some internet forum that is rather low-priority. When I see young people on the street, it's the same thing. There is nothing left from "respect your elders" or anything similar. If you go around and ask people about their definition of respect, pride and honour, I am very sure that you won't get a proper answer.

I hold respect, pride and honour in a pretty high regard in my personal life. After all, there is not much else you have for yourself. If you say that out loud, you have to watch out that you won't end up in same Neo-chocolate chip cookie/Facist corner... but I digress...

You can think a lot of things but the only thing that matters is what you do. That's what people judge about you...

Should force all teenagers to watch Pride and Prejudice (BBC version) and demand they act like Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley and Jane/Elizabeth Bennet