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Not a single mention of the Thatcher government in the 1970s, that sold off public-owed industries like British Coal and British Steel, and then set about acqui

Not a single mention of the Thatcher government in the 1970s, that sold off public-owed industries like British Coal and British Steel, and then set about acquiring and breaking up the shipyards themselves for scrap. All of it was worth more smashed up and sold for scrap, for the little quick "fix" that the Money Junkies in the Conservative government wanted. Unemployment and poverty rose steadily except for the bankers and politicians, the UK lost just about all forms of skilled industry, and by 1987 it was all over with the Stock Market Crash that obliterated the economy. We've had about 45 years of Tory misrule and right now there are no political parties prepared to effect any improvement. It's all bleating about how "illegal immigrants in small boats" are costing billions, but no real breakdown of where the money is going.

MichaelZuo 1y ago
Well after 45 years isn’t that just reflecting what the median voter actually cares about (or doesn’t care about)? If voters were genuinely willing to expend their political capital, time, attention, energy, etc., to a significant degree on this issue, year and year for 45 years… there’s no amount of party intrigues that could have blocked it.
- Tade0 1y ago
  Don't underestimate the power of divide and conquer. Over here we had miners, farmers, steelmill and shipyard workers protesting due to similar reasons and for the majority the takeaway wasn't that those industries were in danger, but that the protesters demanded too much, because that's what people with influence said.
  - MichaelZuo 1y ago
    Of course there will always be various motivated factions looking to divide and conquer… that’s the baseline background noise in any ruling or opposition party. And the minimum expectation, to advance any policy at all, is to be able to resist that and have leftover political capital, energy, time, etc., above and beyond.
justincormack 1y ago
Thatcher was elected in 1979 so was not involved in the 1979s when there was a Labour government.
- ErroneousBosh 1y ago
  Do you notice that the graph in that article heads rapidly south in 1979/1980?

MichaelZuo 1y ago

Well after 45 years isn’t that just reflecting what the median voter actually cares about (or doesn’t care about)? If voters were genuinely willing to expend their political capital, time, attention, energy, etc., to a significant degree on this issue, year and year for 45 years… there’s no amount of party intrigues that could have blocked it.

Tade0 1y ago
Don't underestimate the power of divide and conquer. Over here we had miners, farmers, steelmill and shipyard workers protesting due to similar reasons and for the majority the takeaway wasn't that those industries were in danger, but that the protesters demanded too much, because that's what people with influence said.
- MichaelZuo 1y ago
  Of course there will always be various motivated factions looking to divide and conquer… that’s the baseline background noise in any ruling or opposition party. And the minimum expectation, to advance any policy at all, is to be able to resist that and have leftover political capital, energy, time, etc., above and beyond.

justincormack 1y ago

Thatcher was elected in 1979 so was not involved in the 1979s when there was a Labour government.

ErroneousBosh 1y ago
Do you notice that the graph in that article heads rapidly south in 1979/1980?