Thatchers Last Wish - Another Clunker from the Iron Lady

Forbes ^ | 4/14/13 | Eamonn Fingleton

[goodnesswins]

The news today is that a group of supporters of Margaret Thatcher are pushing a plan to establish a museum and library as a permanent memorial to her. It is clear that the plan, which would establish a first in British politics, has been long in the making and that it not only had Thatcher’s approval but she herself largely instigated the idea. This is another clunker from the Iron Lady – a final terrible idea from a woman who, pace all current hagiography, will be remembered as one of the worst British political leaders of modern times.

[MinuteGal]

The last thing that the Brit socialists, commies, leftists, radicals, marxists, Labourites, muzzie-importers and union thugs want is a Thatcher memorial library/learning center where the populace can have access to educational materials, audios and visuals on the free enterprise system and the principles and tenets of cultural and economic liberty.

The Occupy Picadilly Circus crowd will probably try to burn down the proposed edifice the first week it opens.

Leni

[Hardraade]

Fingleton? Is that like a gay Singleton?

[PAR35]

I guess this is what happens when a magazine is run by the son of a homo.

[madison10]

Too bad they couldn’t put it on Reagan’s ranch, or at least near President Reagan’s museum/library.

[Carriage Hill]

We all know how well that worked out:

[navymom1]

A Friggen-men!!!

[x]

Fingleton is something of a crank. His 1995 book, Blindside: Why Japan Is Still on Track to Overtake the U.S. by the Year 2000 has so far turned out to be laughably untrue (though China may overtake us soon if it hasn't already). Why would you make a prediction like that when Japan was already in economic trouble and set it only 5 years in the future?

On the other hand, he's right to be concerned about industrial decline in the West. He gives Thatcher credit for getting the unions under control, but blames her for promoting a "post-industrial" future of financial services and information technology to the detriment of hard industry. He does have a point there, and one that deserves to be made, though singling out Thatcher for blame is a cheap shot.

I'm pretty sure that he's wrong about museums to former prime ministers. I'm pretty sure you can visit some of the houses they lived in -- and some are impressive. There are no American-style "Presidential libraries" but it would be wrong to say that Britain hasn't memorialized Wellington, Disraeli, Palmerston, Lloyd George, or Churchill.

As a journalist from Britain (or Ireland) Fingleton has a lot of excess bile and resentment. That probably keeps him going. He's not very accurate and certainly does give offense to a lot of people, but I guess it sells papers over there.

[melsec]

My Aunt, who lives in England, has been a staunch Unionist for much of her life. She commented to me a number of years back that while she did not like Maggie she credited her with saving England from becoming a third world economy. She also said don’t let Muslims into your country!

Mel

[RobO1125]

Redcoat socialists absolutely hated Thatcher, and still do now that she’s gone.

Add yet another reason to honor her.

[GeronL]

Wow.

WHo would publish this screed?

[goodnesswins]

WOW....your Aunt at least has had her eyes open!

[goodnesswins]

Good idea....Reagan Ranch should add a “Thatcher Wing”

[dennisw]

He makes many good points here.

[dennisw]

He makes many good points here.

[dennisw]

Protectionism aka mercantilism works in many times and many places. America was once a mercantilist protectionist nation and we grew. We kept out cheap British exports and tarrifs were the main source of Federal revenue before the Income Tax of 1913 . The current winners from such policies are China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan. Their climb up the tech& industrial ladder was facilitated by America being wide open to their exports and thus allowing American industries to be decimated. Japan would never allow such policies in a million years nor would China. Latin America is too undisciplined to make such policies work. But disciplined intelligent nations can make a go of it.

Japan is a very wealthy place. Other nations would love to have this alleged stagnation...which is 99% hype and ridiculous

[melsec]

Funnily enough though she still is a lefty on Social issues.

Mel

[fieldmarshaldj]

Eamonn, you ignorant slut.

[hinckley buzzard]

An article about Maggie Thatcher written by an Irishman is no way to get to the truth. The Irish separatists hated Thatcher because she held the line against Irish terror. Forbes is delinquent in their duty by publishing this partisan hack as if he were no more than an objective observer.