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AIBU?

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Original poster

to be annoyed by a party talking about mending the society they broke?

301 replies

tatt · 07/10/2009 09:06

without any apparent recognition that it was their revered leader (Thatcher for anyone too young to remember) who was a major cause of the breakdown? I know it's an improvement on there is no such thing as society but it still annoys me.

OP posts:
preciouslillywhite · 07/10/2009 09:40

what hullygully said, right at the beginning of the thread

...and I am really, really shocked at the short/selective memories people in this country seem to have...

wonder who they're going to stick it to today at conference-we had the sick and disabled first day, public sector workers the second- who's next?

TheGreatScootini · 07/10/2009 09:40

I dont see the point in talking about what Thatcher did or didnt do really.I come from a pit town and saw the effects of the then conservative policies first hand.
But that doesnt mean that lessons havent been learned.Im more interested in what people are going to do now.If Cameron says stuff I think sounds sensible (big IF) then Im not going to not vote for him because of Magaret Thatcher.

Besides in 20 years will people be looking back and saying 'I lived through Browns financial crisis in 2009 and it was dreadful' in the same way they do about the Thatcher government?Its hardly as if Labour has got us to a great position.

All politics is spin really.The Labour thing of increasing the amount of free care for the elderley for example.That sounds great.But in the 10 years I have been in social care the Labour government has cut and squeezed social care budgets so hugely that the new measures they have proposed wont even make a dent in putting them back to where they started.I suppose its a start to put a bit more money in, but the point is we could look back at history and say this was awful, that was dreadful, but it makes no odds.

Its what happens going forward that counts.

Thus I've still no idea who to vote for!

Earthymama · 07/10/2009 09:40

But the marching was good fun!!!

Major Major Major, Out Out Out!!!

Mellor Mellor Mellor, In Out In Out In Out!!!

I know you have to be an oldie like me, but it was such a laugh...what was I marching for/against?

Section 28? Against obviously!!

nellynaemates · 07/10/2009 09:42

I neither support Labour or the Tories but if I had to vote for one of the two it would have to be Labour. They've done a hell of a lot of things that I disagree with since they've been in power, but they've also, I believe, improved a lot of people's lives.

I think tax credits are a great system and the big one for me (being in Scotland) is devolution, the Tories were opposed to that.

I truly believe that the majority of mumsnetters would be worse off under a Tory government.

However, Labour's surveillance society and "war on terror" are very disturbing if you step back from it and I don't think I will vote for them either.

Earthymama · 07/10/2009 09:42

But the marching was good fun!!!

Major Major Major, Out Out Out!!!

Mellor Mellor Mellor, In Out In Out In Out!!!

I know you have to be an oldie like me, but it was such a laugh...what was I marching for/against?

Section 28? Against obviously!!

hullygully · 07/10/2009 09:43

Oh those heady days of Students Against the Cuts. All the posh students getting down with the bewildered miners. Twas marvellous.

Earthymama · 07/10/2009 09:44

Sorry

hullygully · 07/10/2009 09:44

Why?

MissM · 07/10/2009 09:44

Oh the marching was wonderful.
Maggie Maggie Maggie! Out! Out! Out!

Freee-ee Nelson Mandela!

Whadda we want? Grants not loans! When do we want it? NOW!

Gordon Gordon Gordon out out out or Dave Dave Dave out out out just doesn't have the same ring does it.

hotpotato11 · 07/10/2009 09:45

The best thing Labour have done is to introduce working tax credits which lifted people out of the poverty trap and made working worthwhile financially.Apart from that I am struggling to think of anything good thay have done.

GhostWriter · 07/10/2009 09:48

I'd rather chew off my own arm than vote for the Conservative Party but I'm not entirely sure where that leaves me tbh. What do we DO? Who will people vote for? Will the disillusioned Labour supporters not vote or vote blue? And how on earth do you counteract that?

Can I vote Mumsnet?

serenity · 07/10/2009 09:49

The was a general climate of fear and hopelessness in the 80's - I was honestly scared of what was going to happen in the future, it just all seemed so bleak. No matter what mistakes Labour may or may not have made, we don't have that.

ChunkyKitKat · 07/10/2009 09:51

hotpotato11 - the minimum wage?

The comedy was good, Ben Elton calling her "Mrs Thatch" and all the impersonators.

GhostWriter · 07/10/2009 09:54

I was born in 1980 and remember the utter fear in my Mum's eyes some days when reading the papers. I also remember the bloke next door putting his foot through the television when Thatcher was on it.

I was part of a pit-working family, an industry that cracked my Grandad's spirit, stole his health and widowed my Grandma.

I remember the party that attracted Cameron to politics and if that's what excites him I wouldn't touch him with yours.

ChunkyKitKat · 07/10/2009 09:54

I suppose we needed the comedy serenity, what you say is true.

And the hypocrisy - Cecil Parkinson and Tim Yeo, opponents of single mothers both fathered children out of wedlock. That's victorian values for Mrs Thatcher, mistresses being kept.

GhostWriter · 07/10/2009 09:57

here

Not all relevant now, old link but there was some good stuff in there.

Chickenshavenolips · 07/10/2009 09:58

Ok, so who will we vote for next year? I remember Thatcher too well to ever vote Tory (plus Mr Cameron really makes my teeth itch). I have always voted Labour, but what I see now is a party without clear direction. They all seem a bit confused to me. So what do I do? Can you take the Lib Dems seriously?

mollythetortoise · 07/10/2009 10:00

i can't bear the tories. why are the public sector workers and ICB claimants getting the blame for the financial mess we are in.

The mess was caused by greedy bankers (I concede encouraged by GB but the tories if in power would have encouraged minimum regulation too - at least GB did use the extra tax take for good things - schools , hospitals etc).

These bankers are just carrying on as normal now, completely forgetting that if it wasn't for the bank bail out there would be no income to pay 50% tax on!

The most GO said about the bankers yesterday was a sentence as to how he was watching them and how they must be "reasonable" in their bonuses. They must be quacking in their boots.

the tories hope all the working class/middle class people will turn on each other, getting angry about neighbours with their dodgy backs and watching X factor while the real crooks continue their lives of excess wealth.

where on earth are the jobs to come from for all the ICB claimants?
It is just ridiculous and makes me very mad.

Polly Toynbee had good article yesterday in guardian. I don't always agree with her but yesterday she was spot on.

MissM · 07/10/2009 10:01

SureStart? I think the Children's Plan was a really positive step. Did Labour introduce nursery vouchers (not sure)? But I'm struggling now, even though I'd chew off my arm like Ghostwriter rather than vote Tory.

There was a genuine fear in the 80s. There was despair. Thatcher's comment that 'there's no such thing as society' hovered like a poison cloud over the UK for a very very long time.

TheGreatScootini · 07/10/2009 10:04

But im not very confident about the future NOW either..
There are lots of people who've lost their jobs or who are having to choose wether to heat or eat right now.
There are social services departments on their knees.
There are soldiers at war without the right gear and they dont know why they are there.
All im saying is yes, the 80's were dreadful, but are things so much better now?

What we really need is total electoral reform and an end to party politics all together.OK, hands up who wants to be in charge of sorting that out?

TheGreatScootini · 07/10/2009 10:05

Sure start was brilliant.But the funding has just been cut and lots of the centres are being closed down or their services cut.It's a real shame.

Glitterknickaz · 07/10/2009 10:05

The idea of having a Tory government fills me with dread.

How long before they ditch Tax Credits (introduced by Labour)?

I'm sure we're not the only family that would be on the bare bones of our bum without them.

MissM · 07/10/2009 10:06

That's quite a good list Ghostwriter (although some things are red herrings like banning fox hunting IMO). I agree with the GreatScootini that we need to think about now rather than 20 years ago, but the OP did make the point that the Tories are talking about fixing the mess that they got us in to in the first place, so I think we're justified in reminding people of the 80s!

Molly - LOL at bankers 'quacking in their boots'!

ChunkyKitKat · 07/10/2009 10:07

Yes, I'm pretty sure labour did introduce nursery vouchers.

Some people did alright in the 80s, namely the yuppies. Mrs Thatcher wanted a climate of self-reliance and family values, but it went the other way.

morningpaper · 07/10/2009 10:11

I am struggling to think of anything good thay have done.

The Mirror summarised his conference points nicely

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