Breaking news: Margaret Thatcher has died

[garbon]

That is because, and this is my personal impression, deep down and excepting an extremely vocal fringe, you Yanks are largely speaking extremely reverential of your authority figures, and the president is the top dog amongst them. You may not like him, and despise government and bureaucracy, but damn, he's the motherfucking president.

I think you're confusing extreme reverence with a simple respect for the office.

Indeed. We talk a lot of shit about our presidents.

I covered that in the bolded part. You might talk shit about them, of course, that always happens in any democracy, but at the end of the day the president is, broadly speaking, extremely respected.

If you're talking a lot of shit about someone - where's the respect?

[garbon]

and I'm saying it is.

Well I hope you and Marti are very happy together.

[crazy canuck]

and I'm saying it is.

You were the one celebrating her death

[Viking]

I just wonder why "half of them weren't even alive when she was the prime minister" is used against those who celebrate her death, whereas the same can be said about those who venerate her. 

Good point.

Not only that, but it's been pretty much argued here from the beginning here that Thatcher's legacy remains in modern day Britain and elsewhere today. In other words, the kids today are still feeling the results of her policies, and (rightly or wrongly) feel that they are negatively effected by them.

The problem with that is that every PM since has maintained them. Thatcher is a convenient target that makes the complainers feel good and brave rather than actually doing something about it, which would mean going after Cameron, Brown, Blair and Major.

This is more about the frustration of impotence rather than actually resolving any issues.

[grumbler]

I covered that in the bolded part. You might talk shit about them, of course, that always happens in any democracy, but at the end of the day the president is, broadly speaking, extremely respected.

What part of the US are you from? 

[Jacob]

I covered that in the bolded part. You might talk shit about them, of course, that always happens in any democracy, but at the end of the day the president is, broadly speaking, extremely respected.

What part of the US are you from? 

I'm guessing a part where they haven't had any street parties to celebrate the death of a former president?

[garbon]

I covered that in the bolded part. You might talk shit about them, of course, that always happens in any democracy, but at the end of the day the president is, broadly speaking, extremely respected.

What part of the US are you from? 

I'm guessing a part where they haven't had any street parties to celebrate the death of a former president?

So that's the division on whether or not you respect someone? How about wanting to name a water treatment sewage plant after a former president? Is that respectful?

http://wonkette.com/401221/george-w-bush-sewage-treatment-plant-one-step-closer-to-american-reality

[Viking]

I covered that in the bolded part. You might talk shit about them, of course, that always happens in any democracy, but at the end of the day the president is, broadly speaking, extremely respected.

What part of the US are you from? 

I'm guessing a part where they haven't had any street parties to celebrate the death of a former president?

So that's the division on whether or not you respect someone? How about wanting to name a water treatment sewage plant after a former president? Is that respectful?

http://wonkette.com/401221/george-w-bush-sewage-treatment-plant-one-step-closer-to-american-reality

One of the fundamental building blocks of civilization? Clean water is a pre-requisite for life itself. Having a sewage treatment plant named after oneself is a tribute.

[garbon]

Having a sewage treatment plant named after oneself is a tribute.

[Josephus]

and I'm saying it is.

Well I hope you and Marti are very happy together.

That sounds so kinky....

[Martinus]

I just wonder why "half of them weren't even alive when she was the prime minister" is used against those who celebrate her death, whereas the same can be said about those who venerate her. 

Good point.

Not only that, but it's been pretty much argued here from the beginning here that Thatcher's legacy remains in modern day Britain and elsewhere today. In other words, the kids today are still feeling the results of her policies, and (rightly or wrongly) feel that they are negatively effected by them.

It doesn't just need to be that. I can see how a lot of people may be disgusted by her questionable record on human rights (support for Pinochet or apartheid, anti-gay policies) without being affected by it.

[garbon]

and I'm saying it is.

Well I hope you and Marti are very happy together.

That sounds so kinky....

What's a few feet between friends?

[garbon]

I just wonder why "half of them weren't even alive when she was the prime minister" is used against those who celebrate her death, whereas the same can be said about those who venerate her. 

Good point.

Not only that, but it's been pretty much argued here from the beginning here that Thatcher's legacy remains in modern day Britain and elsewhere today. In other words, the kids today are still feeling the results of her policies, and (rightly or wrongly) feel that they are negatively effected by them.

It doesn't just need to be that. I can see how a lot of people may be disgusted by her questionable record on human rights (support for Pinochet or apartheid, anti-gay policies) without being affected by it.

To the extent that you go and party after her death? Seems like you'd just be a person looking for an excuse to party given the number of people that have questionable records on that.

[Josephus]

I just wonder why "half of them weren't even alive when she was the prime minister" is used against those who celebrate her death, whereas the same can be said about those who venerate her. 

Good point.

Not only that, but it's been pretty much argued here from the beginning here that Thatcher's legacy remains in modern day Britain and elsewhere today. In other words, the kids today are still feeling the results of her policies, and (rightly or wrongly) feel that they are negatively effected by them.

The problem with that is that every PM since has maintained them. Thatcher is a convenient target that makes the complainers feel good and brave rather than actually doing something about it, which would mean going after Cameron, Brown, Blair and Major.

This is more about the frustration of impotence rather than actually resolving any issues.

But I can argue that they might feel that that is the problem. Thatcher started something that moved England so far right, that even the labour party is now a centrist, or centre-right party.
That's part of her legacy. I realize that to most of you thats a good thing. But there are some elements for whom it isn't.

And let's face it, I'l admit as well,  a lot of those out there partying are just partying for the hell of it. When I was in my 20s and the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series twice, I went out and partied. I have yet to actually see a baseball game.

But don't dismiss them just because they're young and weren't around in the 80s.

[garbon]

But don't dismiss them just because they're young and weren't around in the 80s.

As CC said, I think the onus of justification falls to those that decide to have a party to celebrate the death of a fellow human.