Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013), the Iron Lady, was the British prime minister from 1979 to 1990, the first woman to reach that office. She moved Britain to the right, overturning socialist policies in favour of naked capitalism. Like President Reagan in America, she cut government help for the poor to lower taxes on the rich. She broke the back of the labour unions and freed the banks.
By the numbers: The change during her rule (green for very good, red for bad):
- Life expectancy: 74 years to 76
- Infant mortality: 12 per 1,000 lives births (1980) to 8
- Literacy: 99% to 99%
- Electricity: 4,684 kWh per capita (1980) to 5,357
- Inflation: 10.3% to 9.7%
- Unemployment: 5.3% to 7.3%
- Income inequality: 25.3 to 33.9 – GINI coefficient (USA = 47.7 in 2011)
- Poverty rate: 13.4% to 22.2%
- Living conditions: 0.748 (1980) to 0.784 – HDI (USA = 0.910)
- Murder rate: 1.1 (1980) per 100,000 to 1.2 (USA = 5.2)
The gains went mainly to London, the south-east, the banks and the already well-to-do.
In the 1970s the two main centres of power were big business and labour unions. Governments were cowed by unions and tried to keep unemployment low.
Thatcher broke the power of labour unions in the coal miners’s strike of 1984 and further weakened them with new labour laws. She worked to lower taxes and inflation rather than unemployment and poverty.
Unemployment reached 11.9% in 1984 and was over 20% in some places – rates not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Race riots broke out in Brixton and elsewhere in 1981 and 1985.
Privatization: She sold off British Telecom, British Airways, British Gas and others.
President Obama said Thatcher was “one of the great champions of freedom and liberty”. She championed freedom for banks and Eastern Europe, but supported undemocratic rule in South Africa, Palestine, Chile, Pakistan, Iraq and Cambodia. She considered Nelson Mandela a terrorist – while inviting apartheid leader P.W. Botha to London.
Thatcher on black and brown immigration:
the British character has done so much for democracy, for law, and done so much throughout the world, that if there is any fear that it might be swamped, people are going to react and be rather hostile to those coming in.
In 1982 Argentina took the Falkland Islands. Thatcher sent Britain’s two aircraft carriers and took them back (with some help from America and Chile).
In 1983 she allowed America to base 160 Cruise missiles 100 km west of London at Greenham Common. She opposed the American invasion of Grenada, a Commonwealth country, but America left a voicemail and did it anyway.
In 1984 the IRA tried to kill her.
She won re-election in 1983, on the heels of the Falklands War, and in 1987, when Britain was recovering.
She opposed tying the pound to Europe, splitting her party, the Tories. In 1990 Michael Heseltine challenged her for party leadership. He lost – but so did she. John Major became the new Tory leader and prime minister.
The Labour Party, now lacking strong unions, made itself into a me-too capitalist party. When it returned to power in 1997 under Tony Blair it left Thatcher’s main policies in place.
Sources: Guardian, World Bank, The Telegraph, United Nations.
See also:
She hated the people, they hate her back. And so cleverly.
http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1556728/judy-garland-ding-dong-witch-is-dead-margaret-thatcher-uk-charts
LikeLike
“…one of the great champions of freedom and liberty”.
President Obama can make a revisionist statement like that because the vast majority of African Americans support him unconditionally. So, there will be no political price to pay. Can you imagine the uproar had Castro passed away and the President said the same about him. Cuban-Americans would lose their minds.
(My comment may post twice.)
LikeLike
She’s dead huh? I always thought she was immortal!
LikeLike
@val
I think that is politics as usual. Most US citizens don’t have an emotional tie to Britain and don’t understand Thatcher’s significance in the world of politics. Cubans who immigrated to the US and their children have a direct interest in what happens in Cuba. So Obama can get away with it and play to the right.
LikeLike
@ Abagond,
That Obama could say this:
Says as much about Obama as it does about Thatcher!
Barack Obama can be seen as nothing more than a Presidential Political Puppet! An appealing, superficial but popular Black figurehead who can be relied upon to trot out any type of mis-information his puppet masters would like to feed the dumb-downed American masses.
As your post correctly records. If I recall at the time… Thatcher was adamant Nelson Mandela was nothing more than a terrorist along with the ANC. And of course no Government should be dealing with or even stoop down to speak to terrorists. Notwithstanding that the rest of the European community had been urging talks along with sanctions against the minority ruling white South Africans.
An entrenched view that saw some political hunger strikers (Sinn Fien) go to their deaths. Even though One hunger striker, Bobby Sands, was elected as a Member of Parliament during the strike. Her political position also nearly cost Thatcher her life in a bomb attack as revenge for those IRA deaths.
And this is a person who should be remembered as one of the champions of freedom and liberty? How F@cked up is that?
LikeLike
@ abagond
You’re being overly kind by saying Thatcher “championed freedom” in Zimbabwe. She called the indigenous freedom fighters “terrorists” and refused to meet with Mugabe and Nkomo.
It was actually a representative of the Queen, the foreign Secretary, who agreed to meet with them against Thatcher’s wishes, which led to the Lancaster House Agreement.
LikeLike
Here is a warm and heartfelt tribute by a UK independent Respect MP George Galloway given to Margaret Thatcher…
LikeLike
Aba
No mention to her underground pedophile rings?
LikeLike
.Judging from the commentary she doesn’t sound like she had any compassion for the common working class or poor people. I surmise this is why the called her “The Iron Lady”.
LikeLike
This woman should be remembered for what she did to this country. She encouraged greed and the” I’m alright jack f**k you attitude” she destroyed communities – who are still suffering today – she destroyed our manufacturing base and put over 3 million people on the dole and said it was a price worth paying. The rich and the greedy loved her but majority of people hated her and still do. I for one am glad she is dead my only sorrow is that she did’nt suffer long enough with dimentia. She was the cause of many a person commiting suicide because of her policies that brought misery to millions, she set out to destroy the unions and was quite prepared to turn the country into a police state to get her own way, otherwise law abiding citizens where imprisoned because they could’nt pay their poll tax – an unfair tax that meant the poor subsidised the rich – there is a lot more that she did to divide the country – even in death she still divides the nation, a state funeral should be for the good and the great not for her but because ‘ son of thatcher’ David Cameron is prime minister it will go ahead.
LikeLike
There’s a good chance history books will also consider her a great historical figure. It seems no matter how destructive white leaders are to other nations, they are seen as “great” in mainstream history, unless they attack or oppress other powerful whites or white nations with a strong economy. Only then are they seen as villains. But when they oppress and attack POC, they are given the title of being “great”.
At least this is how I see it.
LikeLike
Bury her dig her up and kill her again. Good riddaqnce .Barak Obama. Who cares what that clown says
LikeLike
Probably the biggest thing that Thatcher did was breaking the stranglehold that the trade unions had over British life during the 1970s.
LikeLike
The “Freidman economics/ Chicago b o y s” , that her and Reagon ushered in so forcefully, with its deregulations and favoring of elite corporations and ceos making desicians to take their business to the lowest wage countries, and pushing the wealth gap to the extreme, are the same policies that dashed on the rocks and caused the severe financial crisis in 2007-8
Which means those economic policies failed miserably…yet, you would think it never happened…things are going on the same as ever like it didnt happen…the wealth gap is as big as ever
I prefer capitalism with a concience and social programs, but, social programs seem to be a dirty word to the conservatives who swear by these policies,yet, their concepts failed so badly how could anyone still beleive in them?
I remember when Reagon took office, there was a big cheer from the “yuppies” and deregulation came in and prices went up in rent and costs of living and it never has recovered…it was a very real notable feeling in the air when Reagon took office
LikeLike
Someone like Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh could say that Thatcher was “one of the great champions of freedom and liberty” and sincerely mean it. But for Obama to say it is another matter: in his university days he was part of the divestment movement to get universities to take their money out of stocks in companies that do business in South Africa.
Even as president it was enough for him to express his gratitude and say, as he did, that she was a good American ally. He does not have to go overboard like that. He could have easily qualified it and said she stood against communism. As a lawyer he knows all about careful wording.
LikeLike
@ B.R.
Excellent point.
LikeLike
@ resw77
Can you back that up? My understanding is that she supported full democracy over the objections of white Rhodesians. The foreign secretary in question, Lord Carrington, was her foreign secretary. It seems unlikely he would go against her wishes. He remained in that position till 1982.
LikeLike
Yes I can…newly released files show Thatcher specifically told Carrington, “Please do not meet leaders of the ‘Patriotic Front’. I have never [underlined] done business with terrorists until they become prime ministers. MT”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/30/30-year-rule-thatcher-papers-release
d
Thatcher initially supported Ian Smith’s puppet Muzorewa gov’t, but because other African countries like Nigeria threatened to leave the Commonwealth if Britain recognised the Muzorewa gov’t, Thatcher began bowing to pressure.
LikeLike
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/30/30-year-rule-thatcher-papers-released
LikeLike
I didn’t shed any tears. No one I know in my circle even cared. *shrugs*
LikeLike
welll the crazy part here is that she had a better relationship with quite communist Mugabe (who will later on nearly eradicated several Zimbabwian Ndebele tribes) which was based on some sort of mutual respect, ( waltzing in Livingstone, drinking whiskey in downing street) but referred to Mandela as “that terrorist” and writing for his release in the same era. She seems kinda politically bipolar, and it was the sanctions she was so against that played a pivotal role in Apartheids collapse.. She acted right on the Falklands though, the whites that live there probably has among the cleanest history of all whites on the american continents since there wasnt a native population on the islands to be pushed back (at the time europeans arrived)
LikeLike
@ resw77
Thanks. I took out Zimbabwe.
LikeLike
@ Barchan
Thatcher called Mugabe a terrorist as well, but she eventually developed a relationship with both him and later, Mandela.
I also suggest you look into the huge role the apartheid S. African military (which included many white “Rhodesians”) played in the conflict you referenced. They attacked Zimbabwean military infrastructure and tried to assassinate Mugabe, blaming it all on ZAPU (the party of N’Komo and many Ndebeles), which resulted in retaliatory measures by both dissidents and gov’t agencies. And Thatcher’s papers show she staunchly supported S. Africa’s apartheid gov’t until pressured to change course in 1986…
LikeLike
What I said is that she had a better relationship with Mugabe than Mandela, . Im sorry but have you even read my comment? Have I in any way condoned what the whites in SA and “rhodesia” has done? Of course they were involved and have blood on their hands!! Mugabes actions were wrong but since he was “tricked” by the whites into letting his fifth Brigade beat around Ndebele 20 000 civillisns to death is he really not to blame as well?? Is it a sane response to kill 20 000 civillians of a certain group because some of them have ties to ZAPU?
LikeLike
A lot of hate around here maybe you should consider looking in a mirror
Wasted words
LikeLike
Badwolf, I am assuming a Dr. Who fan.
Really who are you directing this comment to. I mean I haven’t heard anybody here dancing in the streets that she is dead. Yet, they are in her Maggie’s home country. I think it has even been said her grave will become the biggest dance floor ever. She inspired a lot of hatred is it deserved? I was a kid during her reign and if how well you kids come out is an indicator Maggie needed to focus on them instead of having busted Union power and setting the country back in many places.
LikeLike
@B.R.
“…I remember when Reagon took office, there was a big cheer from the “yuppies” and deregulation came in and prices went up in rent and costs of living and it never has recovered…it was a very real notable feeling in the air when Reagon took office”.
But no lessons were learned. The whole world is involved in deregulation now and there are enormous hardships for people everywhere.
LikeLike
AJNC…that was my point….but, it should also be noted that many countries , like in the BRIC countries, these economic policies actualy helped to bring people out of poverty, if only because these corporations were seeking out their low wage workers to bring their production to….but, countries like Brazil, implemented social programs , while benafitting from greater trade with the USA and China
Its just that, inevitably, greed will win out in the end, and in the USA, the painful truth about deregulation and predatory capitilism ( I beleive in capitilism with a concience) came to a head with the financial crisis
I noticed the dollar was getting weak in the early 90’s, along with the trajectory of W Bush…that was a tip off to me that something was wrong with the USA economy, having seen crippling currancy devaluation in Brazil, with unbeleivable inflation…but,at the same time the USA currancy startd going down, Brazil, under Lula, started firmin up their currancy , which helped them have growth, so they could have social programs
The dollar has firmed up under Obama, a little…
LikeLike
@ Barchan
You mentioned that Thatcher called Mandela a terrorist, and all I did was add that she also called Mugabe a terrorist. She had relationships with both of them once they became prime ministers. Which one was better than the other is a matter of opinion.
“Have I in any way condoned what the whites in SA and “rhodesia” has done?”
No one said you did. I merely pointed out that they were the cause of the conflict, as well as Britain, which always sticks its big nose in others’ affairs.
“Is it a sane response to kill 20 000 civillians of a certain group because some of them have ties to ZAPU?”
First, there is no consensus as to how many people were killed…20,000 is an arbitrary figure at best, and if we examine the evidence, a best guess would render a much lower number. And there were many ZANU civilians killed by ZAPU militants, FYI. As to the sanity of Mugabe’s response, I could only expect such from any megalomaniacal politician who was the subject of both assassination attempts and planned coup d’etats. If the same happened to Thatcher, I believe she would have taken a similar course.
LikeLike
@resw77 “And there were many ZANU militants killed by ZAPU militants.FYI.” Do you mean the 200 “dissidents” there? yup they probably did. Did that justify everything else or what?… “First there is no consensus as to how many people were killed” No consensus? where would that number come from then? Wildly used, even Genocide Watch has it. Do you mean that would just be biased propaganda against Mugabe? “a best guess would render it much lower” And that would be your best guess, confirmation bias much?
LikeLike
@ Barchan
“Did that justify everything else or what?”
I never claimed it did, my point is was a political war needlessly escalated by meddling outsiders and not a one-sided attack on ZAPU or a planned genocide on the Ndebele as you are seemingly implying.
“No consensus? where would that number come from then? Wildly used, even Genocide Watch has it.”
Right, some etimates are much lower than that, and who cares what Genocide Watch says? They aren’t an authority on the matter. As I said, yes, 20,000 is completely arbitrary, as it is a UN estimate without any hard evidence to back it up.
“And that would be your best guess, confirmation bias much?”
No, I’d calculate the average number of single-day killings during the separate conflicts w/ figures provided by eyewitnesses/journalists, or I’d account for the known exhumed remains.
LikeLike
Well. when I was in UK people referred to her as a ‘terrorist’. That’s all she was. A terrorist and a racist thug.
LikeLike
She was a extreme right wing megalomaniac who saw the freedom and the rights of the common people as criminal behavior and who called labour unions as criminals and thus used the same language as any dictator or fascist and she also used the police to destroy those unions and the freedom of the people, just like they do in all totalitarian states and governments.
To call her a champion of liberty and freedom is like calling Adolf Hitler a humanitarian. In her mind the freedom and liberty belonged to the rich and to the big business, and the common people had no other rights than to serve these.
She was just one of those idiots to whom pseudo philosopher Ayn Rand and her mentally disturbed ideas were valid and great revelations. She wanted and almost created a society where the rich and the powerful have absolute right to crush the weaker and exploit them any way they want. A society where the right is on the side of the rich and the poor are the ones to blame. A society were exploitation of all kind is good, where the greed is good, where the violence is good etc.
And she is a hero?? Yeah, right…
LikeLike
“sam
She wanted and almost created a society where the rich and the powerful have absolute right to crush the weaker and exploit them any way they want. A society where the right is on the side of the rich and the poor are the ones to blame. A society were exploitation of all kind is good, where the greed is good, where the violence is good etc.”
Linda says,
Create? She was trying to bring back the good old days of England…why do you think the British were able to “own” half the world back in the days of Imperialism…they were never famous for their humanitarian deeds.
LikeLike
“Right, some etimates are much lower than that, and who cares what Genocide Watch says? They aren’t an authority on the matter. As I said, yes, 20,000 is completely arbitrary, as it is a UN estimate without any hard evidence to back it up.” Can you please explain this more fully? There are several higher estmates that reaches as far as 80 000. And why are you so sure it is an over estimate?
LikeLike
[…] She was in office 1979-1990, therefore was Britain’s longest serving PM! She was a huge fan of privatisation, making most businesses private-sector. There are 2 sectors – public (parts and services of society owned & looked after by govt) and private (parts and services owned & looked after by laypeople). She thought privatisation would increase competition and thus create wealth. In a sense that was true, but it only increased wealth among those who were already in charge of businesses or could afford to be. And increasing competition meant that the rich & poor are in a constant fight, the rich to get richer and the poor to… get richer. Thus the capitalist status quo remained unchanged, and if anything was worsened. Under her unemployment, poverty & income inequality increased (see the figures here). […]
LikeLike
“She is one of three people from history upon whom I wish hell (normally I do not wish for people to go to hell, thinking that everyone should go to Heaven, but I have these exceptions: Thatcher, Hitler, and Zionist militant Menachem Begin). And as for her buddy Reagan, I despise him too.” So Reagan gets an exemption because he’s Irish? Shouldn’t you throw in Cromwell in your list of the hell bound?
LikeLike