New nationalisations every day......

[Billtr96sn]

Ivanhoe, I like the cut of your Jib, you are truly a socialist but one that loves his country, so maybe you are a National Socialist?

[Ivanhoe]

Actually im a European Democratic Socialist, basically because I believe in society, and community, over and above the individual.

But unfortutely Britain has now lost its way since Thatcher introduced greed and self interest into the system, and New Labour have kept it there.

[Billtr96sn]

Oh Please call a doctor, my sides are splitting.

Have you really forgotten the greed of the unions that bought this country to it's knees in the 70's.

Do you really not remember the 'winter of discontent' where bodies were unburied, fires left to burn, rubbish uncollected and power cuts due to the greed and selfishness of the unions and their members.

Thatcher stopped all that and stopped the money grabbing fat cats of the trade unions getting away with what amounted to murder.

[Ivanhoe]

////Have you really forgotten the greed of the unions that bought this country to it's knees in the 70's///

No, and im constantly reminded of the greed Thatcher injected into this country from 1979 and its still with us under New Labour.

Thatcher's policies have murdered millions living on the streets through lack of housing and jobs, and millions of pensioners who have died of hypothermia related illnesses through the winter months because of Thatcher's pensions policy in 1980, when she cuts the state pensions link with average male earnings.

[Aptis]

Ivanhoe

Your the man fore me - I remember those days!

The Thatcher years when the cry was Money money money, and sleaze was the name of the game.  The Tory  kings that fell from their thrones J Archer, Neil Hamilton and the man with the sword of truth, J Aitkin, that ended up in jail. As well, of course,  the rest that we don't have to mention. These were our leaders that gave away the family jewels. Gas, Electric, water, phones but only to the rich that could afford the price. Now all that we used to have has been sold to those with money abroad and we are now owned by foreign companies. We now own nothing of our own, and the greed for the quick buck has brought us to our knees. Thatcher shut all the pits out of female spite, and now that we are buying our fuel from other countries and importing coal from Russia of all places, we could do with those pits. My god what a country and a future SHE left us with. And before anyone takes a hissy fit and thinks I am having a go at their wonderful Tory party; the crowd that we have in at the moment leave a lot to be desired and fall far short of the ideal people to lead this country. It is only the feeble minded that would think that the Thatcher years were good, or those that made money off the backs of others through thatchers policies. I doubt very much if these people ever gave a thought to anyone or anything else, as they raked in the money the Tories allowed them to steal from the public sector. The only people sorry to see her go were the leeches that sucked this country dry.   

[Ivanhoe]

Aptis, I could not agree more, a superb posting.

[Ivanhoe]

He is right.

[Papaumau]

Yes Aptis, it certainly helps to have a good memory in this respect !

It is said that people who take no interest in past history are inclined to repeat it !

[John]

It is not really the true picture.

Take the utility situation, the shares were
not aimed at the rich. Advertising and their
price reflected this.

Anything or anybody that knocks Thatcher or
reflects years gone by excites Ivanhoe.

I think he had a secret crush on her...

[Hells Granny]

The good thing about the Nationalised Industries was that they operated without the fat cat shareholders getting their hands on profits. There were profitable industries, but the money was in a central pot to bail out the ones who were flagging, therefore keeping everything going, and the money inside our shores.

Selling them off to the public was a mistake, most of the British people didn't want the shares, and sold them on, thereby opening the doors to the situation we now have, to whit; a bankrupt country with all our national assets owned by foreign companies, and the fat cats getting bonuses which should have been ploughed back into our industries.

Maggie did do a lot of good for Britain, but she also did a great deal of harm.

Cheers, HG

[Ivanhoe]

Thatcher did no good for Britain at all, she was an opportunist old bitch who robbed this country of its soul, and even now New Labour continue to parade her policies to all and sundry, and all under the Labour banner.

[Papaumau]

I have always said that privatisation is fine and good in a truly free-market situation but it should never be employed where an essential service is being provided. Every time an essential service has been provided by a private company - even via a national franchise system - the profit motive and the shareholder needs have always come before the service has.