Rapscallion “Thatcher's great dream was to turn a nation of corner-shop grocers and coal miners into a nation of shareholders and council-house owners.”

I suppose those who were not there might consider her in that manner but, as someone who was there at the time, the facts and the truth was entirely different.

But even if those were her goals, they are better goals than us all to be merely the vassals of the state ruled through the yoke of socialism.

Lets face it, private ownership works better than state ownership and Australia still aspires to being a nation of home owners rather than a bunch of tenants.

So none of what you claim would stand even passing inspection..

but then that is also the Krudd agenda.. prepare a grandiose budget based on fraudulent forecasts of future growth and ignoring interest rate increases, whilst he continues to ham-string employment opportunities and business with a debilitating Emissions Trading Scheme…

policies which mean we will all share equally in socialist poverty

The same sort of policies which Margaret Thatcher was elected to overthrow back in the 1970’s.

As for the Falklands war… initiated by a south American dictator.. I suggest you back up your spew by justifying his claim to the illegal military occupation of the Falklands as easily as you criticize Thatchers opposition to it

Pericles, "It cannot be a coincidence, one suspects, that the current edition of The Economist runs a piece on Thatcherism." No coincidence, much of the Uk media wrote articles on the 30th anniversary of Mrs T's accession.

Rapscallion, "As for Rudd? Fabulously disappointing." Not to those who know him, he's living up to my extremely low and negative expectations. Though the GFC is, unfortunately, giving him more scope/excuse to wreak havoc than I foresaw.

It will be a long time before we recover from Rudd's depredations.

Let it go Col, your dealing with an intelligent, articulate, well read and sometimes funny poster however, it is clearly sufferning the "Croaker Syndrome". Those with a despondent, defeatist, grumbling, rumor-mongering enmity that prevents facts ever replacing a stubborn ideology.

Well Margaret Thatcher won't be back but there is a new Kid on the block who is brillaint.Daneil Hannan.Go to youtube and see him tear Gordon Brown to pieces.

Over 2 million people have viewed this video.
Daniel will be the next conservative leader who believes in the free markets,small Govt and personal liberties.

....and then dearest margaret introduced her poll-tax.......

In wanting a Thatcher type, Paul Kerin apparently wants someone who was deeply involved in causing this mess. Good news, Paul: that's exactly the type Obama and Brown have been using.