Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Quixote1818

(28,903 posts)
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 03:20 AM Apr 2013

Poll: Thatcher's economic policies seen as a failure after her death



Snip>

On the economic front, the record is mixed – but mostly negative. Her overall shakeup of the tax system splits the country down the middle – the 38% who support the Thatcherite move to increase VAT in order to fund income tax cuts are matched by 38% who say this fiscal switch didn't work.

It's a different story at the top end, however. The sweeping 1980s cuts to top tax rates were sold as unleashing the energy of wealth creators, but they are today judged to have failed by a substantial 47% to 28% margin.

And amid a fresh slump even deeper than that of the 1980s, the Thatcherite macroeconomic mix – namely, putting lower inflation first, and considering unemployment only second – is rejected, by a 41% to 33% margin.

Even more striking is the retrospective rejection of the archetypal institutional reform, the privatisation of utilities such as gas and water – by 49% to 35% Britons say this did not work. Last, and perhaps least surprising, there is the flagship on which Thatcher went down – the poll tax, or more properly the community charge. It is deemed a retrospective failure by a 70% to 14% margin.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/apr/09/opinion-sharply-divide-margaret-thatcher
6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Poll: Thatcher's economic policies seen as a failure after her death (Original Post) Quixote1818 Apr 2013 OP
But to conservatives failure is good Turbineguy Apr 2013 #1
They weren't seen as a failure before her death? pipoman Apr 2013 #2
Still huge divisions now, as then LeftishBrit Apr 2013 #3
I'd be interested to know the age demographics of those polled dipsydoodle Apr 2013 #4
That's good Recursion Apr 2013 #5
Look: like Reagan, she was not the sharpest knife in the drawer. bemildred Apr 2013 #6
 

pipoman

(16,038 posts)
2. They weren't seen as a failure before her death?
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 05:23 AM
Apr 2013

I think they have been seen as failure for a decade or two now...

LeftishBrit

(41,192 posts)
3. Still huge divisions now, as then
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 05:47 AM
Apr 2013

50% still think her rule was a good thing - though perhaps this is inflated right now due to her having just died.

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
4. I'd be interested to know the age demographics of those polled
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 05:54 AM
Apr 2013

because the degree to which individuals here in the UK were realistically affected on each topic is a function of age.

Taking inflation as an example - inflation figures across the '70's and 80's are displayed here : http://safalra.com/other/historical-uk-inflation-price-conversion/ Those periods of high inflation were not in the least bit funny for anyone. If those outside the UK wish to draw a comparison then figure out what the effect on your mortgage would be now if the rate now was say 16%.

I'm not saying that getting inflation down was more important than general levels of employment but don't quite understand why that specific comparison has been drawn anyway.


bemildred

(90,061 posts)
6. Look: like Reagan, she was not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 08:11 AM
Apr 2013

Trying to make sense of their economic and political theories is a waste of everyody's time.

"Privatization" is just a new name for enclosing the public commons, an old and very lucrative racket, and much easier than honest business practice.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Poll: Thatcher's economic...