A sad day for lovers of freedom and haters of tyranny.
The first political event I ever noticed (at the tender age of 6) was her victory in the 1979 general election. Although I did not understand what it was all about I did appreciate that something important was going on so went downstairs early in the morning to see the results. I grew up with her steady hand at the helm and though I understood and appreciated her basic ideology and leadership it never really occurred to me until years after her downfall just how rare and special she was. It became obvious under her successors that the Conservative Party was (and still is) a useless tool for furthering conservative ideals without Thatcher, or someone with her strong beliefs and will to fight, to head it.
AKM, an excellent tribute. And her greatest achievement, with Ronald Regan, was defeating the evil empire of the USSR so freeing first Eastern Europe then Russia itself.
She was a leader. We lack leaders now in all parts of the Western World. I admired her more and more as I read and listened via Youtube to an incredible lady with free markets and liberty as her founding principals. God Bless Lady Thatcher.
''free markets and liberty as her founding principals''
Like the financial markets which imploded in 2008? Caused by a fundamental lack of regulation which she set in train.
Liberty? Not if you were black and lived in South Africa of course. Curiously silent on what Reagan's CIA did in Central America also. Deeply involved in the al-Yamamah arms deal to the freedom loving Saudi government and of course peddled many weapons to Saddam Hussein before he lost his usefulness. I think the pièce de résistance though was sending the SAS to train elements of the Khmer Rouge in the Thai border areas after they had been expelled by the Vietnamese army.
"Not if you were black and lived in South Africa..."
Thatcher was not in favour of apartheid so your point is irrelevant.
"Curiously silent on what Reagan's CIA did in Central America also."
During the cold war when the US were our allies in the struggle against the Communists. Your point is irrelevant.
"Deeply involved in the al-Yamamah arms deal to the freedom loving Saudi government..."
The alternative to the Saudi government is? The Saudis were allies in the region and better than the alternatives. Your point is irrelevant unless you want us to try and force our concept of freedom on every other country in the world.
"....peddled many weapons to Saddam Hussein before he lost his usefulness."
What weapons did Thatcher sell to Saddam Hussein?
"...sending the SAS to train elements of the Khmer Rouge..."
Which was part of the larger cold war struggle against the Communists. I do find it amusing how you take these elements in isolation and ignore the cold war. It's like trying make us feel guilty about the RAF bombing German cities without mentioning WWII, Hitler or the Nazis.
Philip, I do think you should find out a little more about the excessive regulation the financial market has had imposed on it for several years before 2008. Government intervention causes a good deal more trouble in economic matters than private enterprise. I know you don't believe this but, at least, find out the facts. You know, the laws, directives and regulations. That sort of facts. Of course, if you found out facts and not relied on youtube for your information you would be a very different person.
A sad day for lovers of freedom and haters of tyranny.
ReplyDeleteThe first political event I ever noticed (at the tender age of 6) was her victory in the 1979 general election. Although I did not understand what it was all about I did appreciate that something important was going on so went downstairs early in the morning to see the results. I grew up with her steady hand at the helm and though I understood and appreciated her basic ideology and leadership it never really occurred to me until years after her downfall just how rare and special she was. It became obvious under her successors that the Conservative Party was (and still is) a useless tool for furthering conservative ideals without Thatcher, or someone with her strong beliefs and will to fight, to head it.
AKM, an excellent tribute. And her greatest achievement, with Ronald Regan, was defeating the evil empire of the USSR so freeing first Eastern Europe then Russia itself.
ReplyDeleteShe was a leader. We lack leaders now in all parts of the Western World. I admired her more and more as I read and listened via Youtube to an incredible lady with free markets and liberty as her founding principals. God Bless Lady Thatcher.
ReplyDelete-Natalie
Can but agree with all three comments. Tomorrow (or later today) I plan to write a longer blog with some comments and stories about her.
ReplyDelete''free markets and liberty as her founding principals''
ReplyDeleteLike the financial markets which imploded in 2008? Caused by a fundamental lack of regulation which she set in train.
Liberty? Not if you were black and lived in South Africa of course. Curiously silent on what Reagan's CIA did in Central America also. Deeply involved in the al-Yamamah arms deal to the freedom loving Saudi government and of course peddled many weapons to Saddam Hussein before he lost his usefulness. I think the pièce de résistance though was sending the SAS to train elements of the Khmer Rouge in the Thai border areas after they had been expelled by the Vietnamese army.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFrvr7EB66g
"Not if you were black and lived in South Africa..."
DeleteThatcher was not in favour of apartheid so your point is irrelevant.
"Curiously silent on what Reagan's CIA did in Central America also."
During the cold war when the US were our allies in the struggle against the Communists. Your point is irrelevant.
"Deeply involved in the al-Yamamah arms deal to the freedom loving Saudi government..."
The alternative to the Saudi government is? The Saudis were allies in the region and better than the alternatives. Your point is irrelevant unless you want us to try and force our concept of freedom on every other country in the world.
"....peddled many weapons to Saddam Hussein before he lost his usefulness."
What weapons did Thatcher sell to Saddam Hussein?
"...sending the SAS to train elements of the Khmer Rouge..."
Which was part of the larger cold war struggle against the Communists. I do find it amusing how you take these elements in isolation and ignore the cold war. It's like trying make us feel guilty about the RAF bombing German cities without mentioning WWII, Hitler or the Nazis.
Philip, I do think you should find out a little more about the excessive regulation the financial market has had imposed on it for several years before 2008. Government intervention causes a good deal more trouble in economic matters than private enterprise. I know you don't believe this but, at least, find out the facts. You know, the laws, directives and regulations. That sort of facts. Of course, if you found out facts and not relied on youtube for your information you would be a very different person.
ReplyDelete