Mrs. T and the S. Word
Speaking of socialists Margaret Thatcher remarked that "what we need from these people is not advice, but an apology." The following quotes - by permission - have been gleaned from Margaret Thatcher Foundation.
The nine most dangerous words in the English language are “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help” (Ronald Reagan).
"We [Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher] knew what worked. Small government. Low taxes. Sound money. Private property. Enterprise. They are what worked - and they always work. We knew too what didn't work - namely, socialism in every shape or form. And how many forms there are! Socialism is like one of those horrible viruses. You no sooner discover a remedy for one version, than it spontaneously evolves into another. In the past, there was nationalisation, penal taxation and the command economy. Nowadays socialism is more often dressed up as environmentalism, feminism, or international concern for human rights. All sound good in the abstract. But scratch the surface and you'll as likely as not discover anti-capitalism, patronising and distorting quotas, and intrusions upon the sovereignty and democracy of nations. New slogans: old errors ... I am glad that freedom is on the march again. But there is still in our own countries, particularly in the media class, a pervasive culture of puerile anti-westernism that needs to be changed. There are too many people who imagine that there is something sophisticated about always believing the best of those who hate your country, and the worst of those who defend it. Self-doubt can on occasion be attractive; self-criticism may sometimes be necessary; but self-loathing is a sure-fire guarantee of a nervous breakdown."
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"They still believe in a bossy state that tells you which schools your children should go to, how much homework they must do, and even when they ought to go to bed. But, of course, we're all just children in the eyes of this government"
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“The
proponents of these ideologies engaged in polemics and indeed violence against
each other. But they had more in common than they admitted. For their essence
was that the state had the right, indeed the duty, to act like God. And the
results were devilish.”
“The
Russians who are lucky to have such a marvellous sense of humour, if only
because they've had so little to laugh about, recount a story about Leonid
Brezhnev's arrival at the pearly gates. St. Peter tells him that he has been
found wanting but that he can choose between a capitalist and a socialist hell.
To St. Peter's surprise the former Soviet leader replies that he prefers a
socialist hell. St. Peter tells him to think carefully: this is no time for
propaganda. But Brezhnev repeats that he chooses a socialist hell. St. Peter
grants his wish, but asks for an explanation. To which Brezhnev replies that at
least in a socialist hell they will always be short of fuel.”
“a system of the
sort described by T. S. Eliot as being "so perfect that no one will need
to be good"”
“a system of the
sort described by T. S. Eliot as being "so perfect that no one will need
to be good"”
"it's not just the under-class
but the "over-class" that causes the trouble. If politicians or
bureaucrats are given power that is unaccountable and unrestrained they will,
in the long-run, be as corrupt as they can get away with. That's the best
possible argument for limited government - and a pretty good one too against a
centralised European Super-state"
