To think that gang psychoplogy is behind people who like Thatcher

[YohedYoshoulderYonisandYotoes]

I have noticed that many people who 'like' Thatcher are really only people who are either a) trying to align themselves with the Tories with the mistaken and deluded belief that it will sorta make them richer and more socially accepted by the richer folk (the 'Rachel Haircut' idea), or b) people who like the idea of being in the gang that bullies the poor (in this I put people who instead of blaming employers for exploiting their staff so much that their staff would rather choose not to work, blame unions for making them have to walk a bit one day a year or some other small-minded petty inconvenience).

I can accept maybe a third circle that is overlapped by those two above of people who think that because she is middle class and was trying to sound like nasty poor-hating members of the middle and upper class, she is similar to them and so supporting Thatcher is a little like saying 'I'm alright' (and conversely feel that hating Thatcher is a little like hating the embarrassing bit about themselves), but I still think this is 'gang' type behaviour.

Its ironic for a leader who went on about the individual so much that she attacks pack rats.

Is that unreasonable?

[Fargo86]

I think people who are on the left are more likely to be doing it to fit in and advance themselves. It's far easier to admit to being on the left in modern society than it is to being right-wing.

[Chipstick10]

If I wanted to align myself with the wealthy I could always look to ed or Harriet, they are very wealthy. Or maybe all the champagne socialists who support labour. Your argument is yawn.

[YohedYoshoulderYonisandYotoes]

Ok the country folk then..

[googlyeyes]

Why are those downloading 'Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead' (as someone mentioned earlier) and attending 'death parties' not part of a gang? Seems like a hell of a lot of bandwagon-jumping on that front

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

Yeah I TOLD you I wasn't being help

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

Blair was voted in 3 times, is there a pack mentality for voting Labour?

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

Lord. Helpful!

[thecatfromjapan]

here it is
It's interesting because both you and she (and Walter Benjamin before you) are saying that there is an irrational element in politics. That is, people don't always vote in their seeming self-interest, and for obviously rational reasons. Rather, there are deeper, less knowable, compulsions and identifications at bay.

That said, i think the Jaqueline Rose essay comes across as a bit patronising at times. Anyway, an interesting debate.

I think the thing I am most interested in is why a. so many more boys than women "do" politics, or get to do politics and b. if the whole discourse super-rational discourse surrounding politics is connected to that in some way.

For example: women do emotions and bun fights about silly personal things; men do serious, rational politics, about serious things. And of course, there is so much wrong with those two statements, we could be here forever.

What I like about JR's article is that she goes for the second half of that dyad, rather than just going with the "women's concerns are serious." that is, of course, true and necessary - but I think we should look at the second part too.

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

I think people who are on the left are more likely to be doing it to fit in and advance themselves. It's far easier to admit to being on the left in modern society than it is to being right-wing.

Completely agree with that

Most of my friends are left wing though I've noticed and a lot of mn. Or perhaps that's my perception?

[BMW6]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[piprabbit]

Are we talking about The Archers now? Or some other country folk?
I'm pretty sure Jenny and Brian supported Thatcher, but Tony and Pat wouldn't.

[piprabbit]

Tony and Pat are probably Greens.
Peggy votes UKIP.

[thecatfromjapan]

I'm surprised Tony and Pat haven't stood as Green candidates, actually.

How about Tom? I'll bet he's forgotten to vote in the past - and Tony and Pat have been horrified at his flippant attitude to exercising a hard-won, democratic right.

[PoppadomPreach]

Is "flogging a dead horse" an appropriate metaphor?

OP - you just sound sooooooo desperate to sound clever. But I'm guessing you're not......

[piprabbit]

[Bowlersarm]

If people seem 'cross' it may be because Thatcher has been discussed to death on MN because she has died. Think everyone is feeling a little jaded with the subject after a week of it. You are complicating the whole subject unnecessarily; I think I understand what you are trying to say, but don't think people have got the interest or energy to discuss it. Someone may want to later, but probably not!

[Bowlersarm]

Blimey sorry too slow in typing. Some people did want to discuss

[MTSgroupie]

The Labour and Conservative PMs that followed Thatcher led us into two ill thought out wars - Iraq the sequel and Afghanistan. Billions have been spent, thousands are dead and the region is even more unstable. They allowed the 2008 financial melt down to happen and the 'recovery' is pitifully managed. Under Thatcher students came out the other end debt free so her milk snatching exploits are fairly inconsequential by comparison.

I am no 'fan' of her or her government but anyone who singles her out as the focus for their rants is revealing themselves to be rather ignorant of history, politics and current affairs.

[MrsPeeWee]

I fit under absolutely NONE of those ridiculous stereotypes.

I absolutely believe Thatcher was one of the best things that has ever happened to the UK.

My opinion.