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Topic History of: Thatcher again....
Max. showing the last 5 posts - (Last post first)
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Mr Reason |
So where do you stand on the 'blobbing on' culture of the Dock Labour Scheme?
No work, but the union says you still get paid if you turn up, sign on, and then are free to leave and have the day to yourself...........and you did.....and that your sons will join the scheme to the detriment of 'outsiders' who couldn't apply.....an example of 'no work setting you free'
For all arguments there are counter arguments, and I'll argue with the best of them from my perspective, just as you do. Quotes can be quoted and seem clever when they suit the argument, but seem contrived when they are shoe horned to support a weaker case...........
Sometimes, divide and rule is used to support the Thatcher retrospective, even as you say, it might not have been intentional.......so if something is unintentional, it can't really be used as a retropective stick to beat with as a policy decision....a case of an emotive phrase being used and applied to support the view, but not really an accurate description of the policy as originally concieved. It might perhaps be an effect, but it is not a direct policy in conception. Subtle difference, but it gets lost..........
: - ) just saying like............. |
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hedda |
so True what you are giving us is a perfect example of 'divide & rule' which is what happened under Thatcherism.
One great success she had was in dividing the working class.
And I don't think she knew she was doing it at the time or intended for that to happen.
Just a blinkered old fashion lower middle class concept still expounded today that 'hard work will set you free' and is the road to prosperity and so on.
And as wising men have said...if hard word was rewarded every woman in Africa would be a millionaire.  |
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Mr Reason |
I know the debates, I know the polarised views and each can be argued with varying degress of success....but I'd like to add this perspective and hopefuly certain things will become clearer . It won't settle anything, but it adds perspective that is often lacking....
My family are working class, my dad worked manually, my mum didn't. 2 child family, growing up in the 70s as small children, in the 80s as teenagers. My dad wasn't out of work for too long in the 70's , but he did have spells out of work. He wasn't unionised, didn't work for manufacturing, worked at times for the local council before joining British Rail in the very late 70s as Thatcher came along..........so 1 WORKING parent, 2 children. Times were tough, we went without, and I remember 3 day weeks and bread strikes as a kid, and having no money......the 80s however, in my family were brilliant....my dad had a steady job, we were finally able to have familiy holidays and there was a little spare cash left over.......we felt we were on the up because the hard work was paying off...and it coincided with Thatcher....it wasn't because of her entirely, but we didn't have to put up with energy cuts and bread shortages
Then we had close relations, an uncle whose family were dockers. They worked only when there was work about or ships in, but still got paid, were firmly died in wool labour voters, were very well paid and had their childrens names down in the dock labour scheme to follow in their footsteps...all cosy rosey for them....latest gadgets, dad on strike whenever the miners or other unions needed flying picket help.....and a job for life. Their experience of the 70s was far happier and rosier than mine ! The DLS was scrapped and my cousins were suddenly faced with having to find a proper job after being told by their dad for years that they didn't need to do well at school, your off on the docks, job for life son.....
Which family perspective is correct ? Which family doesn't mind Thatcher , which one hates her?
....and finally .......these communities that are talked about that Thatcher destroyed, and who now say that there has been no future since then.......did they give the hard woring / out of work families like my dads any second thought when we were struggling , when they had jobs for life and a rosier outlook? NO, so why is their predicament worse then my dads in the 70s made worse by striking unions!? |
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