A few days ago, London's iconic Trafalgar Square was crowded with people from every corner of leftist Britain gathering to celebrate the death of Britain's infamous stateswoman, Margaret Thatcher. Whether you praise or abhor the basis for such a celebration, the occasion does truly signify the Thatcher legacy. Margaret Thatcher was a bold leader who dramatically changed the face of Britain and helped erode the face of Communist Europe. She was decisive, steadfast, and bold. But at the same time she was ruthless and unsympathetic to her opposition. Through her eyes, it was either her way, the way of freedom and privatization, or the way of totalitarianism and social decay, even if her way meant losing the jobs of thousands of workers and letting their children starve.
To the many Britons who suffered under her policies, Thatcher was a tyrant who used their suffering to benefit politically. To these Britons, Thatcher showed a wanton disposition to their livelihood, much as a workhouse keeper would show to Oliver Twist. To these Britons, she was a leader that was more than willing to hand over state funds to fight a meaningless war in the Falklands than to help them put bread on the table.
Margaret Thatcher left Britain better off economically, but politically she left a completely polarized political landscape, and much like their counterparts in America, the left leaning Labor Party abandoned leftist Britain for a more moderate alternative, thereby further infuriating the left. Today, Britons are more divided than ever, in particular over austerity measures which sparked responses in the form of UK uncut and the Occupy Movement.
Lady Thatcher's legacy differs sharply from that of her counterpart, President Ronald Reagan. While President Reagan was a bold conservative like her who dramatically changed his country and sought to challenge the Soviet Empire, he was able to develop a national narrative that included everyone. He didn't leave a good portion of Americans behind when considering how to approach policy. While his policies did benefit the wealthy far more than the rest of America, this didn't cause another group to suffer gratuitously. He was willing to compromise when necessary. In 1987 he increased taxes on the wealthy and closed loopholes, and in 1986 he granted amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Reagan's narrative wasn't about liberals versus patriots or workers versus management. It was about Americans for America. Perhaps it was because Reagan got his training in Hollywood as opposed to a grocery store, but Reagan was able to communicate to all Americans far better than Thatcher was able to communicate to all Britons. As a result, following Reagan's death, no death parties were organized to commemorate the occasion.
At least politically, Thatcher's legacy matches President George W Bush's far more than Reagan's. The Bush Administration actively ignored its opposition which included scientists, clergymen, environmentalists, the UN, and budget experts. His message for America was if you don't support me, you are no better than the terrorists. The result was an America torn in two, an enraged left inspired by President Barack Obama to change the injustices born from the previous administration, and an extremist right that has declared war on progress and the process of government itself. Now the American political system is broken, and basic government functions such as making a national budget go ignored while irresponsible sequesters, set up to encourage action, fail to forge compromise.
In reality, Margaret Thatcher probably wouldn't have been appalled by these signs of celebration following her death. To her, they would've been identical to her expereince at 10 Downings Street. Her reign was marked by massive public protests, anti establishment punk rock music, and riots, She would probably take comfort in this image of death as her ultimate triumph. While the brutes carry on with they banners spewing hateful rhetoric such as "Ding Dong the Bitch is Dead," her face retains its iron exterior. That which is unchanged and unmoved.
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