the nation was utterly fucked
in the grip of a terrifying recession, paralysed by idiot unions and slowly sliding back into the dark ages. Her solution might have been vicious but it was the only viable one, and it almost certainly saved the economy at the time
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:06, archived)

are these the same "idiot" unions whose work throughout last century have afforded you and others in this country the employment rights we currently have?
although... vicariously - through my father - I've seen unions become as clearly corrupt as the government...

who do you actually trust? I'm going to start my own country! you're not invited! so there!
(likeajackhammer, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:11, archived)

Can I come?
Unions can do good things, but many let their power go to their heads: See Bob Crow
( Jobe, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:13, archived)

^that statement has summed it up in a neat little package

(likeajackhammer, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:14, archived)

I agree
i'd still immediately describe any union with a striking policy as cunts without bothering to read further though. It's not, and never has been, necessary to strike. It's just blackmail and extortion and should be treated as such. Let's see how Crow copes with seven years in the Scrubs.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:21, archived)

even when things like safety are at stake?
I'll meet you halfway and say it's excessive over of the brand of coffee in the kitchen.
(likeajackhammer, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:23, archived)

All political systems have brute physical resistance at their base
if a union can't strike, it can't bargain.

And it's no more extortion than an employer threatening to deprive you of your livelihood if you don't tow the company line in every way.
( Flapjack I spay a little mare for you, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:26, archived)

actually, I disagree.
I think it's far more extortion. You can always leave your job. Your employer can't fire you under the same situation.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:39, archived)

poor sematics
I didn't mean all unions are idiots, just some.

but it is actually most. the problem, basically is that unions have no concept of reality and never have done. If you tune out the rhetoric of any union's demands over the last 30 years or so it says "butbutbut we wanna pony and to go to bed later and cake AND jelly and icecream and why can't we play some more IT'S NOT FAIIIIRRRRRRR"

bunch. of. cunts. Especially Bob Crow.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:17, archived)

I don't know too much about it in all fairness.
Too young, you see.
( Jobe, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:12, archived)

this.
I know I should be angry at her for something, but I'm not entirely sure what. and she's just a little old lady now, really.
( spangolin - the odds are good but the goods are odd, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:16, archived)

"only" is a bit controversial
plenty of other western countries survived without nationalisation on that scale, and with more influential unions.

For me it was more the sanctimonious conservative-with-a-small-c preachy family values smug undemocratic nastiness of her that failed to appeal.
( Flapjack I spay a little mare for you, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:20, archived)

it must be something about the British corruption and work ethic then
we couldn't possibly have survived with the power that the completely corrupt unions wielded at the end of the seventies

and of course it's a bit controversial - it's b3ta, sweeping generalisations'r'us ;)

I just get fed up of people hating thatcher when they don't even understand why. I'll give you your reasons though, they were unpleasant truths of her regime. except the undemocratic bit. she was no more or less democratic then her predecessors or her successors, only she was undemocratic in different ways ;)
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:25, archived)

Major was good for democracy
Blair was if anything worse, the power-drunk cunt.

But Thatcher centralised a lot of powers that were better served (IMO) by local councils, largely because local councils were a less right-wing than parliament. Plus she presided over a huge number of Quangoes being set up, and set a lot of government decision-making over to private companies.
( Flapjack I spay a little mare for you, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:28, archived)

but local councils were more corrupt than Mugabe at the time. GLC, anyone?
Swings and roundabouts.

but, yeah, the Quango stuff is dodgy. But New Labour are a thousand times worse for that.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 12 Jun 2009, 12:41, archived)