I turn 30 in just 11 days, so I was born during the era of Thatcherism. To many people, that means I am too young to remember and therefore should not have my say! But I am studying politics and one of my most recent books I had to read included the ideology that became a part of Thatcherism. I have also read enough news stories online and seen numerous documentaries where she was mentioned. I have even seen Billy Elliott the Musical, which quite honestly paints a very negative picture of her. The point is that many young people can still understand the past even if we did not live through it, or even if we just young children at the time.
The one thing I do remember growing up was the fact my mother always voted for the conservatives during a general elections. I don't know why she did, she just did in my eyes. The other thing was having milk at school as I was one of those children who was affected by the removal of milk from school children. I don't remember what year it was and I don't remember how old I was when the milk stopped, but I do remember suddenly hating milk. Perhaps if it had not been taken away, I would willingly drink it these days without the need for flavouring it! But that is something we will never find out!
Over the past 24 hours, I have read many tweets, Facebook status updates and news reports about how she changed Britain for the better and I have read many that says she did not! The people who mourn are disgusted with those celebrating her death, but can you blame them? They are still angry with what she did and with how she destroyed so many lives! And the worst thing is, that we are still feeling those effects just a mere twenty years after she resigned as Prime Minister. I know, I am one of those people affected. Her sale of social housing may have helped people onto the housing ladder but it produced a major housing shortage, which is strongly felt today. I am one of those people stuck on a long waiting list for a property that may never come. I have waited NINE years and I am so close to the top but it does not mean I will get a property.
They said she brought prosperity, but yet there were TWO recessions during her three terms in office. We were in the midst of one when she resigned. She was friends with leaders who were reknown for being dictators and creating oppression and she even called a symbol of hope, Nelson Mandela, a terrorist. Spending increased in all but two years of her term and yet somehow income tax was reduced. It seems to me that many of the problems we face today do in fact stem from the result of her policies and it is my generation and my children who are the ones who have to live with those consequences!
I know a number of people through Facebook and my university degree, who do remember what it was like and did suffer the consequences of her actions. Not one of them has a good word to say and simply think Good Riddance to her. So yes, I was one of those celebrating her death and yes, I brought Ding Dong the Witch is Dead (but my daughter loves the Wizard of Oz, so it was a good excuse) and I won't apologise towards anyone offended by my feelings towards her. I can hope that the UK public will come to realise that neither the Tories or Labour are doing much good for this great nation of ours and when they do, that they vote in a party who truly has the best interests of the public in mind when it comes to implementing policies!
I know a number of people through Facebook and my university degree, who do remember what it was like and did suffer the consequences of her actions. Not one of them has a good word to say and simply think Good Riddance to her. So yes, I was one of those celebrating her death and yes, I brought Ding Dong the Witch is Dead (but my daughter loves the Wizard of Oz, so it was a good excuse) and I won't apologise towards anyone offended by my feelings towards her. I can hope that the UK public will come to realise that neither the Tories or Labour are doing much good for this great nation of ours and when they do, that they vote in a party who truly has the best interests of the public in mind when it comes to implementing policies!
