"If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.” - Margaret Thatcher
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Margaret Thatcher, a prominent figure in postwar British and international politics and the only woman to serve in Downing Street's highest office, has died at the age of 87 due to complications from a stroke.
For admirers, Baroness Thatcher will be revered for propelling an economically-floundering Britain back among the leaders of the industrial nations of the world. Critics, on the other hand, will continue to label her legacy as one known for ushering in an era of greed while weakening unions and instituting unpopular tax policies. Despite divisive sentiments toward the UK's first female head of state, Margaret Thatcher was one of the defining personalities of the 20th century.
Born October 1925 in Grantham, a small city south of London, Baroness Thatcher came from a modest background, famously taking pride in being known as a grocer's daughter. Her “rags to riches” saga began at Oxford studying chemistry while simultaneously participating in her true passion, politics. She gave her first political speech at the age of 20, and her political development and popularity continued to blossom throughout and after college. In 1975, Thatcher was elected leader of the Conservative Party when the organization was in opposition.
Always aware of the barriers placed on women in leadership roles, Thatcher admitted her skepticism towards any advancements in the future. “I don’t think we will see a woman Prime Minister in my lifetime,” she said to BBC in 1973. However, in 1979, to the astonishment of much of the world, as well as herself, Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
During her time as head of the British government, she stressed moral absolutism, nationalism, and the promotion of popular capitalism throughout the UK. One of her main domestic policies involved reducing the state’s role in the economy by privatizing state-owned companies. And, like her close friend and political ally Ronald Reagan, Thatcher seemed motivated by an immoveable belief that free markets would build a better country than reliance on a strong, central government.
However, her obstinacy, especially regarding her policies towards social expenditures, were often seen as cold, harsh, and unfeeling. One of the most infamous slogans describing Thatcher followed her attempt to eliminate free milk at elementary schools earned her the name “Thatcher the milk snatcher.” Her unshaking ideals also lead to staggering unemployment rates during her leadership. With her rejection of Keynesian stimulus policies in favor on focusing on controlling inflation and endeavoring to cut the public sector workforce, unemployment reached 11.9 percent during the 1980s--holding the record for the country's highest point of unemployment, even after the 2008 recession.
Her obdurate persona was not limited to domestic policies. Nicknamed by Russian media as the “Iron Lady,” Thatcher was at her boldest when the UK was challenged. When Argentina's military seized the remote Falklands Islands from Britain in 1982, she did not hesitate to reclaim the islands--even though her senior military advisers said the attempt might not be possible.
The relatively quick triumph of British forces made Thatcher's popularity--formerly declining alongside the British economy--soar. She won an overwhelming victory in 1983, tripling her majority in the House of Commons.
She is perhaps best remembered for her insistent position during the pivotal strike in 1984 and 1985, when she faced coal miners in an ultimately successful proposal to diminish the power of Britain's unions. It was a reshaping of British economic and political foundation that endures to this day.
However, that legacy is shadowed by a miscalculation that turned her own party against her. The Community Charge or “poll tax” was designed to shift Britain away from a property tax and instead imposed a flat rate tax on every adult, except for retirees and people who were registered unemployed. The tax proved deeply unpopular. Riots ensued days after the tax was introduced, as tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in London and other surrounding cities in some of the worst rioting in the capital had seen in more than a century.
Following the riots, by March 1990 the consensus from the Conservative party, along with the majority of British voters, was that Thatcher’s reign had lingered too long. Thatcher submitted her resignation November 1990.
Despite polar views of her 11 years of leadership--the longest time served by one individual in the Prime Minister's office--Margaret Thatcher transformed Britain more profoundly than any other Prime Minister of the past half century. As the first woman to take on the role of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Thatcher proved that woman could be ardent, tenacious, and combative--a force not to be trifled with.
Photo: Williams, U.S. Military.
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Margaret Thatcher: The Iron Lady's Legacy
April 8, 2013
"If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.” - Margaret Thatcher
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Margaret Thatcher, a prominent figure in postwar British and international politics and the only woman to serve in Downing Street's highest office, has died at the age of 87 due to complications from a stroke.
For admirers, Baroness Thatcher will be revered for propelling an economically-floundering Britain back among the leaders of the industrial nations of the world. Critics, on the other hand, will continue to label her legacy as one known for ushering in an era of greed while weakening unions and instituting unpopular tax policies. Despite divisive sentiments toward the UK's first female head of state, Margaret Thatcher was one of the defining personalities of the 20th century.
Born October 1925 in Grantham, a small city south of London, Baroness Thatcher came from a modest background, famously taking pride in being known as a grocer's daughter. Her “rags to riches” saga began at Oxford studying chemistry while simultaneously participating in her true passion, politics. She gave her first political speech at the age of 20, and her political development and popularity continued to blossom throughout and after college. In 1975, Thatcher was elected leader of the Conservative Party when the organization was in opposition.
Always aware of the barriers placed on women in leadership roles, Thatcher admitted her skepticism towards any advancements in the future. “I don’t think we will see a woman Prime Minister in my lifetime,” she said to BBC in 1973. However, in 1979, to the astonishment of much of the world, as well as herself, Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
During her time as head of the British government, she stressed moral absolutism, nationalism, and the promotion of popular capitalism throughout the UK. One of her main domestic policies involved reducing the state’s role in the economy by privatizing state-owned companies. And, like her close friend and political ally Ronald Reagan, Thatcher seemed motivated by an immoveable belief that free markets would build a better country than reliance on a strong, central government.
However, her obstinacy, especially regarding her policies towards social expenditures, were often seen as cold, harsh, and unfeeling. One of the most infamous slogans describing Thatcher followed her attempt to eliminate free milk at elementary schools earned her the name “Thatcher the milk snatcher.” Her unshaking ideals also lead to staggering unemployment rates during her leadership. With her rejection of Keynesian stimulus policies in favor on focusing on controlling inflation and endeavoring to cut the public sector workforce, unemployment reached 11.9 percent during the 1980s--holding the record for the country's highest point of unemployment, even after the 2008 recession.
Her obdurate persona was not limited to domestic policies. Nicknamed by Russian media as the “Iron Lady,” Thatcher was at her boldest when the UK was challenged. When Argentina's military seized the remote Falklands Islands from Britain in 1982, she did not hesitate to reclaim the islands--even though her senior military advisers said the attempt might not be possible.
The relatively quick triumph of British forces made Thatcher's popularity--formerly declining alongside the British economy--soar. She won an overwhelming victory in 1983, tripling her majority in the House of Commons.
She is perhaps best remembered for her insistent position during the pivotal strike in 1984 and 1985, when she faced coal miners in an ultimately successful proposal to diminish the power of Britain's unions. It was a reshaping of British economic and political foundation that endures to this day.
However, that legacy is shadowed by a miscalculation that turned her own party against her. The Community Charge or “poll tax” was designed to shift Britain away from a property tax and instead imposed a flat rate tax on every adult, except for retirees and people who were registered unemployed. The tax proved deeply unpopular. Riots ensued days after the tax was introduced, as tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in London and other surrounding cities in some of the worst rioting in the capital had seen in more than a century.
Following the riots, by March 1990 the consensus from the Conservative party, along with the majority of British voters, was that Thatcher’s reign had lingered too long. Thatcher submitted her resignation November 1990.
Despite polar views of her 11 years of leadership--the longest time served by one individual in the Prime Minister's office--Margaret Thatcher transformed Britain more profoundly than any other Prime Minister of the past half century. As the first woman to take on the role of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Thatcher proved that woman could be ardent, tenacious, and combative--a force not to be trifled with.
Photo: Williams, U.S. Military.
