The Lady's not for turning !!!

[bobhope]

It's all about perspective.

For some she was a modern day heroine, for others (me inc) she was the worst British politician in a lifetime. Give her her dues, she did some good things and at least she believed in her policies.

Pointless argument anyway, everyone's mind is made up on Thatcher and tub thumping isn't going to change anyone's mind at this late date.

Take away the economic stuff and her legacy has many negatives (Political and social). Event the economic stuff is debatable in parts (Though overall she left a decent economic legacy but let's not pretend it was all golden).

but then you're a left-wing cheese eating surrender monkey :-)

[DimPrawn]

How has Germany ended up as the world's 2nd biggest exporter of manufactured goods (after China) and Britain has ended up with almost no manufacturing outside of simple assembly work for Japanese car makers?

[threaded]

How has Germany ended up as the world's 2nd biggest exporter of manufactured goods (after China) and Britain has ended up with almost no manufacturing outside of simple assembly work for Japanese car makers?

Because at the end of WWII the British were prevented, by the then Labour government, in upgrading and renewing equipment, to such an extent that all the sensible money invested in rebuilding and renewing German industry.

When the shackles were released the UK was then in a new position of having to play catch up when it had been in the lead previously. Something industry was not geared or trained for.

[darmstadt]

How has Germany ended up as the world's 2nd biggest exporter of manufactured goods (after China) and Britain has ended up with almost no manufacturing outside of simple assembly work for Japanese car makers?

Probably something to do with the fact that I live there

[DimPrawn]

Actually I was wrong. Germany isn't the world's 2nd biggest exporter of goods, it is the world's biggest exporter:

But Germany retains its crown as the world's top exporter, selling almost one trillion euros ($1.5 trillion) worth of goods abroad in 2007, according to the Federal Statistics Office, compared with China's $1.22 trillion.

[snaw]

but then you're a left-wing cheese eating surrender monkey :-)

Aren't you dead?

[pisces]

Actually I was wrong. Germany isn't the world's 2nd biggest exporter of goods, it is the world's biggest exporter:

Take their cars away and what else do they flog?

[BrilloPad]

She sold the family silver to bribe her friends, and even sold what wasn't hers to sell (TSB).

I think you are getting confused with Liebour. She made the books balance. Simple housekeeping really.

[DimPrawn]

Take their cars away and what else do they flog?

Are you being serious?

Germany exports hi-tech machinery across all industries. Heavy engineering, specialist equipment, machine tools, chemicals.

BOSCH, Bayer, BASF, Siemens, etc

[BrilloPad]

Are you being serious?

Germany exports hi-tech machinery across all industries. Heavy engineering, specialist equipment, machine tools, chemicals.

BOSCH, Bayer, BASF, Siemens, etc

You are depressing me now - why can't we make this sort of stuff in the UK?

After all, the UK comes up with the most inventions.