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I'm going to miss Tony Blair
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
How would you rate Blair's performance over the last 10 years?
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Comments
:thumb:
the only reason i will miss him is because i will have to find another hate figure to stick pins in....
You need to get out more
We are? How exactly?
More jobs / less unemployment
lower inflation
lower interest rates
peace in Ireland
stronger economy
Lower inflation = but allowing house prices to run rampant with no protection for first time buyers - not much success here then.
Lower interest rates = For a time, yes, but it is only a percent or so off 1997 rates now - with another expected rise due next month. Personal savings and pensions have been scavenged and annual pay increases (apart from the rich) have often been below inflation.
Peace in Ireland = But war in Iraq which has caused a bad deterioration in community relations, e.g. July 7th (Boooom!)
Stronger economy = Yeah? Where is the manufacturing industry now? We are now a nation of 'service industry' companies with more and more work being outsourced overseas ...
I wouldn't say I'll miss him, but I'm not going to be chasing him down the road with a pitchfork screaming "good riddance". Maybe it's just my 'better the devil you know' attitude
How do you feel better off then?
p.s. I am not trying to argue with you - I am genuinely interested in how you feel that his reign has been such a success.
I understand house prices have increased. And there is nobody that more pissed off than me, as I cant afford to buy. But low inflation has had many other benefits. We had high inflation in the late 70's/ early 80's which ruined the country.
Although interest rates are nearing their highest in the last ten years, they are still a lot lower than in the 80's / 90's. We have had so much investment because of our low interest rates. Like TB said yesterday, no country attracts investment like the UK.
Cant argue with the War in Iraq... it was a mistake.
Yes the country has lost manufacturing jobs in the last ten years, but we are no longer manufacturing country. We cant mine coal as cheap as Poland, we cant produce clothes as cheap as China. Our competitive advantage is in the service industry, this is what we should exploit.
Of course the will always disagreements, but in my opinion we are as a country better off now than we were 10 years ago.
:thumb:
Why is Iraq always what people bring up?
Why do people allow it to over shadow 10 years of unprecedented achievements, sure mistakes have been made along the way, a number of things haven't been grasped to the extent that they should, but hindsight is only available after the decisions have been made!
Why is the fact that opinion polls immediately before the invasion of Iraq indicated a that 45% of the public were against military action in Iraq, and 49% were for military action in Iraq, is dismissed or forgotten?
Lets for arguements sake say that Mr Blair was indeed 100% wrong in his decision to go to Iraq, no question about it and as such remove him from the whole issue, what decision would of been made without him being there? The only realistic alternative of government would be that of the Conservatives, who also backed his decision to go to war.
I think it's a shame that people allow that to be their lasting view of him, it doesn't have to be, it's your decision what aspects of his Premiership you want to focus on.
I know he was a master at manipulating the media and putting a spin on things, but hey isn't that what the media do every day to every aspect of our lives, manipulate everything they report on for their own agendas!
I personally think he has missed some opportunities, he's made some mistakes, and aside from those he has done things that i don't agree with, but overall I think he's done a fantastic job and has been a remarkable leader.
And regarding the Bush situation, sure you can consider Blair to have been his Lapdog, sitting around waiting for a command from it's master.
Or you could consider him to have been his guide dog, aware of his limitations but intent on using his relationship and less aggressive actions to where possible guide him in to a more acceptable decision, a more appropriate means of action...
Well said :thumb:
It's brought up because it is undeniably the biggest wart on his CV. How on earth can anyone comment on Blair's premiership and ignore that? Ostrich. Head. Sand.
And the polls were in favour of the war because, at that stage, the British public had no idea that he was lying ...
Not in the slightest, and i never even suggested it should be ignored, just pathetic how it somehow instantly dismisses everything else he achieved.
Have to disagree, both my grandparents have said they have never been so well off.
My old school has had loads of new buildings and millions spend on turning it into a Sports College.
We live in a service based economy, there is no point in complaining about manufacturing because whatever we can make, China or eastern Europe can make it cheaper.
And so all the workers laid off at these manufacturing plants should take comfort in that? Are they feeling better under Blair? The trick is too work smarter and with teh right tax incentives, this could be achieved.
People look back and consider the 70s great for fashion, the 80s great for music...
They weren't...
The early 90s great for the NHS? yeah, closing dozens of hospitals boosted the level of care for all hey.
Similarly the loss of the mining industry in the 80s?
Of course it is sad when someone looses their job, but its life. We used to be a country who built ships and extracted coal. We aren't anymore, those people who have lost their jobs will have to retrain into an industry which is in demand in the UK.
All the tax incentives in the world cant help us produce a wooly jumper or a bag of coal when China can do it for a tenth of the price.
Who says I don't disagree with that? However, first the government raids every other countries' nursing staff to prop up the NHS shortfall here - and now tells doctors that there aren't any jobs for them. Quality!
... largely caused by union militancy.
Yes - its very sad when someone loses their job and has to retrain in something completely unfamiliar, for less money and not be able to afford the mortgage on the house, if they can afford one in the first place.
Anyway, just as much as your mind can't change about him, neither can mine ... we will agree to disagree on this one.
Our economy is constantly evolving, the workforce have to adapt with our changing economy or be left behind.
Bollocks.
The "economy" is not a thing y'know. The economy is made up of the workforce.
Yes, but if there is no longer a need for coal miners in the economy, then coalminers have to retrain.