Todays political post

[sasguru]

She sure did..... 60% top rate was cut to 40%. .

And 5% sales tax was raised to 17.5% to compensate. Stealth taxes anyone? That's why the tax/GDP ratio rose. And didn't the Tories start the fuel tax escalator?
Your naivety is truly breathtaking.

[sasguru]

8% to 15%... 12.5% to 15%... 15% to 17.5%...

I do rate Thatcher as a consummate politician though. She did manage to completely fool the hard-of-thinking, much as Tony did.

[sasguru]

Interesting article on Thatchers so-called tax cuts. The Tories actually invented stealth taxes.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle3734651.ece

[Incognito]

Interesting article on Germany, the Heracles of the manufacturing world you like to champion SAS.

Couple of years old though, but I did think it very close to admitting Mrs T did what needed to be done. And from a leftist rag like the Guardian as well.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2004...orkandcareers2

[sasguru]

Interesting article on Germany, the Heracles of the manufacturing world you like to champion SAS.

Couple of years old though, but I did think it very close to admitting Mrs T did what needed to be done. And from a leftist rag like the Guardian as well.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2004...orkandcareers2

Well the Germans would never countenance the destruction of their manufacturing industry in little more than a decade.
What they did is make effective reforms with the result that in the last year Germany was the largest exporter in the world (by value) beating the US, Japan and China.

The article is 4 years old and is typical of the English press talking out of it's arse and confusing a credit bubble with genuine productive growth. Strange how such articles are not seen any more, eh?

[Incognito]

Well the Germans would never countenance the destruction of their manufacturing industry in little more than a decade.
What they did is make effective reforms with the result that in the last year Germany was the largest exporter in the world (by value) beating the US, Japan and China.

The article is 4 years old and is typical of the English press talking out of it's arse and confusing a credit bubble with genuine productive growth. Strange how such articles are not seen any more, eh?

Oh come on. Germany's exports are driven by companies like DalmerChrysler, BMW, SAP, Siemens, Volkswagen, Adidas-Salomon and Porsche.

Who the hell in the 70's did Britian have to compete with that? British Leyland? The only reason they were nationalised was because they were about to go bust.

Look at British Airways. Because of Thatcher privatising it, it now punches way above it's weight in market share. Before privatisation, BA was running at a loss, subsidised by the public.

Admit it, you can't polish a turd.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Oh come on. Germany's exports are driven by companies like DalmerChrysler, BMW, SAP, Siemens, Volkswagen, Adidas-Salomon and Porsche.

Who the hell in the 70's did Britian have to compete with that? British Leyland? The only reason they were nationalised was because they were about to go bust.

Look at British Airways. Because of Thatcher privatising it, it now punches way above it's weight in market share. Before privatisation, BA was running at a loss, subsidised by the public.

Admit it, you can't polish a turd.

Rolls Royce, TVR, Alvis, bits of BL were good enough to compete with anything the Germans had they were just really badly, managed (and to be fair, plagued by industrial disputes). In any case are you really saying just because we weren't as good we should give up and close it all down? Good job the Germans never took that view. BMW has been close to bust over the years and only survived at all by building Austin 7s under licence.

[Incognito]

Rolls Royce, TVR, Alvis, bits of BL were good enough to compete with anything the Germans had they were just really badly, managed (and to be fair, plagued by industrial disputes). In any case are you really saying just because we weren't as good we should give up and close it all down? Good job the Germans never took that view. BMW has been close to bust over the years and only survived at all by building Austin 7s under licence.

Rolls Royce?

Again, Heath nationalised them because they went into receivership. Rolls Royce plc (The engine makers) are only where they are today because Thatcher privitised them. What were they building prior to '87.

And TVR? please.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Rolls Royce?

Again, Heath nationalised them because they went into receivership. Rolls Royce plc (The engine makers) are only where they are today because Thatcher privitised them. What were they building prior to '87.

And TVR? please.

So British manufacturing is/was all rubbish and it was a great policy to shut it all down?

[Alf W]

I have private insurance and have had for the last 7 years. I was unlucky enough to have suffered a broken ankle in the states where my UK private medical insurance paid for the 20k hospital treatment and operation I received. Worth every penny! Compare that to the treatment I would have received on the NHS

Check to see if it covers things like cancer, depression, osteo-arthritis, MS, cardio-vascular problems and any other long term debilitating conditions that may affect your ability to work. Actually, don't bother because I'll tell you now that it doesn't. It covers a bit of queue jumping when you need an instant fix (knee op, dentistry, that sort of thing).

Plus, if you'd broken your ankle in the UK the NHS would have seen you same day (you might have had to wait in the queue for a few hours behind the children and women though).