Disappearing Britain: When Coal Was King (FIVE)

[snitch5000]

Good lad Ricky. I love ya bro!!! :)

[darkmattermarshall02]

You tell em ricky !

[ForeverComplaining]

The mines were simply unprofitable. The Chinese/Russians/Polish work for far less than our workers did and although I agree the miners deserved higher wages, their coal wasn't worth enough to support them and they just costed the tax payer a lot of money, money which needed to be invested in far more useful things.

It's because British people, are very greedy, which is a good thing if you open business but not when you're a public sector worker as it burdens the tax payers, as this strike shows

[agaichapter25]

@ForeverComplaining ...pathetic!!!! hopefully you will struggle for a living in the future....so so immature.

[MrBulldogtools]

@ForeverComplaining Because of course,de- industrialisation is far more useful than home won energy sources,and relying on foreigners and foreign regimes for our lifes blood,ie energy,is sensible.A far more useful investment.You hit every branch in the stupid tree on your way down matey.

[jonstann1]

Well said Ricky!



[chesielad69]

good old Ricky, when Thatcher rolls we'll have a few parties

[hatinae]

die you fat fuck socialist loser!!!!!!!!!!!

margaret thatcher for ever

[Sleck06]

@hatinae either leave the country or dont vote

[CannyFarmKopite]

LEGEND..........

[Zeluron]

lol It's my dad.

[scottaner500]

to fucking rite

[rabblue]

well said son, a would not want anyone dead, but there is an exception,the devil her self



[thecitizens]

love ricky , real honest man ..

[livinginoneness9]

A generation of scousers will dance on her grave for sure, and i'll be with them :)

[ThemeparkRidley]

Well Said Ricky!

Let's send Thatcher down 'pit to dig her way down to hell where she belongs. While she's at it she can pass us up some coal.

[colliourebee]

Good on you Ricky. May that bitch rot in hell, after a slow, lingering and painful death.

[elviskevinb]

go on jim u speak 4 all of us miners lol ,,party at kevins wen she dies the old COW ,

[mofi500]

Ricky Tomlinson - LEGEND

[neil73]

Thatcher; the woman most loved in South Yorkshire!

[PadrethePio]

It was very unfortunate for the coal miners... Regardless under Thatcher is was inevitably gonna happen sooner or later.

[haydocker1]

well said ricky and when you go for that pint can i bye it .

[thedavewalkershow]

there will all ways be a issue of class in great britain as long as the ones at the bottom of the pile sit on there back sides wineing about how hard the lives are whiest waiting for some one else to think for them.there are millions working in britain enjoying the fruits of the labours of the people who work hard building companys over the years. because of there hard work and determination others have jobs,feed there familys,nice cars houses,ectra.

[LARRSON77]

Check out ( JOHN MCCULLAGH "ILL DANCE ON YOUR GRAVE MRS THATCHER".......on youtube or myspace,well worth a listen!

[purplesnails22]

The class system was constructed by the capitalist system. There may be some form of social hierarchy under Socialism but it won't be the class system we have now.

[TheLinc09]

amen :)

[TheLinc09]

Don't worry about Maggie, her ideas have recently been showed to be utter rubbish anyway. free market? Oh aye that worked well, we've just had to bankrupt ourselves to bail out her pals at the banks.

Class is still an issue, and will remain so as long as we have capitalism

[wycliffe35]

@TheLinc09 Absolutely mate...bang on!

[csno1]

What's your problem with class?

[bradleyira]

fuck maggie thatcher

[boltonuk]

go on ricky well in

[newportcounty91]

good stuff Ricky

that woman destroyed the country i love forever and ill never forgive her or that awful party she represented for what they did to Britain

[bastardtubeuser]

well said Ricky.

Her corpse should be dug up and publicly displayed so we can spit / punch / urinate etc on it.

bah , its not like anyone else would agree with me, you brainwashed cunts. just keep selling your country down the pan guys, for fucking nothing .

[jonboyefc]

spot on ricky lad

[bynot1]

is the wicked witch not dead yet? we are waiting to go for a pint and celebrate!

[liamos85]

It all depends on which sources you believe with regards to Latin America, America itself trys its hardest to undermine there governments by claiming corruption just because they refuse to submit to americas influence. While I dont believe these places are havens, I do believe after reading various pieces about them and watching programmes I dont think the corruption is a bad as made out by some media outlets. Also I would like to say I am no fan of the rulers you mentioned just to be clear.

[liamos85]

What about Hugo Chavez,Evo Morales and Rafael Correa all have been elected on anti American Capitalist rhetoric and have made some gains in improving living standards and combating poverty and in doing so pissed America of by doing this Democratically.Ill give you credit your knowledge and love of Capitalism is admirable i myself can never share your view ive seen to much to ever make me think Capitalism is a fair system to much depends on Class and Status.

[dragonlee90]

They have been playing on worldwide Anti American feeling. But there hasn't been the progress made that the left wing media would have you believe. There is rampant corruption and murder at every level of political office. Capitalism SIMPLY MEANS capital goods are in PRIVATE HANDS as opposed to state hands, which means individual power over state power. And we all know what happens when the state gets too much power e.g. Mao, Stalin, Castro, Ho Chi Minh, Pol Pot.

[Gillmeister2465]

dragonlee i see your point in closing unprofitable mines,before ww2 there was a plethora of mines in Lancashire and Yorkshire closed,because they were privately owned and once they were costing the coal owners to operate they shut them or abandoned them. now theres a few mines what have recently reopened in the uk as coal products can be used to make petrolium,as thatchers lot sold our north sea oil rights to the usa, and she cut the armed forces,thats why were struggling now,20+years later....

[Gillmeister2465]

Ricky that was Brilliant mate.good onya,and i dont think we shall ever see solidarity as it was in the old days.. old king coal was a fucker for his hole..rock on ricky, i hope your contributing to the thatcher dandelion memorial garden when the old bag snuffs it..she killed my town thatcher did.fuckin bitch judgement day is comming for you lady..

[dragonlee90]

Oh shut up you senile little man. Coal was dead, and had been since the end of WW2. Technology moves on, and we use more efficient forms of energy to power our society. I bet you don't complain about the industrial revolution, which put agarian workers out of business, but gave us modern technology. Labour closed down 38 pits before Lady T came to power. She had the vision to finish it, and move us towards a service economy, and we've all benefitted. Go and get an education.

[Gillmeister2465]

Listen Dragonlee aka captain capitaljism,your a 23 year old student who sponges off society,your probably brainwashed with all the modern day shite society throws at you.now as i said previously thatcher killed my town.now senile as i am i served in the army under the thatcher government and the john major government,and the blair and now the brown,and im still a serving officer(with a degree) have you got yours yet,why dont you be a politician,or history lecturer you seem to know a lot.

[dragonlee90]

Don't write me off because of my age. I've probably had more life experience than half the people on youtube in terms of my early existence. Capitalism has given the world 400 years of unprecedented prosperity and wealth.

[liamos85]

Shouldnt the Economic progress you talk of coincide with Social progress aswell? Shouldnt healthcare,living standards and general welfare also improve if the economy does? I would like to know your opinion on that because I dont believe they do i believe to say that Capitalism has given the World 400 years of wealth is also naive and wrong Capitalism has given only a minority of the worlds population wealth and it is unfair to say this is because theyve worked hard and others in poverty havent.

[dragonlee90]

The poorest countries in this world have large, and generally corrupt states. Before capitalism came out of Holland in the 1600's, society was divided between the aristocrats and the peasantry. Capitalism created the working and middle classes. Over the last 30 years, because of markets being released from tight regulation, the world has experienced a massive boost in living standards.

[liamos85]

You honestly believe that all improvements in living standards have come through Capitalism? I would have to disagree a large portion has come through campaigning by workers bodies,trade unions and various other forms of workers representation.General working standards in places such as China and India is still widely poor as are living standards in many areas and these are the 2 fastest growing Capitalist economies in the world.Also why do you mention the French Revolution??

[dragonlee90]

Places like China and India have long histories of autocratic rule, and especially in China, communism under Mao. It takes more than a few years to undo that much damage. But the results of China's adaptation of free markets is clear for all to see. According to the World Bank, in China, the number of people living under $1 a day has decreased by 40%. The percentage of children in child labour has fallen by 23%, and literacy standards have quadrupled. China will be king soon.

[liamos85]

I wouldnt take much notice of figures coming out of china its a very corrupt place its essentialy the worst type of Capitalist society there is and you seem to applaude it.Things havent changed that much there its still a one party state with no human or civil rights.protestors are still oppressed and imprisoned for there views and it has no intention of changing only in the way it exploits now through Capitalism rather than Maos distorted view of communism.

[dragonlee90]

Contrary to what you might believe, China has ten political parties. Also, China has estimated it will be only 10 years until it is a democracy. China still has a long way to go, but they have made great gains economically, and it has the second highest internet usage rate in the world, just behind America. I like how you have avoided mentioning all of the other countries I pointed out to have beneffited from free market capitalism. Has the cat got your tongue?

[liamos85]

Ten political parties under the same banner all decisions are still made by the high ranking party officials it is a smokescreen.Internet usage should be high it has the worlds largest population but they are restricted in what they look at its all monitored by the state.I only mentioned china you were the one who went into detail.What about Latin American countries many were under Americas control with puppet regimes and the people were exploited while the governments profited.

[dragonlee90]

I don't condone the installation of puppet regimes, and if you look at my comment history, I have been very critical of US foreign policy, as I believe in non intervention. However, Latin American countries are now opening their markets and becoming more attractive to capitalism, hence falling poverty rates, higher employment, a more prosperous populace, smaller government and rapidly expanding economies, which will multiply the effects of capitalism even more. Capitalism is the best system.

[thcthc]

DDDD...which revolution wasnt sparked by a wiser man brains?? and it doesnt have to be a middle class man, it can be anyone who read some books etc.

[mofi500]

LOL - if you believe that China will be a democracy in ten years then good luck to you. When Mao died and later when Deng took charge most commentators in the West assumed full democracy in China would occur swiftly. It didn't and there were was a continuation of brutal acts which occurred during market-loving Deng's premiership. They weren't condemned outright because the West had a new-found neoliberal brethren in the Chinese Communist Party. Tell me, has Russia benefited from free-markes?

[dragonlee90]

Yes it has. Poverty has been reduced by half, there has been a 150% increase in the average wage, and it's economy has increased sixfold.  The Chinese are already moving towards democracy, but it takes more than 30 years to undo nearly 2000 years of feudalism.

[mofi500]

Russia is a classic example of free-market failure and your statistics hide important facts. Firstly, Russia had a banking crisis at the end of the last decade with big closures and a serious decline in GDP. Secondly, inequality has soared and the country has spawned a generation of oligarchs but also seen life expectancy decrease in may areas. Thirdly, wage increases have been offset by the enormous cost of living in Russia now. I suggest you read Vladimir Tikhomirov's account of things.

[MarxBakuninMe]

Rubbish. Since the introduction of free-market capitalism life-expectancy has reduced by 7 years in Russia. Watch the documentary about it on YouTube.

[dragonlee90]

Also, a common misconception about the French Revolution was started by the workers. It was in fact organised by middle class intellectuals. France was in tremendous debt at the time because of several wars, and instead of taxing the poor, he taxed the top members of the 'ancien regime.' They were furious, and they started the revolution, helped by the peasants. The Russian Revolution was too organised by middle class intellectuals.

[bynot1]

dragonlee your a gobshite

[dragonlee90]

Your point being?

[dragonlee90]

I have formulated an argument, that is supported by statistical evidence. You have not attempted to refute this. All you have done is insulted me. Which can only mean one thing, you're to stupid to engage in a reasonable debate with me, which is the case with most of the lobotomised socialists who have watched this video.

[thcthc]

hahaha...stupid asshole...49%percent of usa electricity runs on coal , in my country slovenia 33% infact i read that there isnt a state in europe that would have something to do with coal.i can give you the source if you want it.

[bynot1]

well done ricky.

[deathtotheunions]

There is nothing wrong with a well run coal industry. Miners on say £1000 a week for 4 shifts at eight hours each. But when commie scum like scargill try to hold the country to ransom then they can all sod off.

[bynot1]

gob shite

[dragonlee90]

All you can do is insult him, instead of trying to have a debate. It shows that you have about 3 brain cells.

[stevewestwood2007]

Ive always...wanted to say a big thank you!!! toRicky......for putting a tenner in my fathers bucket when collecting in london..for the miners families...my father my brother and myself were all twelve monthers and endoured the hardship.of the 84/85..strike....along with this comment i forwrd a song i wrote and performed..i tribute..for all the miners and their families...espesially my father

god bless Ricky Tomlinson...5****s and subed

[bynot1]

Thatcher where you are going it will be BLOODY ROASTING!

[dragonlee90]

I knew my comments would get a thumbs down. Socialists have no common sense. Without the industrial revolution, we wouldn't have modern technology like TV's and the internet because that revolution brought about machinery, but you socialists don't have a problem using that. Modern economies are not manufacturing based, they are service based. It is the poorer economies in the East and in Africa that haven't industrialised yet that are still poor. I am writing a common sense argument.

[shinkysprigs]

Coal will be making a comeback mark my words

[dragonlee90]

I hope it is better managed than before if it does, and I hope people like Arthur Scargill are nowhere to be found in the running of it. That man was the man who destroyed the coal industry by demanding wage rise after wage rise, and then complaining about budget cuts because he'd robbed it all.

[socialistwill]

At least she'll have Churchill and her beloved Dennis there to keep her company!

[SeftonDelmer]

Mrs Thatcher, where you're going, it'll be BLOODY ROASTING!

[westphalianprinz]

Gosh, I wish I could join the Socialist Labour Party.

[dragonlee90]

The mining industry had been dead since the war, accept it. Countries need to modernise. The country needed to modernise during the Industrial Revolution, and because of it, agarian workers and the farming economy was crippled, but it gave birth to modern Britain. It was the miners who kept going on strike for a pay increase, received it, and went on strike again. The miners declared war on this country, and paid the price for it. Viva la Lady Margaret Thatcher.

[NorseJohn]

Jesus, we're only sitting on about a 250 years reserve of coal...coal miners, such fucking peasents. I laugh when i see them peasents rioting from the 80's. I'm glad maggy crushed you, she was a true fighter against the slovenly, unproductive union brats.

I'll be having a pint when maggy dies too, to celebrate her excellent acheivements.

[tomwk87]

your comment just shows how stupid you are really. what makes you say they are peasents?? you were probably born into a family with a lot of money. its not that easy for everyone. if it wasnt for people like coal miners nobody would be able to do anything. all you posh people who look down your noses at the people who do jobs like that need to have a bit of respect for them instead. good on ricky for what he said about thatcher.

[NorseJohn]

I must be a posh boy with heaps of cash, as I disagree with you unwashed-northern union-monkies...see, you've hit the nail on the head in terms of how you lot think - It's all about envy and the socialist mentality that you have somehow got a god given right to level the playing field in a darwin-esque world whilst doing little or fuck all to justify it. The same regressive shit that all lefties come out with. I certainly am neither posh nor rich, but I will be with hard work and flexibility.

[tomwk87]

you think i envy you?? its quite clear that you look down your nose at people and think you are better than them for no reason. why say unwashed-northern union-monkies?? nobody is insulting you. you need to wake up and see that its not easy for everyone. what is wrong with being a coal miner?? its a good honest hard working job. the way you speak just shows how small your mind is.

[NorseJohn]

You clearly envy those who have had a better start to life than yourself, not that i pretend to have. If you cannot understand the simple fact that there is only so much coal that a developed nation needs, and pointlessly mining coal to subsisidse and make life easy for a self-emaciated branch of northern inbred communities for the sake of keeping said community happy, then you are a lost cause. Now put down that Karl marx book, Tarquin, it ain't doing you much good.

Arright ma pet?

[tomwk87]

how do you know what kind of a start to life i have had? its the way you talk about people like saying "self-emaciated branch of northern inbred communities". what the hell are you talking about? people like you are the lost cause mate. why dont you just crawl into the dark little hole you belong in you little rat.

[NorseJohn]

How do I know what kind of a start you had? Well bugger me you hypocritical prick, who only just casted aspursions as to the start of life that I had. But alas, I understand that you're just to fucking thick to realise this...not to mention telling me to crawl back into a dark hole when you support fucking miners! The irony is remarkable..haha.

Now, go back to your bread and drippings, beat the wife about and then go piss your giro up the wall.

Good lad.

[tomwk87]

its not about supporting miners its about the fact that you seem to think there is something wrong with northern people. that is quite ironic i can't argue with that. i just think you have got no reason for saying "Now, go back to your bread and drippings, beat the wife about and then go piss your giro up the wall". I have never hit a woman i dont eat bread and drippings and i have got a job. also i'm not thick at all. is it just that you dont like northerners??

[SUPERLEEDSYRA]

Well said Ricky, a true honest bloke who stands up for the working man. Legend, and well said about that bitch thatcher, the beer will be going down all over the country.

[bynot1]

The swp in wigan are having a day out on the day she goes.Lots of other good people will be having a pint that day. Well done Ricky.

[Daisy12630]

Bloody Brilliant. Well Done Ricky. I'll be having a pint or three too.

[scottyTh]

Fucking legend. It's a pity Thatcher wasn't cleaned up in Brighton.

[stestooge]

I know what your saying,they came close tho! That b#t#h will burn in hell! Ricky wont be the only one having a jar when she pops off!