Originally Posted by Neil (Post 1053236)

I could arrange that for a modest bribe.
Shall I set up a paypal account for your errrm, donations? ;)

Originally Posted by cmonstanley (Post 1053272)

i actually agree it went too far.some people were taking advantage but there was genuine reasons to strike for some people like the miners.i blame james callaghan[lucky jim] :D for not calling a election early in 1978 when he would have won.followed by the snp for calling a vote of no confidence.that encouraged thatcher to call for a no confidence vote. Callaghan lost by 1 vote:eek:

Originally Posted by Less (Post 1052870)

If we look around the world, we see Countries with less coal reserves than we have, it is worthwhile for them to have a mining industry.
Why are we the only Country that isn't taking advantage of our own natural resources?
:confused:

Originally Posted by GEaston (Post 1053324)

Less - Its really not my issue that you don't like the way I support my arguments with either facts or stories found elsewhere. I think the links provide balance and additional information, which is far better than "I'm older and lived the times" followed swiftly thereafter with a degeneration into personal attacks. Just suggests to me that your argument is weak. And I was here throughout the 70's.

We are in complete agreement that the management of the car company were also terrible. I don't doubt that for a moment. I wouldn't though hark back to those times as though they were the good old days, because like the product, they weren't good.

Originally Posted by Lucysgirl (Post 1053328)

We do still have some private mines, in fact one was shown on TV the other month. As for taking advantage; it depends on the demand as there are different types/grades of coal, some of which are only suitable for furnaces and some suitable for domestic fires.

Originally Posted by GEaston (Post 1053324)

Less - Its really not my issue that you don't like the way I support my arguments with either facts or stories found elsewhere. I think the links provide balance and additional information, which is far better than "I'm older and lived the times" followed swiftly thereafter with a degeneration into personal attacks. Just suggests to me that your argument is weak. And I was here throughout the 70's.

We are in complete agreement that the management of the car company were also terrible. I don't doubt that for a moment. I wouldn't though hark back to those times as though they were the good old days, because like the product, they weren't good.

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 1053329)

The thing is G. that people stopped buying British, because it became unreliable and very dear to boot, and lets not forget even the British stopped buying British, take a look around any home today, from the computer you use, to your TV, Washing Machine, Microwave, Toaster, Fridge, Freezer and how many drive a British car, I would imagine a lot less that 50%

Originally Posted by Less (Post 1053337)

You mention computers?
lets look at the history of home grown computers?
The spectrum built by a guy that only wanted to build a tricycle powered by batteries and peddles.
The Amstrad A sugary little item that was rotten just like a set of neglected teeth from eating too many toffees I believe over 50% of them never worked properly when set up by their purchasers.
The Acorn that superduper cutting edge machine that was going to be the BBC's computer of choice. when the BBC executives went to see it the designers had only got their prototype working seconds before they arrived in the room. (A large proportion of whom had left Mr. Sinclair to his car, but that didn't stop him and the boss of Acorn having a girly fight in a Cambridge pub).

Our home grown computers were trash be honest.
:D

Originally Posted by Less (Post 1053337)

You mention computers?
lets look at the history of home grown computers?
The spectrum built by a guy that only wanted to build a tricycle powered by batteries and peddles.
The Amstrad A sugary little item that was rotten just like a set of neglected teeth from eating too many toffees I believe over 50% of them never worked properly when set up by their purchasers.
The Acorn that superduper cutting edge machine that was going to be the BBC's computer of choice. when the BBC executives went to see it the designers had only got their prototype working seconds before they arrived in the room. (A large proportion of whom had left Mr. Sinclair to his car, but that didn't stop him and the boss of Acorn having a girly fight in a Cambridge pub).

Our home grown computers were trash be honest.
:D

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 1053330)

I'm not hundred percent sure but I think Anthracite is the only coal allowed for domestic fuel

Originally Posted by Less (Post 1053337)

You mention computers?
lets look at the history of home grown computers?
The spectrum built by a guy that only wanted to build a tricycle powered by batteries and peddles.
The Amstrad A sugary little item that was rotten just like a set of neglected teeth from eating too many toffees I believe over 50% of them never worked properly when set up by their purchasers.
The Acorn that superduper cutting edge machine that was going to be the BBC's computer of choice. when the BBC executives went to see it the designers had only got their prototype working seconds before they arrived in the room. (A large proportion of whom had left Mr. Sinclair to his car, but that didn't stop him and the boss of Acorn having a girly fight in a Cambridge pub).

Our home grown computers were trash be honest.
:D

Originally Posted by Lucysgirl (Post 1053380)

I was window shopping with my daughter. In a large store we came upon a group of shoppers looking at a display of wood burning stoves. It seemed I was the only one old enough to know about grates, flues and dampers and I found myself giving a demo to quite a large crowd.

Originally Posted by Less (Post 1053337)

You mention computers?
lets look at the history of home grown computers?

Our home grown computers were trash be honest.
:D

Originally Posted by Less (Post 1053305)

Strange isn't it, you started this thread claiming it was a debate, a debate that started with a link to someone else's opinions because you didn't put forward any of your own, (c'mon is famous for that kind of thing), now you no longer wish to debate you prefer to lecture, a lecture that no doubt would be fitting for any secondary school class but not for folk that lived through the times.
Yes BL was crap, but it was crap from the top down, inferior designs, materials and man management, huh, man management now that was a joke, yes there were plenty of strikes I've already said I'm against such action, yes there were some that would strike over nothing and yes there was a management system in place that seemed to go out of it's way to ensure that those strikes came about and continued.
It isn't just the Unions that have gone, it is the terrible Management that has also been removed, I think you will find that the system now in place works because everyone in these companies is now proud of their product and at last they all work together.
No longer is work disrupted by either side because there isn't an either side just a team working together with one aim, get the best product we can make through the door on time.
Something that never happened at BL or any of the other divided factories.
:)