Thatcher
Okay, I grew up in the eighties too...

As for Thatcher, she did indeed take on the might of the trade unions and gave one or two the shoe in the testicles that they deserved.

However:

1) Economic Growth

While Britain enjoyed economic growth in the 1980s, we should also remember that Britain's economic policy was no more than a rehash of America's post WW1 market deregulation strategy, which led to a similar "boom" followed by a protracted recession toward the latter part of the 1980s. Simply put, you cannot just leave the markets to their own devices, as sooner or later you're going to have to either cool an overheating economy or prop up sagging confidence with an injection of cash - in the form of reducing tax burdens, thus freeing up spending power.

Thatcher got the latter part right, but ignored the warning signs and instead did little to reign in subsequent growth.

2) Domestic Policy

If you owned your own business between 1981 and 1987, you'd love Thatcher and probably still do. However, for vast tracts of the country previously dominated by mining and manufacture were subject to a prolonged depression, which Thatcher did fuck all to mitigate, in the belief that "the free market would sort it out". Manufacturing and skills, which were exported worldwide dwindled in the 1980s, by deliberate policy.

This is why Britain lacks the expertise to build her own nuclear power stations today, despite being the first nation on Earth to open a commercial nuclear power plant in the mid 1950s. Name an independent British car manufacturer while you're at it too.

3) Unemployment

While you might view this as an unfortunate side effect of the hangover from the 1970s, it remains clear that four million unemployed, without adequate means to support them was a massive blight on Thatcher's record. My father was amongst them.

Being told "Get on your bike and look for work" was an insult too far for many. Simply put, the state lacked both the means and the compassion to deal with four million people desperately in need of retraining because their historical industries were dismantled.

4) Poll Tax

Everyone regardless of their means is expected to pay a local tax. Discuss.

5) Utilities

Sell 'em off! It worked for a while, as "consumers" became "shareholders", but ultimately selling off complex state monopolies has proved to be an expensive exercise.

What we have today is an extension of "Thatcherism", wrapped up and made New Labour cuddly. What used to be provided by the state is repackaged and thinly disguised as "choice". The need to pay several thousand shareholders a dividend partly explains why your water, electricity, gas and even your rail transport is significantly more expensive in the UK than the rest of Europe.

Of course, under Thatcherism, having water, electricity and a telephone in your house is considered to be a "choice" so businesses collude to charge you accordingly.

In summary, Thatcherism is a massive kick in the bollocks to the less well off.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Tue 5 Aug 2008, 13:04, Reply)