Table Talk: Margaret Thatcher's Legacy

This week's Family Dinner Table Talk, from HuffPost and The Family Dinner book:

This week, the world lost of one of its most notable leaders when Margaret Thatcher, the United Kingdom’s first and only female prime minister, passed away at the age of 87. Elected to Parliament in 1959, Thatcher became the leader of the country’s Conservative Party in 1975 and was Prime Minister from 1979 until her resignation in 1990. She was famously known as “The Iron Lady” for her steely and unwavering demeanor. The tributes and less flattering remembrances that have poured in since her death on Monday show just how divisive she really was.

Tonight, let’s talk about Margaret Thatcher’s legacy and what it means for future (male and female) politicians.

Questions for discussion:

• How long do you think it will be before we have a female president?
• Who do you think will be the first female president of the U.S.?
• Do you think female politicians face obstacles male politicians don’t?

In her cookbook, The Family Dinner, Laurie David talks about the importance of families making a ritual of sitting down to dinner together, and how family dinners offer a great opportunity for meaningful discussions about the day's news. "Dinner," she says, "is as much about digestible conversation as it is about delicious food."

We couldn't agree more. So HuffPost has joined with Laurie and every Friday afternoon, just in time for dinner, our editors highlight one of the most compelling news stories of the week -- stories that will spark a lively discussion among the whole family.