[ILoveTRW]

Originally Posted by Tom

best prime minister ever

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by Tom

Well basically it was clear that she didn't like the north and shut down the mines etc- the north hasn't actually recovered from that and I doubt it ever will.

She didnt close down the mines, lack of orders, bad management, during the miners strike some mines were allowed to fall into disrepair. Lots of mines would have closed anyway as they were at the time economically unviable.

If you want to know what really screwed up the coal industry look at Uncle Arthur and the leadership of the NUM, flogging a dead horse. Not allowing the industry to be slimmed down into something that could have survived. Miners out on strike living on handouts, yet Arthur and co had practically a millionaires lifestyle. In fact he is still living a good life on his NUM pension. True representation.

[ILoveTRW]

Originally Posted by Tom

Well basically it was clear that she didn't like the north and shut down the mines etc- the north hasn't actually recovered from that and I doubt it ever will.

she did a great deal for the north, she actually got agriculture back on its feet and closing down the mines this the best thing that she could of done.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Shasown

She didnt close down the mines, lack of orders, bad management, during the miners strike some mines were allowed to fall into disrepair. Lots of mines would have closed anyway as they were at the time economically unviable.

If you want to know what really screwed up the coal industry look at Uncle Arthur and the leadership of the NUM, flogging a dead horse. Not allowing the industry to be slimmed down into something that could have survived. Miners out on strike living on handouts, yet Arthur and co had practically a millionaires lifestyle. In fact he is still living a good life on his NUM pension. True representation.

I get some were unviable, its the same in all businesses. But there was no need for it to be completely closed. She should have found a solution.

Originally Posted by ILoveDC

she did a great deal for the north, she actually got agriculture back on its feet and closing down the mines this the best thing that she could of done.

Agriculture affects a very small part of the north because most of it is industrial.

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by Tom

I get some were unviable, its the same in all businesses. But there was no need for it to be completely closed. She should have found a solution.

She had a solution that would have worked, no strike, back to work, allow uneconomic collieries to be closed down. Rebuild the reputation of the NCB(National Coal Board) for fulfilling orders reliably. And allow it to compete in the market of the time.

The NCB could have marketed themselves to prospective buyers the quality of their product over cheaper German Imports.

And that is the real reason the mining industry collapsed in this country: Cheaper German Imports. Which funnily enough managed to provide the coal requested on time unlike our coal industry that had one little strike after another from 1974 courtesy of our Arthur and co. (and to think I even voted that twat in as president ah well hindsight is 20/20)

[BB_Eye]

Originally Posted by Shasown

She didnt close down the mines, lack of orders, bad management, during the miners strike some mines were allowed to fall into disrepair. Lots of mines would have closed anyway as they were at the time economically unviable.

And the reason for this was the outsourcing of our coal-mining industry to foreign countries brought about by Thatcher's economic reforms. As a result we have become dependent on imported fossil fuels and fell into a trade deficit from which we might never recover.

If you want to know what really screwed up the coal industry look at Uncle Arthur and the leadership of the NUM, flogging a dead horse. Not allowing the industry to be slimmed down into something that could have survived. Miners out on strike living on handouts, yet Arthur and co had practically a millionaires lifestyle. In fact he is still living a good life on his NUM pension. True representation.

Scargill is just about the most extreme, militant example of a British trade unionist you could have mentioned. Nobody is saying unions should be given the clout they enjoyed back in the 1970's, but it's not too much to ask that an employer isn't given carte blanche over making large sections of his workforce redundant whenever he pleases. If this were an indigenous industry such as coalmining, the government would have offered its support before Thatcher made our industries subordinate to the whims of the global market without considering the inevitable trade deficit and of course the social consequences.

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by BB_Eye

And the reason for this was the outsourcing of our coal-mining industry to foreign countries brought about by Thatcher's economic reforms. As a result we have become dependent on imported fossil fuels and fell into a trade deficit from which we might never recover.

Lack of reinvestment made over the previous three or four decades, smaller wildcat strikes, secondary picketing, the NUM leadership pulling the miners out in support of other industries in dispute, all meant the NCB couldnt meet orders, so where were powers staions etc meant to buy coal to burn for electricity?

I dont know if you were around in the seventies, but the unions while helping bring about fantastic changes in health and safety, standards of living etc. also did a lot of damage to Britain's market economy.

Originally Posted by BB_Eye

Scargill is just about the most extreme, militant example of a British trade unionist you could have mentioned. Nobody is saying unions should be given the clout they enjoyed back in the 1970's, but it's not too much to ask that an employer isn't given carte blanche over making large sections of his workforce redundant whenever he pleases.

Thats the nature of the beast though isnt it? If its unviable do you continue to pump public money into supporting something that may be better off dying a death. Something has to give and at the time there were also problems with the Steel Industry, Motor Industry, Shipbuilding, Air Transport, Aircraft Building, the list goes on and on.

Protectionist policies that some political and union leaders advocated at the time would have simply drained the national economy, worse than Tony and Gordy have done over the last few years.

[sooty]

Originally Posted by InOne

Well, the country can't get any worse???? Can it???

I am quite concerned about that.

If any other party took over, they have to deal with these huge debts, it means a large scale of spendign cut. It has not started yet.

The country might feel the new goverment is worse than the previous one.

[eye sea]

Yet he still might win the election!

[DrunkerThanMoses]

I rather him in power then that dickhead David Cameron

[BB_Eye]

Originally Posted by DrunkerThanMoses

I rather him in power then that dickhead David Cameron

Don't let that be a reason for voting for him in the election. Both of them are awful on balance.

[Angus]

Originally Posted by DrunkerThanMoses

I rather him in power then that dickhead David Cameron

There ARE other parties to vote for unless you think Brown IS the best option out of all of them?

[Jessica.]

He is a prize eejit! As bad as our Brian Cowan

[DrunkerThanMoses]

Originally Posted by angus58

There ARE other parties to vote for unless you think Brown IS the best option out of all of them?

ANd waste on a vote, the Labour and Tories are the only running Parties that have a chance to win a election. Im a lib dem supporter, but can you see them gettign enough votes, I think not.

[BB_Eye]

Originally Posted by DrunkerThanMoses

ANd waste on a vote, the Labour and Tories are the only running Parties that have a chance to win a election. Im a lib dem supporter, but can you see them gettign enough votes, I think not.

You have to think of it as if it were a categorical imperative. If everyone voted for an underdog party like the Lib Dems, they would get into power. Sadly we are in this chicken and egg situation where people aren't voting for them because they don't have a chance they don't have a chance because people aren't voting.

[arista]

Originally Posted by DrunkerThanMoses

ANd waste on a vote, the Labour and Tories are the only running Parties that have a chance to win a election. Im a lib dem supporter, but can you see them gettign enough votes, I think not.

Of course LibDem are more United with the Conservatives.

Which is good for a 2 party control.


Making sure Stinking Corrupt New Labour are burried 100 feet under.

[Tom4784]

In the case of Brown and Cameron, It's better the devil you know. The history of the Conservatives should be enough to put anyone off them.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

In the case of Brown and Cameron, It's better the devil you know. The history of the Conservatives should be enough to put anyone off them.

This time its the History of Stinking New Labour
that has put the Public off.


It Is Time For Change.



Conservatives are giving rights to you in your home
against intruders.


The Conservatives are Our Future.


Utter Fact.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by arista

This time its the History of Stinking New Labour
that has put the Public off.


It Is Time For Change.



Conservatives are giving rights to you in your home
against intruders.


The Conservatives are Our Future.


Utter Fact.

Anyone stupid enough to vote for the tories will deserve what they get, once they get into power ,they'll do what they've always done and neglect the majoirty of the UK to focus on the rich.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Anyone stupid enough to vote for the tories will deserve what they get, once they get into power ,they'll do what they've always done and neglect the majoirty of the UK to focus on the rich.

Anyone Stupid enough to Vote Stinking New Labour
is a Wasted Vote.



It is Time For Change

[BB_Eye]

I expect more boom and bust economics, more unemployment, lots of banned movies and videogames, declining conditions in colleges and universities and a further decline in social mobility when the Tories get into power.

The only thing I am looking forward to is seeing police back on the streets and doing proper policework and even that is a maybe if the Tories continue in their obsession with cracking down on drugs.

[Captain.Remy]

And me who thought Berlusconi and Sarkozy weren't popular...I guess I found worse.

[arista]

"The only thing I am looking forward to is seeing police back on the streets "



Yes it is a Change for Good.

[NettoSuperstar!]

Thatcher...the root of all evil

[NettoSuperstar!]

Originally Posted by Shaun

The Falklands...ah right. So we should have just let the people who live there be invaded by Argentina? They wanted to stay British, so we had every right to fight off the invasion.

As for '**** the north' - is this with regard to her opposition of trade unions? Because before her intervention they were able to hold a complete standstill over the economy and energy resources, above Parliamentary power. It's thanks to her that we don't get frozen every time a bunch of employees throw a hissy fit.

hissy fit! lol...she shat on the working classes from a great height and left them high and dry! She is partly the reason the banks and the greedy have left us in the mess we're in now!...dont get me started on poll tax!... she created a society where the individual and money matters more than community and people...and it will turn round and bite us in the ass everytime