The Iron Lady

DC and I saw 'The Iron Lady' at cinema over the weekend. I felt it was like watching a train crash in slow motion. I could feel revulsion and anger at the whole 1980's Thatcherite project. The film shows a version of Thatcher's rise to power through flash backs against the back drop of her present state of health as a person with dementia. It was not clear exactly what the film makers were trying to get across. The question of compassion arises since she is shown suffering due to her struggle with dementia but much more could have been shown about the huge social and political issues raised by her time in power and the pain and suffering consumerism generates (or if your politics are to the right, attempts to ease). For me it was interesting to note how angry I am that the whole political scene is now basically Thatcherite; the very word socialist is now almost regarded as dirty. So, if I am angry I need to look at what is behind the anger. Everyone is doing their best. I note my response to the scenes shown in the film and remember that Thatcher was reacting like everyone else out of her conditioning to ease her pain. I don't need to see her with dementia to remember that we all need to be held in compassion. I do however, find it a real challenge to hold the likes of her and the latest batch of Tory spawn in compassion. Thatcher changed UK politics and to my way of thinking the economic and social mess we are now in is in no small measure due to the way subsequent politicians have continued her project. It seems to me that we have lost almost all sight of the reason for having an economy, ie the welfare of people. People should not be there for the welfare of the economy. Money becomes a tyrant when it is the ends rather than the means. Listening to Start The Week on Radio 4 yesterday morning I was filled with joy to hear Anna Coote of The New Economics Foundation talk about a 21 hour working week. There is much wisdom in what she had to say. The LSE are holding a talk on Wed. 11 Jan. 2011. Demented or not I can't imagine the Thatcherites could get their heads around it!