Did Thatcher create the Chav underclass?

[DodgyAgent]

Not too young to remember at all.

I also remember the despair of the 80s when many families were thrown on the scrapheap with no job, no future and no hope.

It created a disaffected, disillusioned population in many parts of Britain. People had to look for other ways to make a living. Unfortunately not always within the rules of the law of the land.

Meanwhile those who weren't affected carried on regardless. The gap between rich and poor grew and a generation of pissed off and aimless youth developed.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of thatcher's policies there is no escaping that her legacy still lives on and she has to shoulder some of the blame for the state of the nation today. You thatcher lovers cannot bask in the glory of her so called economic 'success', without accepting that she was reponsible for other less desirable consequences.

No doubt you all probably will though.

Still - The evil cow should be dead soon and we can all move on.

As you have no idea of economics or no understanding of human instinct perhaps you would like to explain what you think should have happened when Thatcher came to power. Or what alternative policies the UK government should have adopted during the late 70s or early eighties

[John Galt]

Maybe the problem is that BennO does not remember the Labour Government that was in place before Thatcher came to power. They caused just as much of a financial shambles as they have this time and someone had to put it right. Some of the decisions that were made at the time seemed harsh but they were absolutely necessary to get the country back on its feet. Which is exactly what will have to happen when we get rid of this shower that are in now.

[DodgyAgent]

Maybe the problem is that BennO does not remember the Labour Government that was in place before Thatcher came to power. They caused just as much of a financial shambles as they have this time and someone had to put it right. Some of the decisions that were made at the time seemed harsh but they were absolutely necessary to get the country back on its feet. Which is exactly what will have to happen when we get rid of this shower that are in now.

The middle class socialist with no moral high ground is a lost soul, which is why these issues are neatly avoided.

[benn0]

As you have no idea of economics or no understanding of human instinct perhaps you would like to explain what you think should have happened when Thatcher came to power. Or what alternative policies the UK government should have adopted during the late 70s or early eighties

John Maynard Keynes is your man.

Grade A Economics A level BTW.

Friedman's policies of monetarism have been proved to be flawed.

No point explaining as your head is too far up maggie's arse to try to understand.

[benn0]

The middle class socialist with no moral high ground is a lost soul, which is why these issues are neatly avoided.

I have to work to live so I am working class. I have no moral high ground. I'm just thankful that I have the opportunity to work should I wish. Something that many people had taken away from them in the eighties.

[sasguru]

I have to work to live so I am working class. I have no moral high ground. I'm just thankful that I have the opportunity to work should I wish. Something that many people had taken away from them in the eighties.

But, but, but I don't understand? The socialist policies practiced by France have led to no jobs there - hence why hundreds of thousands of their young people are here to work?

[DodgyAgent]

I have to work to live so I am working class. I have no moral high ground. I'm just thankful that I have the opportunity to work should I wish. Something that many people had taken away from them in the eighties.

They destroyed their own jobs aided and abetted by patronising middle class twits like you.
What "working class" job do you do? If so can you please come and empty my bins PDQ
And at least I have made economic arguments to explain why Thatcher "destroyed" the livelihoods of so many. You say she was wrong but offer no explanation as to why.

[The Lone Gunman]

I have to work to live so I am working class. I have no moral high ground. I'm just thankful that I have the opportunity to work should I wish. Something that many people had taken away from them in the eighties.

One of the reasons the Tories got in was the size of the dole queues under the last Labour Govt. In case you had forgotten.
The models may be flawed as may the policies, but you have to start somewhere and I am with the Tories rather than Labour on how to do it.
Sure there is nothing wrong with dividing the pie more evenly a la Labour, but I have to go with increasing the size of the pie so everybodies share is bigger a la Tory. The problem is NL dont want the biggest pieces being so much bigger than the smallest.

[wendigo100]

I have to work to live so I am working class. I have no moral high ground. I'm just thankful that I have the opportunity to work should I wish. Something that many people had taken away from them in the eighties.

These were people in loss-making industries, earning two pounds for every one-pound's worth of goods and services they produced.

That could not continue, regardless of economic theory. The country was bust and going more bust.

Instead of blaming Thatcher's government, blame those who let such a situation develop in the first place. Start with every other government from 1945 to 1979, Tories and Labour.

When you cut out a malignancy, you must expect pain.

[benn0]

We'll probably never agree on economic policy, thank god, so I can't really see the point in trying to convince you. - Back to the original point of the argument - I still find it interesting that you are all still willing to give praise to thatcher for dragging Britain out of the doldrums yet totally absolve her of any blame for the social problems she caused along the way.

I suppose it's hard to see when you've got your head stuck so far up someone's arse.