Thank you Mrs. Thatcher!

As we share our thoughts and respect of Margaret Thatcher and reflect upon her contributions to the improvements in British society and in fact our world today, it is fitting for us to compare her struggles in the 80's with the challenges now facing America. We have tough choices ahead and only an informed public can make the right decisions. As the Education Minister, Margret Thatcher surely understood how best to teach students. With the facts. When she became Prime Minister, unemployment was over 13%, when she left office it was under 6%. That is a fact. Are you listening to sound bites or digging into the truth of the story? Do you blindly support party lines or weigh each issue on its individual merits?

According to a report by Pew Research, online and digital news consumption continues to increase, with many more people now getting news on cell phones, tablets or other mobile platforms. And perhaps the most dramatic change in the news environment has been the rise of social networking sites. The percentage of Americans saying they saw news or news headlines on a social networking site yesterday has doubled – from 9% to 19% – since 2010. Among adults younger than age 30, as many saw news on a social networking site the previous day (33%) as saw any television news (34%), with just 13% having read a newspaper either in print or digital form. This begs the question - is your news really news at all or rather the opinion of those sharing your social network?

Additionally, older Americans still get their news on a regular schedule while younger ones graze. 37% of Americans get their news at regular times while 57% get it from time to time - startlingly those who get their news from time to time goes to 79% for those 18-29. Just how well informed is this age group? Moreover, weather is by far the most closely watched news. 52% of Americans say they watch the weather very closely while only 17% say the same for political or Washington news. Are these signs that Americans are casting informed votes?

Understandably, our ever changing culture and constant revision of just what is considered a societal norm, creates confusion for many and increasingly we are all so busy that we often make decisions with limited information or, even worse, based entirely upon emotion. We have all heard the saying that history repeats itself. And for those in denial of that fact you have just to read history - the un-edited version that is, which, unfortunately, is increasingly more difficult to obtain... but that is another blog. 

So take a moment now to review an exceptional period in British history and yes, in fact, in the world. Then ask yourself, what can America learn from it?

 For me, I say thank you Mrs. Thatcher!

“The trouble with you, John, is that your spine does not reach your brain.”

-- Margaret Thatcher, as former prime minister speaking to a member of her party who supported Britain’s entry into the European Union in 1992, as reported by The Times of London.

http://www.margaretthatcher.org/essential/biography.asp