[Bifta]

Originally Posted by towny

1. The two are not necessarily mutually exclusive. If she actually loved Denis, (and it seems from her reaction at his death that she really, really did) why would it represent an abandonment of her principles to marry him, just because he was rich?

I prefer to think of it as just another rung up the ladder for her.

2. An act of the Major Government, not Thatcher. Incredibly stupid, but not something you can attribute to her.

You think once she was out of office she had no influence? Major was just a weak minded caricature of her.

3. Not something I'm qualified to comment on, really - you are in a better position to know than me!

There's a great song about her, (one of many), the chorus goes something like "I'd like to shove her, I'd like to shove her, I'd like to shove her .. off Mt. Errigal!"

4. Do we need a manufacturing industry? (This is a serious question about globalisation, I'm not being facetious)

At the time I'd say the jobs were definately needed.

6. The invasion - why?

If we're going to answer questions with questions, why was it sunk 200 miles outside the exclusion zone?

7. Yes. Same as any world leader is best buddies with whichever despotic madman it is expedient to be best buddies with. It stinks, but it's how world affairs works so I don't think it's fair to single her out for it.

It's difficult not to single someone out when they're the topic of conversation.

8. Our coal imports will drop as our aging power stations are decommissioned. Coal is not an environmentally benign fuel, either to mine or to burn. We are better off without it.

"Will drop" being the operative phrase, a lot of the miners back then would now be approaching retirement age, why not phase out the mines gradually over a longer period of time? (As opposed to announcing 20,000 job losses)

9. How far should the Government of a mature democracy go in enforcing nutrition on the population? (Another serious question - it's all to easy to caricature someone as a demon, especially in policies relating to children. defend the policy of free school milk.)

It's not a case of them choosing not to offer such a facility, it's the fact that they removed it, I could just picture a tory minister stealing sweets from children (and then giving them to someone who already had a bag full )