Baroness Thatcher

April 8, 2013 8:10am CST
It was announced today that Baroness Thatcher has died. What did people really think of this lady, was she loved or hated, one certain fact is that she could never be ignored. She is the lady who took Britain into war with Argentina to keep control of the Falkland Islands (The Malvinas), she stopped the free milk to school children, she brought the troublesome Trades Unions to their knees, she introduced the dreaded Poll Tax in place of housing rates. No matter what she did, she gained as many haters as she did supporters. So how do other lotters across the world look back on this very controvertial person, do you love her or loathe her, and why?
7 responses
9 Apr 13
As a middle-of-the-road kind of guy - mostly socialist but not so stupid as to think that it's possible to survive without capitalism - I'm not a big fan. Thatcher was a complete cow - "The Iron Lady" wasn't a nickname given lightly! However, she was also absolutely essential for Britain at the time she was in power: the trade unions were far too powerful (though they are now far too weak) and I have vivid memories of the continuous strikes throughout the 70s before Thatcher came along. Without her, we would still be mired in a union-run country with horrific tax rates, an old boys' network the only way to find jobs and so much bureaucracy that it would still be impossible to actually achieve anything. She freed the country and brought in capitalism, simplified processes (anyone who remembers applying for a UB40 will nod their head at that one) and a lot of good things. At the same time, she went way too far in favour of business (in my opinion) and we still need to redress that balance so that the average citizen is better off. The Falkland Islands conflict was, by the way, a perfectly timed stupid move by the Argentinians that saved Thatcher's career: if it hadn't happened, she'd have been out on her ear in that election.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
9 Apr 13
I remmeber the band UB 40.Can't rememebr if they were any good though
9 Apr 13
A UB40 was a form issued in Britain to register people who were claimimg Unemployment Benefit. The reggea group took their name from the form as a mark of protest as (I think) they were all unemployed at the time. How good they were is a matter of opinion, but they had over 50 UK hits and were popular for quite some time.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
8 Apr 13
Yes she has passed. Like many powerful people in this world she had as many likers as she did haters. may she rest in peace....
8 Apr 13
I agree, whatever your feelings were at the time she's gone now and deserves to be left in peace, but there will still be many strong thoughts and words before that happens.
• Mexico
8 Apr 13
Yes, remember she did do alot of good things as well.
8 Apr 13
She did some good stuff and some bad stuff. Returning the nationalised industries (at least some of them) to private ownership was right, so was encouraging small businesses via the original Enterprise Allowance Scheme. She put an end to the union aggro which blighted the 70s. On the other hand, she also had an authoritarian side, banning semi-automatic rifles for instance, and that ridiculous ban on Sinn Fein politicians having their voices broadcast. So she was like most political leaders, a bit of a mixture. She did her best and she did what she thought was right, which is all any of us can do.
8 Apr 13
There are, unfortunately, two sides to every story and two opinions on every one of the moves. The figures can be shown that will support or contradict whichever side of the coin you wish to support. All these and many more are imponderable questions that are in the past and fully open to interpretation. Was she god or was she bad,it's just a matter of opinion.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
9 Apr 13
she was always controversial. Many people disliked that althugh she came from a poor background she gave herself airs like she was the Queen when she became the Pr ime Minister. Perosnally, I disapproved with so mnay of her policies as she caused suffering and hardship especially amongst the miners of the country. It was this same attitude that caused her downfall as she wouldn't talk to her Ministers and made decisions on her own
9 Apr 13
I wholeheartedly agree with you. She did a lot of good for the country, but she allowed the power to go to her head and didn't know when to stop thereby causing imeasurable harm to the country and many of it's people (and destroying most of it's industry) in the name of furthering her own and the tory party's cause.
@Angelpink (4035)
• Philippines
9 Apr 13
We all knew she is Margarette . She was in our country and she was so good. A woman of integrity and leadership ! Her legacy to our country will lived forever. We all loved her and the way she treats our country was superb ! May she rest in peace !
9 Apr 13
Maggie's legacy will truly last for a very long time and I'm pleased that she did so much good for your country. It's just a shame that for all the good she did she seems to have done at least as much harm.
@Deepak2J (1178)
• India
8 Apr 13
Seems like she did more bad things than good
15 Apr 13
Like all things, that all depends on whether you benefited from the changes or suffered.
@petersum (4522)
• United States
8 Apr 13
She was hated! She helped to destroy Britain as an engineering and manufacturing nation. She made a nation of bankers instead - and look what the banks have done to the world! I'm not religious but I hope there is a Hell for her to go to!
8 Apr 13
A typical Tory and, unfortunately, the model for many Tories who have followed. Trouble is, the other MPs are the same, even from the other parties.