that was a good read. though i find him annoying, i've always thought that brand was quite brilliant.

I read this yesterday and found it to be the best article on her death thus far. Shocking given that he seems like such a crass jackass whenever you see him.

Irving Maimway: I read this yesterday and found it to be the best article on her death thus far. Shocking given that he seems like such a crass jackass whenever you see him.

It's just that: he's not actually that much of a jackass.  He's brilliant.  He's just chosen a different way to entertain himself (first drugs and sex, then just sex, now apparently a bit of both) that shapes his expression towards the comical instead of straightforward.  His success as a writer and comedian - and don't forget how successful his books are - has enabled him to embrace that entertainment without reserve.

Yet he's still brilliant.

Comedians, at their best, are insightful.  Sometimes it's situational ("Whats the deal with...") and other times it's just wonderful absurdism ("I know what you're thinking, 'Steve, when do YOU find time to juggle?'") but it's always about seeing something just outside the normal field of view.

mattharvest:

Comedians, at their best, are insightful.  Sometimes it's situational ("Whats the deal with...") and other times it's just wonderful absurdism ("I know what you're thinking, 'Steve, when do YOU find time to juggle?'") but it's always about seeing something just outside the normal field of view.

This is totally true. Bill Murray and Adam Sandler come to mind as comedians or comedic actors who have done their best work in dramatic parts.

I've never read any of Brand's books, but I'll put him on my list.

He does repeat the myth that Margaret Thatcher "declared war on the unions".  In the UK in the seventies and early eighties the unions were open about them using their power to bring down governments or force them to do their bidding no matter what the country at large wanted. They declared war first, and openly. Maggie was the first leader to have the balls to stand up to them.
She didn't declare war. It was self defence, and the UK benefited hugely from her time.
From being totally written off as a country in the seventies to having an economy so strong that when Blair came to power he kept to the spending plans of Major and coasted on the economic success of the Conservatives.

Flint Ironstag: He does repeat the myth that Margaret Thatcher "declared war on the unions".  In the UK in the seventies and early eighties the unions were open about them using their power to bring down governments or force them to do their bidding no matter what the country at large wanted. They declared war first, and openly. Maggie was the first leader to have the balls to stand up to them.
She didn't declare war. It was self defence, and the UK benefited hugely from her time.
From being totally written off as a country in the seventies to having an economy so strong that when Blair came to power he kept to the spending plans of Major and coasted on the economic success of the Conservatives.


What many don't seem to remeber was that the UK was well on its way toward being a 3rd world economy before Thatcher became Prime Minister (they needed an IMF bailout).  Unions were part of the problem-not the whole problem but a large part of it.  Inefficient state owned busnesses like the coal mines (there was a world-wide coal glut) were another part.

Clemkadidlefark: Flint Ironstag: He does repeat the myth that Margaret Thatcher "declared war on the unions".  In the UK in the seventies and early eighties the unions were open about them using their power to bring down governments or force them to do their bidding no matter what the country at large wanted. They declared war first, and openly. Maggie was the first leader to have the balls to stand up to them.
She didn't declare war. It was self defence, and the UK benefited hugely from her time.
From being totally written off as a country in the seventies to having an economy so strong that when Blair came to power he kept to the spending plans of Major and coasted on the economic success of the Conservatives.

This

When she took office unemployment was 17%. When she left office 5%. This pissed off the Unions.

Unions. Another way of saying thug.

You know she jiggered that number by moving a large chunk of the "unemployed" to "disabled" right?

Wendy's Chili: Clemkadidlefark: Flint Ironstag: He does repeat the myth that Margaret Thatcher "declared war on the unions".  In the UK in the seventies and early eighties the unions were open about them using their power to bring down governments or force them to do their bidding no matter what the country at large wanted. They declared war first, and openly. Maggie was the first leader to have the balls to stand up to them.
She didn't declare war. It was self defence, and the UK benefited hugely from her time.
From being totally written off as a country in the seventies to having an economy so strong that when Blair came to power he kept to the spending plans of Major and coasted on the economic success of the Conservatives.

This

When she took office unemployment was 17%. When she left office 5%. This pissed off the Unions.

Unions. Another way of saying thug.

And I'm sure you give President Obama credit for bringing down our unemployment rate, right?

...Right?

Also, somebody is going to have to explain to me how full employment is bad for union power?

Irving Maimway: Clemkadidlefark: Flint Ironstag: He does repeat the myth that Margaret Thatcher "declared war on the unions".  In the UK in the seventies and early eighties the unions were open about them using their power to bring down governments or force them to do their bidding no matter what the country at large wanted. They declared war first, and openly. Maggie was the first leader to have the balls to stand up to them.
She didn't declare war. It was self defence, and the UK benefited hugely from her time.
From being totally written off as a country in the seventies to having an economy so strong that when Blair came to power he kept to the spending plans of Major and coasted on the economic success of the Conservatives.

This

When she took office unemployment was 17%. When she left office 5%. This pissed off the Unions.

Unions. Another way of saying thug.

You know she jiggered that number by moving a large chunk of the "unemployed" to "disabled" right?

CBO: Record Number of Workers on Disability to Increase

Social Security Disability Increased by 5.4 Million Under Obama

A White House study found that more and more people have lost jobs, received unemployment benefits for as long as possible, and then received disability.

Oh Russell, still seeing things with "a kid's memory" and living life carefree as if still a child you have no clue what it is like in the "real world."Russell has no clue as he has never had to want for anything EVER in his life. Even now he is where he is because of his mother make no mistake.

 Mrs. Thatcher increased spending on Law & Order, Employment & Training services, Health services and Social Security.

What pissed people off is she demanded able bodied people take advantage of the job training and get off the dole.

Someone has to work to keep things moving wake up Mr. Brand as you are nothing but the weight of a rock on society.
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was a rock star who will be remembered fondly way after you are returned to dust.

FlashHarry: that was a good read. though i find him annoying, i've always thought that brand was quite brilliant.

I don't think it was a good read at all his dissed her then just in-case there is back lash makes up for it at the end. It reads like the writing of a bipolar manic.

czetie: Wendy's Chili: Clemkadidlefark: Flint Ironstag: He does repeat the myth that Margaret Thatcher "declared war on the unions".  In the UK in the seventies and early eighties the unions were open about them using their power to bring down governments or force them to do their bidding no matter what the country at large wanted. They declared war first, and openly. Maggie was the first leader to have the balls to stand up to them.
She didn't declare war. It was self defence, and the UK benefited hugely from her time.
From being totally written off as a country in the seventies to having an economy so strong that when Blair came to power he kept to the spending plans of Major and coasted on the economic success of the Conservatives.

This

When she took office unemployment was 17%. When she left office 5%. This pissed off the Unions.

Unions. Another way of saying thug.

And I'm sure you give President Obama credit for bringing down our unemployment rate, right?

...Right?

Also, somebody is going to have to explain to me how full employment is bad for union power?

Because unions can use the threat of unemployement, and the lack of any alternative jobs, to boost their own power. If there are plenty of jobs then people can just walk away from a union they don't like and go work elsewhere. And the unions don't have any "threat" to scare their members with to support taking action.

Thatcher's dead.  Good riddance.

http://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/22919