Comments on: Dispelling the Thatcher myths

By: james harper

james harper — Sun, 05 May 2013 18:09:00 +0000

The article is riddled with factual errors, which odd given the accusations of mendacity in the wider media at the start of your article. Even after you provided sources, you seem to prefer a 1992 book for much of your data, rather than actual sources of official data.

It’s not exactly confidence inspiring, but not surprising given your matter-of-fact writing style.

The quotation marks you’ve put around ‘terrorist’ really say it all. What Thatcher actually said was in relation to the ANC: “This shows what a typical terrorist organisation it is”. This was in the aftermath of the ‘necklace’ lynchings of alleged traitors in the townships, publicly endorsed by leading ANC figures including Winnie Mandela.

http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71619?oid=368489&sn=Marketingweb+detail

So who’s lying now?

By: Paul Thomson

Paul Thomson — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 21:35:14 +0000

A shame that this accurate and true biography, will not reach parliament and mainstream journalism

By: Prof Andy Ross

Prof Andy Ross — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:25:55 +0000

If readers don’t like the 50′s comparison, then anyone can check the UK long-term growth for themselves- easy from ONS. Go back even to 1850, if you wish, there is no noticable ‘economic miracle’ after 1979 compared with the UK’s long-term trend.Unless, you assume, without much evidence, that the counter-factual is that groth would have been much less without her, but then the confounder is whether it was economically sustainable growth anyway since Thatcher. Much was financial growth, that may have crowded out other sectors of the economy and may well have been the beginning of the subsequent recessions. Many economists, e.g. Lord Turner, believe that although the finance growth did bring tax revenues for UK governments much of it is essentially socially useless.

By: KT

KT — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:09:02 +0000

The lady has died…..leave it people….there was none of this media/ comments/protests before she died…..disrespectful that you all do it when he has died..and in front of her grieving family too on the day of her funeral too.

By: Bob Wyper

Bob Wyper — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:44:40 +0000

Pick a side and state your case… after all, that’s all the author has done here. There are enough statistics that can be used to show both sides of any argument, AND it can be done for any leader you care to mention. The fact is that it’s an impossible job leading mindless masses to a destination they have never heard of let alone will help you achieve, by a route that is difficult and fraught with problems (often created by the very people you are trying to help), and that only a brave few will make any effort to put themselves forward for such a task. Also remember that there will NO THANKS handed out for all the effort you put in, if you ever do try to lead any group… ask Maggie.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:57:26 +0000

good article, my arse.

How can any articel that is sooooo one sided be a good read……!

yawn.

By: Claus O.

Claus O. — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:39:24 +0000

Good stricke, cut the Main Thatcher Legend.
Thatcher is the death grabber of Social Life for People in Gerät Britain.

By: Will Podmore

Will Podmore — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:42:39 +0000

‘Truthseeker’ wrote, “Selective sources & I’m sure I could find other sources to counter most, if not all of yours. It’s a piece of left wing tripe. I notice the author has not mentioned the decay of the country prior to Thatcher winning the 79 general election, nor compared it to the Blair/Brown government …”
Go on, then, if you really are a truthseeker, find these other sources! And would your sources really refute the facts presented in the sources that Alex has kindly provided?
‘Truthseeker’ then resorts to abuse – the usual fallback of the defeated debater.
Alex’s fine article was about Thatcher, not about Callaghan or Blair or Brown.
And it is a strange fallacy to assume that because one criticises Thatcher, one cannot also criticise Labour leaders.

By: Marc Goddard

Marc Goddard — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 15:48:47 +0000

Absolutely fantastic article. I grew up in thatcher’s Britain and we all still feel the effects now.

By: Steve Vincent

Steve Vincent — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 09:11:08 +0000

It’s great to read such a thorough, well written piece but such a bore that there are those who still believe that Thatcher was anything but a warmongering, fascist dictator, who ruined our wonderful country and left a legacy of greed, poverty, unemployment and constructed inequality.