# Margaret Thatcher has passed-away. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 8, 2013, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143 "2013-04-08T12:01:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/41 "2013-04-08T14:50:46Z")
> [@Charley](#): > > Nope, life peerage in her case (and lots of others - life peers are generally styled baron/ess). Reward for service etc etc Her son is a Baronet. He inherited his father’s title. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/42 "2013-04-08T14:55:24Z")
As I’ve said in the other thread I much preferred life under Thatcher than under 1970’s Labour. Still plenty to rebel against of course, lots of mistakes along the way but being fairly politically neutral I can see the good things she did for what they were rather being blinded by dogma and ideology. I personally find the celebrating of her death by some as rather distasteful and childish. I can’t imagine me ever doing that no matter who it was. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/43 "2013-04-08T15:00:18Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > - Selling off council houses cheaply to the tenants so they could become _home owners_\*\* We’re still living with the side effects of that. Yeah, how dare the little people try to become home owners, shame on them. Working class people belong in rented accommodation, preferably with tin bath and whippet. Dad down’t pub and mam whittling a stottie-cake for us tea. The problem wasn’t caused by selling them off, the problem was caused by not replacing the social housing and that is an issue not addressed by any government since. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/44 "2013-04-08T15:30:25Z")
I actually got to meet Margaret Thatcher in Parliament. I was visiting a friend, [Alan Roberts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Roberts) (Labor MP from Bootle), who was decidedly not a fan of Ms. Thatcher, nor her politics. However, as we walked through the hallway, Margaret Thatcher was coming in the other direction and Alan and Margaret greeted each other in a friendly, civil manner and Alan introduced me. She was quite gracious and certainly had one of those personalities that seemed larger than life. It was a brief moment, but quite memorable. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/45 "2013-04-08T15:46:59Z")
I’ve always admired her strong personality. Britain seemed stronger and better while she was in power. Her advice to George Bush set the tone for stopping Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. It was very fortunate that she was here visiting on the day of the invasion. These are simply my observations from reading the news in the 80’s and 90’s. I know nothing about her day to policies. I’ve always had the impression that she was well regarded as a world leader. R.I.P. Lady Thatcher ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/46 "2013-04-08T15:55:14Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > How does one go about recognising the death of someone who was virulently hated by so many during their potent years, but who deteriorated into a comatosed shell wracked by dementia in their later times? I found this poem written in [anticipation of celebrating her death](http://rozk.livejournal.com/471871.html) in my LJ feed. > [@Roz Kaveney](#): > > and so, no mercy to her. Watch her breath > stutter and fade, then drink toasts to her death. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/47 "2013-04-08T16:00:10Z")
Well, now she’s dead, and hopefully after a few days of the tasteless celebrating by the butthurt lefties still bitter that there was no way on God’s green earth any sane electorate was going to vote in a Labour government all through the 1980s, she’ll be left to rest in peace. I mean, I remember the Seventies and they were far from idyllic even if you discount the mandatory annual strike by the power or coal workers, or even the ambulance-drivers’ union leader coming over all crocodile tears and saying “If lives are lost [as a result of this strike] then that is how it must be”. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/48 "2013-04-08T16:00:56Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’ve always admired her strong personality. Britain seemed stronger and better while she was in power. Her advice to George Bush set the tone for stopping Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. Iraq did in fact invade Kuwait. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/49 "2013-04-08T16:06:57Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > One of the 20th century’s great leaders. > > Rest in peace, Baroness. I agree. A great leader and a great person. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/50 "2013-04-08T16:25:45Z")
[QUOTE=Novelty Bobble] Yeah, how dare the little people try to become home owners, shame on them. The problem wasn’t caused by selling them off, the problem was caused by not replacing the social housing… [/QUOTE] Exactly. I don’t see your point. It didn’t do much good for the little people who couldn’t afford to buy, or who lived in a crappy area. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/51 "2013-04-08T17:00:06Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Apparently so, on the scale of the Queen Mother’s, but without the lying in state bit. > > Makes me feel rather nervous… The lying in state bit would make **me** feel rather nervous . . . Close the lid, dammit! Close it! I swear I just saw her move! ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/52 "2013-04-08T17:10:01Z")
I must be psychic, or perhaps only gastric. This morning I woke up with “Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead” as an earworm. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/53 "2013-04-08T17:25:58Z")
“The world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty, and America has lost a true friend.” - President Obama paying tribute to Baroness Thatcher. April 8, 2013. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/54 "2013-04-08T17:27:53Z")
> [@Charley](#): > > Nope, life peerage in her case (and lots of others - life peers are generally styled baron/ess). Reward for service etc etc And to prevent their possible return to Commons? 😉 IIRC Bush 1 was originally ready to accept Saddam’s conquest of Kuwait - there was talk in DC along the lines of “So there’s a different sign on the gas station, so what?” - but Thatcher goaded him into the Gulf War instead. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/55 "2013-04-08T19:17:30Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Yeah, how dare the little people try to become home owners, shame on them. Working class people belong in rented accommodation, preferably with tin bath and whippet. Dad down’t pub and mam whittling a stottie-cake for us tea. > > The problem wasn’t caused by selling them off, the problem was caused by not replacing the social housing and that is an issue not addressed by any government since. Clearly there was no way to predict that forcing councils to sell off their housing stock while hobbling their finances would lead to a reduction in available council housing. As for those “home owners”, the subsidised prices they were given encouraged the flipping of the former council houses, generally to private landlords and most of those once-council houses are no private-rentals at much higher prices. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/56 "2013-04-08T19:18:47Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’ve always admired her strong personality. Britain seemed stronger and better while she was in power. Her advice to George Bush set the tone for stopping Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. It was very fortunate that she was here visiting on the day of the invasion. > > These are simply my observations from reading the news in the 80’s and 90’s. I know nothing about her day to policies. I’ve always had the impression that she was well regarded as a world leader. > > R.I.P. Lady Thatcher The Gulf War would never have happened without her. At least, without all the weapons [she sold Saddam](http://www.ft.com/cms/s/52add2c4-30b4-11e1-9436-00144feabdc0,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F52add2c4-30b4-11e1-9436-00144feabdc0.html&_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tinyrevolution.com%2Fmt%2Farchives%2F003683.html#axzz2Pshz8dBE). ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/57 "2013-04-08T20:35:17Z")
Ronald Reagan this morning, in Hell: > [@](#): > > “Well, it looks like I’ll finally have something to fuck!” ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/58 "2013-04-08T20:57:01Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Ex politicians of note often get a seat in the House of Lords once they leave the House of Commons. ‘Baroness’ is just the title that happened to go with that gong. Traditionally retired PMs were created Earls (Churchill was offered a Dukedom); Labour PMs have traditonally declined hereditary titles, and AFAIK life peerages & knighthoods. > [@Claverhouse](#): > > …When she was given a title they considered making it hereditary, but then realised it would pass to her son, Mark Thatcher. Yet her husband, Dennis Thatcher, was created a [baronet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thatcher_baronets), the last hereditary title for a non-royal. It did pass to Mark. ---
**Author:** ![Saraya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Saraya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saraya)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/59 "2013-04-08T21:34:56Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > And tramp the dirt down? > > For good or ill, she leaves a legacy that can’t be easily dismissed. Sadly all that good work has been soiled by spiteful ingrates whom had no appreciation for her tireless effort to make Britain a respectable force in the world’s big game of power chess. I find it horrifically shortsighted and ignorant to hear comments like ‘Thatcher caused the mess the UK is in today’ Newsflash: Unchecked immigration, overextension of relations to the middle east, Labour run amok, being a member of the European Union and spending more time worrying about publication of the X-factor than homeless children, pretty much sums up Britain’s downfall. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143/60 "2013-04-09T00:36:52Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Traditionally retired PMs were created Earls (Churchill was offered a Dukedom); Labour PMs have traditonally declined hereditary titles, and AFAIK life peerages & knighthoods. Nope, Atlee became an Earl ( hered ) [labour], as did Sir Antony Eden, conservative, and various pre-wwii prime ministers, of whatever party. Douglas-Home began the tradition of only taking a life peerage and he was conservative, not to mention he had given up an earldom in order to become a pm. Callaghan and Wilson, labour, both took life peerages: Heath and Blair, conservative, refused all peerages. In general Labour likes to reward rich donors, think-tank types, lawyers and dinner-party guests etc., with life peerages and knighthoods, plus a few thrown to please the mob such as sportsmen and crossing guards; but they reserve a proportion for ex-labour-mps and party workers. > [@](#): > > Yet her husband, Dennis Thatcher, was created a [baronet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thatcher_baronets), the last hereditary title for a non-royal. It did pass to Mark. Baronets today have as much gravitas and influence as they do in Wodehouse stories. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/margaret-thatcher-has-passed-away/655143.md?page=4)