I just finished reading Ten Men Dead by David Beresford. Great book on the hunder strikers. A few thoughts.

First, this book is a great read considering it contains transcriptions of the comms that were going out of the blocks during the strike. I've read quite a few books that analyze the strike, its politics and ramifications, etc., but to read the words first hand is extremely interesting.

After reading the comms I find it surprising that the strikers thought that they could break that bitch Thatcher. In the end it seems as if the men died for little other than an ideology and gained little as far as the movement is concerned. Considering now that some of the strikers won electinns could they not have attempted to exert political influence and gained far more beyond the passing mention in a Republican ballad? With hindsight it all seems like such a waste of intellect and political vigor.

I have the utmost respect for the strikers and what they died for, don't get me wrong, but the gains made fron their ultimate sacrifice seem trite. Any thoughts, folks?