tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post7875002516683626449..comments2024-03-29T10:51:27.752+13:00Comments on Not PC: The Iron Lady, 1925-2013Peter Cresswellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699845031503699181noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-57304680924973814052013-04-10T11:51:52.074+12:002013-04-10T11:51:52.074+12:00We agree.We agree.Peter Cresswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699845031503699181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-66681320291290782102013-04-10T10:30:18.385+12:002013-04-10T10:30:18.385+12:00I agree Peter. She wasn't perfect and she cle...I agree Peter. She wasn't perfect and she clearly got some things wrong - in particular the poll tax. But for things she was right on, it's the spirit in which she pursued them that I admire - and which I think we can learn from. On balance she achieved more in winding back the state then any 20th century politician I'm aware of.MarkThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06199883270652041621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-76021447173603623532013-04-10T09:49:24.892+12:002013-04-10T09:49:24.892+12:00@Mark: Yes, there's truth in this.
But be awa...@Mark: Yes, there's truth in this.<br /><br />But be aware she was also prone to letting her 'incremental victories' outweigh the long run consequences. Three examples<br /><br />In her eagerness to decimate the antediluvian Labour Party of her time, which infested especially local councils (these were the 'Militant Tendency' type of troglodytes Tony Blair finally cleared out with his banishment of 'Clause 4' ) she simply began removing power from local councils. This worked to remove powr from the Derek Hattons, Ken Livingstons et al. But then instead of doing away with the powers they had, this ended up centralised in Whitehall, leaving central govt even bigger and more powerful tan before.<br /><br />For the same reasons, she introduced her poll tax, the political clusterfuck that finally laid her low. Yes, it showed ratepayers which councils were the most profligate, but instead of the biggest spenders (the likes of Lambeth and Liverpool) lessening their spending, their ratepayers instead blamed 'Maggie' for having their wallets raided. [Disclosure: in my first year in the UK, just out of uni, my partner and I were forced to pay the equivalent of $3800 in poll tax to the local thieves, (around $6100 in today's dollars) a not inconsiderable sum that represented most of our savings at the time.]<br /><br />Third example: if her colleagues are right (and this certainly seemed to fit her strategy in other areas) her plan to decimate the unions included, not only the the removal of pro-union legislation to (for example) outlaw union violence and the confrontation with Arthur Scargill's Nation Union of Miners, but also the initiation and promotion of global warming alarmism as means to diminish coal (thereby decimating the NUM's support base), and even the planned destruction of whole industry sectors that were ravaged by trades union troglodytes.<br /><br />Or another example would be her 'incremental victory' of pumping up the British economy by having Nigel Lawson pump rocket fuel into the money supply, bought at the expense of the later inevitable bust.<br /><br />So as I say, her shorter-term incremental victories (with, to be fair, a strategic goal) could sometimes be bought at the expense of the longer term.<br />Peter Cresswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699845031503699181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-31300280983349342822013-04-10T08:10:46.747+12:002013-04-10T08:10:46.747+12:00Thatcher and her quotes provide an excellent examp...Thatcher and her quotes provide an excellent example of how libertarians and Objectivists should communicate their ideas - short, simple, and reducing it down to common sense the average person can understand and relate to. She was the best we could hope for in a modern day politician.<br /><br />She also provided an excellent example of how real change can be made against seemingly overwhelming and hopeless odds. She was driven by conviction, but focused by what was politically achievable - thereby able to make gains incrementally. Libertarians and Objectivists usually have the conviction, but lack the latter - and in adopting an all or nothing approach usually end up with nothing.MarkThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06199883270652041621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-27084975791341861552013-04-09T14:15:15.392+12:002013-04-09T14:15:15.392+12:00An exceptional person, leader & politician.
I...An exceptional person, leader & politician.<br /><br />In the 'Commanding Heights' series there's footage of her going by boat up the Polish shipyards and the docks are packed with Poles who've come out to see her. They with their hopes & her with a sunny confidence & serious determination to see change & liberation. Brings tears to the eyes.<br /><br />Sam Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09035978404256500568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-5363983871968659412013-04-09T13:53:36.720+12:002013-04-09T13:53:36.720+12:00A titan of the twentieth century has fallen.
My ...A titan of the twentieth century has fallen. <br /><br />My favourite Thatcher quote:<br />"Pennies don't fall from heaven; they have to be earned here on Earth."Richard McGrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13763002401676224819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-67894568817572763902013-04-09T13:07:43.392+12:002013-04-09T13:07:43.392+12:00what about Northern Ireland?what about Northern Ireland?mike250https://www.blogger.com/profile/13771261746381180701noreply@blogger.com