[claytonender]

Originally Posted by Cyfr
'Yes, the way Thatcher went about things made many people unemployed, but the previous socialist government had wrecked the economy, was keeping millions of people in work when there was no profit to be made. How are you supposed to sustain millions of workers who are a burden on your ecnonomy because your throwing money at them when you could get coal etc cheaper elsewhere?'

I know you mean well, but maybe some day you will made unemployed, because it is cheaper to employ someone in another country, or anyone of a number of econmic issues. Then you will understand that it is no consolation that you losing your job makes the company more profitable or viable. I was made redundant twice during the Thatcher/Major years - the first time in 1984 I applied for lots of jobs, only to fell the same sense of rejection every time I received a 'sorry you are not suitable' letter. It was 18 months before I managed to get new permanent job, I can't even begin to describe the feelings of worthlessness that I endured in that time.
The 2nd time I was made redundant in 1996, I decided that as I had 10 years left to work, I would 'Temp' via an accountancy agency, so at least for the last 10 years of my working life, I would be in charge of my life. I wouldn't have an employer telling me when I could have my holidays, or that I had to work overtime etc. I knew I probably wouldn't have a job the next week, but at least I knew no one could make me redundant again. As things turned out I oly didn't work for about 20eeks in the 10 years - and this wasn't consecuatively.
It might seem glib to say there were 5 million unemployed, but remember that is 5 million people who felt their world had ended - they had families to feed and clothe, mortgages to pay, just think of the worries they had.
In fact we are still reaping the after effects of mass unemployment - not everyone was fortunate to get another job that utilised their skills to the full. Also lots of people now in their 30's who left school in the Thatcher /Major era were forced to take jobs for which they were far to overqualified academically, because there was only the YTS on £26.00 a week. They quite often had to get any job going because their families couldn't afford for them not to be working.
As for getting coal cheaper elsewhere, what about the pending crisis we now have with gas. Also selling off the utility companies, ment that they were more interested in making profits for shareholders, and giving massive bonuses to directors than serving their customers. High fuel prices, especially effect the people on the lowest incomes.