Maggie Thatcher

[DelToro]

I was giving Switzerland as an example.

There are plenty of countries whose "international force" is exceptionally limited who appear to be able to offer their citizens reasonable prosperity.

I don't want Britain to have "reasonable prosperity", I want it to attempt to be an economic powerhouse as it's where I and my family live and it will benefit us enormously.

I don't know why somebody would ever wish anything else.

Depends upon how you wish to achieve it.

Through colonialism?

Through creating export markets by imposing your values, culture etc on other countries?

 

[Blue Til Death]

The reason we are all still talking about Maggie is because she was a fantastic Prime Minister, second only to Churchill. There are many mindless idiots on here spouting their uninformed drivel because she made the hard choices nobody else had the courage to at the time.

Well you can all kiss my arse and cry in your beer about how wicked and nasty she was. Without her at the helm at the time this country would slipped into the abyss that labour try and drag it into every time they get in power, forever...!

That's all.

Some on here would happily sit knitting sandals from fat free yogurt wool, while our sovereign territory or that of an ally is invaded, that's not how we roll in this country and that's why our armed forces and our Country are respected.

The Argentinians wouldn't have cared one bit about sanctions if we had remained idle while they invaded the Falklands, anyone who thinks different is a fool...!

Happy friendly sort of bloke arent you..

Yep but I don't suffer fools gladly..!

 

[SWP's back]

We don't get many of them types round 'ere.

She was no amazing leader, she made no real changes for the betterment of mankind, she bullied and divided. she was no Churchill and to suggest she was is an ignorance of history where he could unite she could only divide, where he was a moderate in his party she was a hardliners, where he respected she despised.

Much of the country is still on its knees where she kicked them 30 years ago

I agree

way too divisive to be a great leader

and she started a needless war with Argentina, many many pointless deaths

She started no war

 

[Damocles]

I was giving Switzerland as an example.

There are plenty of countries whose "international force" is exceptionally limited who appear to be able to offer their citizens reasonable prosperity.

I don't want Britain to have "reasonable prosperity", I want it to attempt to be an economic powerhouse as it's where I and my family live and it will benefit us enormously.

I don't know why somebody would ever wish anything else.

Depends upon how you wish to achieve it.

Through colonialism?

Through creating export markets by imposing your values, culture etc on other countries?

Through working with our key allies both in the Commonwealth and the developing world to formulate good diplomatic relations, opening significant trade barriers that will benefit the British worker. And by backing up our strength with military action when our territory is invaded by any foreign power, and by honouring our commitments to our Allies as they honour theirs to us.

 

[SWP's back]

Some on here would happily sit knitting sandals from fat free yogurt wool, while our sovereign territory or that of an ally is invaded, that's not how we roll in this country and that's why our armed forces and our Country are respected.

The Argentinians wouldn't have cared one bit about sanctions if we had remained idle while they invaded the Falklands, anyone who thinks different is a fool...!

I like you.

 

[DelToro]

I don't want Britain to have "reasonable prosperity", I want it to attempt to be an economic powerhouse as it's where I and my family live and it will benefit us enormously.

I don't know why somebody would ever wish anything else.

Depends upon how you wish to achieve it.

Through colonialism?

Through creating export markets by imposing your values, culture etc on other countries?

Through working with our key allies both in the Commonwealth and the developing world to formulate good diplomatic relations, opening significant trade barriers that will benefit the British worker. And by backing up our strength with military action when our territory is invaded by any foreign power, and by honouring our commitments to our Allies as they honour theirs to us.

Only in those circumstances?

 

[Blue Til Death]

We have a similar outlook on life SWP, one not shared by many... Marmite comes to mind..!

 

[blueinsa]

She stood up to everyone, including the Yanks and did the right thing re the Falklands.

How the fuck some can blame her for starting that war is beyond me lol.

 

[Hung]

We have a similar outlook on life SWP, one not shared by many... Marmite comes to mind..!

Count me in.

 

[Damocles]

Only in those circumstances?

I personally don't support any military action other than when British lands are invaded or we are required to by a treaty. If I'm deadly honest I don't even believe that soldiers should be allowed to engage without being directly fired upon by the person and even then they should take every attempt to not kill them. But I'm a far left loony and that's my personal philosophy on killing.

However, the pragmatist within me understands that the support of Britain as an ally is a key political chip that can increase our relations and standings with our Allies and can lead to further agreements that economically benefit British workers. Just that I understand that competition on the international stage is such that any refusal would be taken as an offense and can lead to less treaties that benefit the British worker. Of course this has to be properly balanced by skilled diplomats and politicians who have all the information of specific circumstances.

One good example is that we often support the United States as allies on the understanding that further military manufacturing contracts are given to BAE Systems which is the largest employer in the manufacturing sector in the United Kingdom as well as the largest employer of British engineering graduates. BAE is also the largest manufacturer to the US military that isn't based in the US. This in turn puts money into the pockets of British workers and allows our economy to continue to grow in what have been troubling economic times.

Military interventions are more complex than simplistic notions right and wrong and politicians balancing out all of these variables often don't have the luxury of adhering to them without consideration. Doing what is best for the country does not always mean doing what is the most popular course of action for the country. We elect leaders to make decisions on our behalf and there is an implicit understanding in the democratic process that we will not always be in as an informed position as they are. We trust them to do the right thing for Britain and that's what grounds we elect them on.