I lived in the U.K. during the Thatcher years and can tell you from first hand experience: It was not a happy time. It was an era marked by high unemployment and stagnant wages - and a combative and bullying style that treated everyone as ‘whiners.’ In retrospect, one cannot say for sure why Thatcher won reelection (or why some folks choose an enema to treat chronic diarrhea). One thing certain: Margaret Thatcher did change England – but not for the better.
"and a combative and bullying style that treated everyone as ‘whiners.’ "
ReplyDeleteAnd where have we heard that term -- and how often?
I spent time there during Maggie's time in office. She was reelected because of the Falklands war. Before that, her popularity was on a serious downward path. The Falklands gave her a temporary boost, like Iraq did for Bush in 2004.
ReplyDeleteMay I add that, as we watch in horror at the self inflicted damage that Europeans are doing through their policy of "austerity," we remember that much of this malicious doctrine goes right back to Thatcher, in exactly the same way that the popularization of supply side economics over here goes back to Reagan.
Nothing like a nice little war.
ReplyDeleteBut more important to history, Annette Funicelo died today. She was 70. How did that happen? Now it's time to say goodbye, to all our company. . .
I did not have the heart to post an actual photo of her. I thought the "Spitting Image" of her was the most fitting image. On the night of the 1986 election results, I recall, Spitting Image used for background music the intermission piece from Cabaret, "The Future Belongs to Us." How apt.
ReplyDelete