Why Does Margaret Thatcher Matter?
I'm working on the revised introduction to my book, and I'm curious about your first thoughts about that question. I'd also be curious to know how you've revised them, if you have, since the last edition was released last year. Doesn't matter if you've read it, I'm just curious about perceptions.
I'd also appreciate any interesting links you've seen to anything written about her lately that I may have missed--particularly in places where the breadth of her influence is often underestimated, for example the developing countries that initiated market liberalization in the wake of the Thatcher revolution.
Or, frankly, I'm procrastinating. But it feels more like working on what I'm supposed to do than contemplating the Greco-Roman influence on Western culture or reading the new Wikileaks cables on Turkey. And yes, I managed to convince myself, yesterday, that nothing could be a more important use of my time, so I lost a day. Work really does consist of whatever a body is obliged to do, and play really does consist of whatever a body is not obliged to do.
- Comment (25)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments :
Apr '11
Re: Why Does Margaret Thatcher Matter?
I must say looking out over the world. Thatcher matters now more then ever because we have no one any where with either her guts, determination or moral rectitude. I mean she seems almost an unreal figure in many ways. A kind of King Arthur. Every nation needs a Thatcher some time in their history, and we certainly could use one now.
Aug '11
Re: Why Does Margaret Thatcher Matter?
I should be working, too, but I cannot pass up this opportunity to gush over your book. It is the best book I've read in a while. I learned a lot, and it was such fun! Your style of writing it, the way you pulled back the curtain to show yourself researching, was an absolute pleasure. I lived through Thatcher and admired her a lot, so I'm sure that the reminiscing aspect of it added to my pleasure, but I thought you hit the perfect tone of scholarly yet human with just a touch of gossip. Also fabulous, I think, is the way you directed us to YouTube. I ended up watching a lot of clips, b/c that really helps one appreciate her truly amazing and charismatic speaking skills in a way that no book could. The world could use another Thatcher now. Merkel might have moved that way if the Germans weren't so far left. Who could lead like Thatcher did?
May '10
Re: Why Does Margaret Thatcher Matter?
Did Margaret matter? Or did she only forestall the inevitable heartbreaking decline? Lady Thatcher threw her country a lifeline and they ignored it. Instead they decided to fall back into the arms of the parental state. In the end, when he enemies couldn't get to her, her "friends" took her out.
Today Mommy and Daddy have no money. Uncle Tony and Uncle Gordon sold all the gold at rock bottom prices. The monarchy is a collection of inbred gits and the ruling class is clueless.
So, did she matter?
Oct '10
Re: Why Does Margaret Thatcher Matter?
Well, I think it's obvious why Mrs. Thatcher matters: Americans desperately want a Thatcher of their own. If you look at the past two years, I think it's clear that Americans do not want another Ronald Reagan: we want a Margaret Thatcher. Just look at Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann and the dozens of Republican women who ran for office in 2010.
May '10
Re: Why Does Margaret Thatcher Matter?
As I remember, Claire, you make clear in the book that Thatcher matters because she understood that "the conflict" was more than just a political horse race or even a battle of public policy ideas. It was (and still is) a conflict of national character and morals; deeply rooted and much more important than just the next year's election. She knew this and had the courage to say so.
Thatcher vanquished the immediate foes of her era, but sadly the underlying rot in the culture resurfaced after she left office. I just stumbled into an interview by Rod Dreher that has nothing explicit to so with Thatcher but illustrates how much the national dysfunction that she feared has spread.
It is telling that the values championed by "the shopkeeper's daughter" have found their last refuge in small populations of immigrant shopkeepers.