[chrysostom]

But not criticise the majority of the public who voted them in?

[Badger Mark]

But not criticise the majority of the public who voted them in?

I'm very critical of the fools who voted Reagan in twice.

[Yudster]

I never understood that. At least Thatcher managed to appear in public as someone who had all her marbles. Reagan was always doddering on the edge of dementia, his incapacity was clear to see. Yet STILL people voted for him?

[Badger Mark]

I never understood that. At least Thatcher managed to appear in public as someone who had all her marbles. Reagan was always doddering on the edge of dementia, his incapacity was clear to see. Yet STILL people voted for him?

It's hard to boil all the reasons down into a sentence or two. At least for his first term, I think the Iran/US embassy hostage crisis, and Jimmy Carter's inability to resolve the issue, was a big factor. As I said in the comment that started this, I recently read the book version of Argo, and it goes into a fair amount of detail into the problems Carter had with dealing with the situation. Plus there were so many problems with the economy here and Reagan came along offering overly simplistic solutions that people readily latched onto. And then there were a whole set of racial issues that Reagan took advantage of to lock in the white racist vote. All those things came together and resulted in his election in 1980.

[hdsport82]

Botha, Pinochet, Pot she's in good company now. The first 8 years of my life were spent under her and we're still picking up the pieces.

Whilst I'd never wish anyone an early demise I have no problem admitting to having a little drink this evening, if nothing else to calm my bilious stomach watching the rolling hagiography the BBC have been broadcasting all day.

[Wykey]

I see the once popular chant has been updated.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013 ... on-glasgow

[The Deadly]

Thatcher won three general elections. She looked after people who were ambitious and wanted to get ahead in life. She stood up to the unintelligent Northerners who spent their lives down a pit moaning and bitching about pay and conditions. Best thing she ever did was standing up to those troglodytes.

[a-moron]

I'm never sure which deadly is posting these days. The wind up deadly or the stoic, argumentative deadly. Seems it's the latter.

Bugger.

Thatcher pulled out an almighty strap-on and * us spectacularly in her years in power.

Maybe not you or family felt her wrathful * but mine * did.

Also calling topher a * for his opinion. Poor show.

[The Deadly]

I'm never sure which deadly is posting these days. The wind up deadly or the stoic, argumentative deadly. Seems it's the latter.

Bugger.

Thatcher pulled out an almighty strap-on and * us spectacularly in her years in power.

Maybe not you or family felt her wrathful * but mine * did.

Also calling topher a * for his opinion. Poor show.

He is a * for calling someone who has just died a *. He threw the word around first in an immature and unintelligent rant.

My family did very well out of Thatcher thanks, as would any family who worked hard in the 1980's. If I want to argue about something I will do. I'm not a sheep, I'm not here to keep the peace. I'm entitled to an opinion the same as anyone else. That ok? Good.

You are trying to play the role of protector again, doesn't suit you.

[a-moron]

1st off - Topher is big enough and intellectually sound enough to fight his own battles. I was merely voicing my opinion on your remark. But as we all know, woebetide the person whose opinion differs from yours.

2nd'ly - * you, you condescending * for inferring my family never worked hard throughout their days.

[The Deadly]

1) I welcome differing opinions and quite enjoy the activity it has brought to the forum today. You are the one who is criticising
me for being argumentative thus implying its ok to say what you like if you hated Thatcher but if you are a Thatcher fan then
you are not entitled to a say.

2) Didn't mention your family, I mentioned mine.

[a-moron]

You stated that anyone who worked hard throughout the 80's reaped their rewards.
* nonsense.
Mine did, * all to show for it.

So yes, I took it personally.

[Bonanzoid]

Deadly, how does Topher being alive mean it's fine to call him a *? I'm not trying to pick sides here, but that's out of order, and a bit hypocritical.

Personally, I won't celebrate Thatcher's death like some have. That's not a hint at anyone on here, some of my friends on Facebook have been particularly over the moon about today's news. The fact she has died doesn't change who she was in life, so Topher can think what he wants about her. I do feel for her family, even if her son is a wee scrote.

[The Deadly]

Why is it ok the disrespect the dead by calling them a *? In my opinion he is a * for saying it so I told him so. You can dislike someone all you like but there are other words you can use.

[neilt0]

[hdsport82]

Thatcher won three general elections. She looked after people who were ambitious and wanted to get ahead in life. She stood up to the unintelligent Northerners who spent their lives down a pit moaning and bitching about pay and conditions. Best thing she ever did was standing up to those troglodytes.

15% interest rates and the poll tax didn't help hard working families and of course the time bomb of bank deregulation didn't help us when it finally exploded in 2008.

It's her support of tyrants that deserves the most contempt though. Not until Blair goes will we again get such justified hatred of a PM. Even Cameron will be judged more kindly (possibly because he'll only serve one term!).

[Nicola_Red]

Yet again I'm forced to remind you all that personal insults are not allowed here. Insult Baroness Thatcher if you must, but rein it in on each other. Thankyou.

[Yudster]

I don't disrespect Thatcher any more now she is dead. I disrespected her just as much when she was alive. My family also suffered through the Thatcher years and, more significantly, as a result of her changing the face of the British economy even after she had gone, despite being ridiculously hardworking.

She became PM the year before I started my first job, so I also remember the shortcomings of the Labour administrations during the seventies, and am fully aware of the need for big changes. The other thing I remember was that although more and more women were choosing to have careers throughout the seventies, a man working in a semi-skilled manual trade, possibly in a manufacturing industry for instance, with an income somewhere around the national average would be able to support a family in a nice home, which he had a good chance of being able to own. That scenario disappeared with the Thatcher years. As did all the manufacturing industries.

I agree that some of the gleeful grave-stomping is a bit hard to stomach, but I don't feel joyful she has died - just sad she ever lived.

[The Deadly]

Manufacturing, mining etc suffered because of the stubbornness of the Unions who demanded more money for their workers in industries that were not making a sufficient amount of money. The people who worked in these industries (mainly Northerners) thought they could hold Thatcher to ransom and she stood up to them. That's why people in working class, Northern areas don't like her. Instead of shutting up and getting on with their jobs they chose to throw rocks at Policemen and stand around in streets and in fields complaining about how unfairly they have been treated. The Thatcher haters only hate her because of her strength and her iron will.

[The Deadly]

The main point to remember is Thatcher won three general elections. She wasn't the universally hated person she has been made out to be.

[hdsport82]

The main point to remember is Thatcher won three general elections. She wasn't the universally hated person she has been made out to be.

So did Blair, but Major got more votes the either of them ever did in 1992. Vox populi vox dei maybe but they aren't always right.

No one I've seen has seriously suggested she was universally hated indeed watching the BBC last night you would have come away with the opposite impression.

[The Deadly]

The main point to remember is Thatcher won three general elections. She wasn't the universally hated person she has been made out to be.

So did Blair.

No one I've seen has seriously suggested she was universally hated indeed watching the BBC last night you would have come away with the opposite impression.

*universally hated by forum members

[hdsport82]

The main point to remember is Thatcher won three general elections. She wasn't the universally hated person she has been made out to be.

So did Blair.

No one I've seen has seriously suggested she was universally hated indeed watching the BBC last night you would have come away with the opposite impression.

*universally hated by forum members

Let's have have a vote Blair v Maggie who's hated more? War crimes in Iraq vs supporting the Khmer Rouge etc.

On second thoughts perhaps not...let's have a drink instead to celebrate her life/death (delete as appropriate)

[Yudster]

The main point to remember is Thatcher won three general elections. She wasn't the universally hated person she has been made out to be.

*universally hated by forum members

Surely if the forum members are universally expressing their hatred of her (which I'm not sure they are, but it was you who said it, not me) then that is actually empirical evidence to say that she in fact IS universally hated by the forum members? And then it would seem that attempting to qualify your comment by retrospectively suggesting that you were only talking about the forum is silly, because only about three of us were ever in a position to have any influence in any of the General Elections she contested.

[The Deadly]

She has been made out to be universally hated by the forum members here yes. I'm once again entirely correct.