Great Britain in 1979 was on the brink of disaster, nearly bankrupt, and the populace was suffering from high unemployment, rising inflation, and crippling labor strikes. The citizenry had enough of the direction their nation was heading and they elected a new Prime Minister named Margaret Thatcher.
Thatcher ran on a principled belief that private citizens are usually more efficient than bureaucracy. She also believed that the size of government was bloated and that the socialist-lite attitude toward business and regulation would cripple the United Kingdom into nothing-ness.
She immediately began privatizing all nationalized industries such as aerospace, telephone companies, utilities, shipping, and public housing. The mandate she was elected on was to reduce government power, and to promote the rights of individuals. Her public housing initiative encouraged tenants to purchase their homes at favorable terms if they had lived there at least 3 years. Home ownership rates rose from 55% in 1980 to 71% in 2003.
Labor unions in Great Britain were crippling industry with their intimidation tactics and strikes. While unions served a valuable purpose in the early part of the 20th century by setting standards for safety and a decent workplace, they had begun to crush industry with their desires to maintain control. Prime Minister Thatcher stood firm against the unions bringing the coal industries and the steel industries under control. Employers and their workforce had achieved the proper balance. It was no longer necessary for men to join the unions.
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher believed in putting her “faith in freedom, free markets, limited government and a strong national defense.”
During Thatcher’s 3 terms (11 ½ years), she realized the transformation of her country. When she became Prime Minister, her country was on the brink of financial disaster, lawlessness, and violence. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said at the time “Unless we change our ways and our direction, our greatness as a nation will soon be a footnote in the history books, a distant memory of an offshore island, lost in the mist of time like Camelot, remembered kindly for its noble past.”
The parallels between Margret Thatcher and Donald Trump are striking. America had become a shadow of its once great self. Mired in issues of addiction, lawlessness, a 2-tiered justice system, and political corruption running rampant. Not to mention soaring inflation and high unemployment.
President Trump immediately went to work to solve America’s problems! He hired Elon Musk to head the Department of Government Efficiency, (DOGE), “a White House team tasked with cutting federal spending”. As the CEO of Tesla, Space X, and other companies he has streamed line waste and brought efficiency to his companies.
Most Americans want their government to run like a business. If they can’t relate to running a business, perhaps they can relate to running their own household budget.
If you had household expenses that exceeded your income by $50,000 each year, would you take out a credit card to keep up your creature comforts?
No. You would hopefully tighten your budget and/or find a way to earn more money to prevent financial disaster.
Yet, this is what the federal government is facing, the same challenge. It buries it’s head in the sand and kicks the budgetary can down the road.
Overall, a large cross section of people were polled and said they wanted the following:
1. Run the government efficiently and spend our tax dollars responsibly.
2. Provide the best service as possible.
3. Keep government employees accountable to accomplish their work objectives.
When the Trump administration started scratching the surface of corruption and waste, organized protesters began chanting and destroying property in support of waste and abuse.
When Musk began Space X, the NASA Space program was going broke. Musk streamlined his company. His Space X company was paid “only” when they were successful. If his mission failed he received no money. Accountability is the name of the game!!
Musk also risked personal fortune to accomplish his vision. There were plenty of failures. Yet as of 2024, SpaceX logged 90% of all space flights in the US, NASA 5%, and all others 5%. Progress and innovation are messy and at times painful, but those things are necessary.
One of Elon Musk’s favorite interview questions that he asks all job applicants is, “Tell me about some of the most difficult problems you worked on and how you solved them.” (New York Post August 14, 2024: Elon Musk’s Favorite Interview Question…..)
This weeds out “professional interviewers” from people who have actually developed the skillset to embrace adversity, change accordingly, and move forward.
The behavior of the Dems acting like spoiled disrespectful children at President Trump’s speech on March 4, 2025 to the Joint Sessions of Congress reminded me of the 1971 movie “A New Leaf”. The film was written, acted in, and directed by Elaine May, based on a story by Jack Ritchie called “Green Heart”. Walter Matthau is Henry Graham, a former wealthy playboy who has squandered his inheritance. His valet Harold, played by George Rose, suggests he look into marrying a wealthy woman to support him. Elaine May, is the wealthy Henrietta Lowell, a botany professor whose family has passed away. Her crooked lawyer, Andy McPherson played by Jack Weston had been bilking her through bloated salaries and outrageous expenses of the 17 household servants he has hired to work for her at her home.
When Henry and Henrietta arrived from the airport from their honeymoon, they waited for Henrietta’s chauffeur to pick them up. He never arrived and they took a taxi to Henrietta’s house. They arrive at the house and Henry finds the chauffeur drunk and amorous with another employee. He meets the other 16 employees having a fine time on Henrietta’s money. No one is working. Henry asks his valet, Harold, to find the household account books. Mrs. Taggert, the housekeeper, is hiding them under her mattress. Harold is asked by Henry to gather the employees and to keep Mrs. Graham away from the meeting with the employees. Henry begins with Mrs. Taggert, the house keeper. In the “house hold accounts” it says for 5 years, at $130 a day for food with no receipts, $6,000 a month for miscellaneous expenses, and $800 a week for your salary. In the past 5 years you have taken $35,000 a year plus $800 a week. You are fired. You are a thief based on the household accounts. It is 7 minutes past 9 o’clock. If you are not out by 10pm. I will call the police!”
Henry says to John, the chauffeur. “should we scrap our cars? It says 15 miles a day per car, 1 mile parked in the garage. (Chauffer receives $600 a week.) John do you have a suitcase?”
John says with a smile, “I have 5 suitcases and could always use another one.”
Henry says, “Pack all 5 and be out of the house in 45 minutes or I will shoot you on sight for trespassing. I am an excellent shot!”
John says, “I don’t get it!” Henry, “You are fired, you are a crook. You have 45 minutes to leave or I will shoot you. I’m an excellent shot! Get all your belongings and leave. The rest of you have 2 hours to get out!”
The 17 fired employees go over to Henrietta’s lawyer, Andy McPherson law office and complain to him. He says, “We have been together for a long time, had bad years, good years, laughed, cried, nothing we can do. You have had a good run!”
Dave Sheffield, “When conservatives do not get their way it’s time to roll up their sleeves and get to work.”
“One crucial mark of maturity is taking responsibility for oneself. On the other hand, immaturity involves blame-shifting and excuse -making.” (Joe Rigney, “Leadership And Emotional Sabotage”, 2024, Canon Press, p.20)
History repeats itself!
“The fall of ancient Rome offers striking parallels to modern economic and political challenges, particularly in terms of government spending and fiscal policy. Both ancient Rome and the U.S. have struggled with excessive government spending and mounting debt.” (Perplexty.ai)
We want elected officials to treasure and protect America not to pilfer its treasury!
Thomas Sowell, economist, said, “The real goal should be reduced government spending, rather than balanced budgets achieved by ever rising tax rates to cover ever rising spending.”
What 4 secrets have we learned throughout history?
1) Instead of electing entitled, spoiled politicians- elect officials that are disciplined, honest, respectful, trustworthy, accountable, builders, and developers of America, its citizens and its resources. These elected officials must love, cherish, protect, defend, and care about America’s future!
2) Vote for and elect officials that are builders and developers of people, who have a proven track record of success at their business, understand the value of every dollar they earn and spend, and are accountable for their actions.
3) If you don’t protect and defend your country, America, you will lose it! Build a strong military with limited government!
4) Vote for elect officials that will treasure and protect America, not pilfer its treasury!
Remember what President Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said:
President Ronald Reagan, “America has always stood for: strong defenses; low taxes and limited government; compassion and fair play, like that embodied in the fair housing bill; faith in our future; and an openness to the rest of the world, as demonstrated in our trade legislation.”
President Ronald Reagan, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher believed in putting her “faith in freedom, free markets, limited government, and a strong national defense.”
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, “Unless we change our ways and our direction, our greatness as a nation will soon be a footnote in the history books, a distant memory of an offshore island, lost in the mist of time like Camelot, remembered kindly for its noble past.”
Madeline Frank, Ph.D. is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, speaker, business owner, teacher, conductor, and concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations “Tune Up their Business”. Her observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your business successful. Her latest book “Leadership On A Shoestring Budget” is available everywhere books are sold. If you need a speaker/ video speaker contact Madeline at: mfrankviola@gmail.com
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