Margaret Thatcher returns to Downing Street

[RichardCranium]

Thatcher dies after fall.

I didn't realise how much I wished that witch dead until I followed that link. My emotional reaction even took my mind off my toothache.

[MrMark]

It would work the other way round too.

Even better - one starts to fall, but drags the other one down the stairs too...and end up crashing on top of the visiting T.Blair.

[Board Game Geek]

Do you really talk like that in real life or are you a sock puppet?

<Phantom Raspberry Blower>

I don't blindly worship her, if that's what you mean. We have yet to have a perfect PM, and she had her moments.

But on the balance of it, she crushed the unions (especially the miners) who were hell bent on destroying the country with their demands, she provided strong leadership, and she stood for no nonsense.

During the 80's, as most of my year from school entered work for the first time, they did all right by her government, thank you very much.

[Bagpuss]

The move from a manufacturing basis is not something to be celebrated. Look at Germany, we can make cars as good if not better, so why aren't we? Why are we happy for other countries to walk over us? The laughing stock of Europe, that is what she made us. Effectively she cut off our balls.

Anyway... To the point.. Eventually we have moved from large taxpayer subisdy of those old (yet worthwhile) industries to even larger taxpayer subsidy of the ones once lauded as our saviour e.g. Financial services.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

<Phantom Raspberry Blower>

I don't blindly worship her, if that's what you mean. We have yet to have a perfect PM, and she had her moments.

But on the balance of it, she crushed the unions (especially the miners) who were hell bent on destroying the country with their demands, she provided strong leadership, and she stood for M. Thatcher.

During the 80's, as most of my year from school entered Dole or YTS for the first time, they were shafted by her government, thank you very much.

We must be simlar ages. My experience was somewhat different. Not saying Unions weren't unreasonable at times, but they didn't need to totally destroyed along with manufacturing.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Even better - one starts to fall, but drags the other one down the stairs too...and end up crashing on top of the visiting T.Blair.

Now you're talking!

[TimberWolf]

Hail Thatcher. It's about time the government called in outside help. I assume Brown is genuflecting at her feet in that photo?

So what's up with Cameron, doesn't he fancy going into No.11?

[minestrone]

The move from a manufacturing basis is not something to be celebrated. Look at Germany, we can make cars as good if not better, so why aren't we? Why are we happy for other countries to walk over us? The laughing stock of Europe, that is what she made us. Effectively she cut off our balls.

Our cars were totally tulipe, british leyland workers used to take tents in so they could have a kip on the grass round the back. They were subsidised by the tax payer to get away with that, that got stopped and guess what, all these companies went under because they were crap.

I still know many people in Engineering and many admit that their companies factories in the UK are the worst in the world. Quality, cost, efficency.

[Board Game Geek]

Our cars were totally tulipe, british leyland workers used to take tents in so they could have a kip on the grass round the back. They were subsidised by the tax payer to get away with that, that got stopped and guess what, all these companies went under because they were crap.

I still know many people in Engineering and many admit that their companies factories in the UK are the worst in the world. Quality, cost, efficency.

I did a stint at Fords in Dagenham for a few years, doing DBA work, and it soon became clear to me that no matter what the management tried to do to improve efficiency and quality, the union would flex their muscles to put a stop to it.

It was like watching the officers and the engine room staff of a cruise ship fight for control whilst the liner slowly took on water.

Whilst the two sides fought an Us versus Them constant war, the whole ship floundered.

I dare say many others who have worked in manufacturing have similar stories.

[Bagpuss]

Our cars were totally tulipe, british leyland workers used to take tents in so they could have a kip on the grass round the back. They were subsidised by the tax payer to get away with that, that got stopped and guess what, all these companies went under because they were crap.

I still know many people in Engineering and many admit that their companies factories in the UK are the worst in the world. Quality, cost, efficency.

They weren't crap, they became under-invested and got past their sell by date. All the top selling cars of the 70s 80s and 90s were built in britain, that period of the 70s that everyone rushes to mention was not the reason to abandon an industry. There were many good ideas, even Germany knew that, they did buy the mini concept and are doing pretty well out of it. Land/Range rover are still selling pretty well. Jaguar are not doing bad. Aston Martin go from strength to strength. Bentley, Rolls Royce, you name it, we still make most of these cars here in Britain so there is absolutely no reason we couldn't own them too. It just needed new funding rather than short term thinking. We pretty much own Formula one, and that's where future development starts. So don't tell me we can't make good cars, and don't believe the hype that justifies the mistakes. Moreover, do you think Fiat didn't make the same mistakes of the 70s? and last time I looked they owned Ferrari and we trying to buy up half the motoring manufacturers. It's pretty easy to dismantle something but not so easy to rebuild it, alas we didn't even bother instead we make other countries richer.