Photo: AFP
Posted on 11/26/2018 3:13:12 AM PST by servo1969
John has written about the protests against the French government of Emmanuel Macron, protests that turned violent this weekend. I want to add the following observations:
First, the protests weren't just this weekend, although that's when they turned up on the U.S. radar. One of my daughters was in Paris on business last weekend (the weekend before Thanksgiving) and observed some of the disruption. It's estimated that 280,000 people protested throughout France last weekend and more than 100,000 protested this weekend.
Second, news reports say that the protesters are not among France's more "marginalized citizens." That's true in some senses. Generally speaking, the protesters aren't immigrants and may not be impoverished.
But immigrants and refugees receive generous benefits from the government and are backed to some degree by strong political interests. The protesters, generally speaking, receive neither handouts nor the support of influential interests.
Third, the dispute here can be viewed as between Paris and "La France profonde." The high tax on gasoline imposed by Macron's government, the reason for the protests, has comparatively little impact on most Parisians and those who live near Paris. Many of them have shops and stores within walking distance, and public transportation serves their needs well.
For those who live in the "provinces," it's a very different story. They tend to rely heavily on cars and often must drive fairly long distances (bus service is no good substitute in our experience), all the more so since small French towns are losing population and thus shops and stores.
In effect, Macron is placing the burden of addressing climate change (however fitfully) on the backs of France's rural population. French elites do not share the burden.
Fourth, in this regard, disaffected French men and women couldn't help but notice the lavish ceremonies the French government put on to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of World War I's end. Macron expects ordinary French citizens to tighten their belts, but seems uninterested in any tightening that would diminish the pomp and circumstance he enjoys.
Fifth, the government was also tone deaf when it tried to confine the protesters to the Champ de Mars. These are grounds near the Eiffel Tower. They are fit for gathering, but not for demonstrating. The protesters demanded to march down Les Champs Elysees towards the president's palace, and were right to do so. As one of the leaders said "we are not in Paris for picnic."
Sixth, the "yellow vests," as the main body of protesters is known, do not appear to have been responsible for the violence that broke out this weekend. This was the work of others.
Which others? The government tried to blame the violence on right-wing supporters of Marine Le Pen. However, reports I've heard suggest that the culprits were "les casseurs" -- the breakers -- anarchistic thugs who like to smash things and have no connection to Le Pen's party. Perhaps both elements were involved.
Seventh, Macron now says the government needs to listen to and address the grievances of the yellow vests. But their overriding grievance is with the gasoline tax, and Macron apparently won't budge on this. Macron seems to be clueless about, or indifferent to, the problems of La France profonde. Dialogue would appear to be futile.
Eighth, does any party in France have anything to offer the yellow vests? Marine Le Pen's party might, but it carries too much baggage to be a positive force.
Ninth, naturally, President Trump got into the act this weekend. He tweeted:
The large and violent French protests don't take into account how badly the United States has been treated on Trade by the European Union or on fair and reasonable payments for our GREAT military protection. Both of these topics must be remedied soon.
This just in from the U.S. President: The French aren't protesting the fact that France isn't paying more money to the U.S. No "America First" for the French.
Tenth, earlier this month, Macron took a shot at Trump's nationalism by claiming, absurdly, that nationalism is "the exact opposite of patriotism." The yellow vests are definitely nationalists. They are placing their economic interests above the world's interest in reducing carbon emissions (or gestures in that direction). Trump might have asked Macron whether he believes the yellow vests are unpatriotic.
He probably does -- he's that clueless. But he can't admit it.
Interesting how the French protest like this over a rise in fuel prices, but won’t say a word about the Islamic invasion and subsequent acts of terrorism. Priorities...
Good article. Thanks for posting it.
When will the French police be surrendering?
The Yellow Vest folks look like the normal folks of France. Like us.
> Interesting how the French protest like this over a rise in fuel prices, but won’t say a word about the Islamic invasion and subsequent acts of terrorism. <
Good point. I guess it’s the old frog-in-a-boiling-pot syndrome. A tax hike is immediate. But the Islamic invasion is gradual, and long-term. So why worry about it today?
What the French cannot see is that one tax hike will not destroy a nation and its people. But an invasion surely can.
> Good article except for the gratuitous NeverTrump aside at the end. <
It’s probably just poor writing. I think the “he” in the last sentence refers to Macron, not Trump.
France needs a full reset, not just another French strike and demonstration. A storm the Bastille moment with Macron deposed or worse would wake up a lot of people.
bmp for later
Interesting how the French protest like this over a rise in fuel prices, but won’t say a word about the Islamic invasion and subsequent acts of terrorism. Priorities...
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Well, ya see speaking out against a gas tax won’t get your head cut off or your family slaughtered. It’s all about fear and cowardice.
One other odd aspect, which isn’t getting mentioned....the tax talked about....is 2.9 Euro cents per liter (roughly 12 cents a gallon in US dollars) for GAS. However, for diesel, it’s 6.5 Euro cents per liter (roughly 24 cents a gallon in US dollars) for diesel.
It’s not exactly gas that they are whining about...it’s this diesel escalation. Back two decades ago....half the cars in France were diesel, but that number has been on a slight decline in the past decade. The diesel owners, and freight delivery truck owners....are the ones affected.
While the government wants people to think the overall population won’t be affected....everything in the country is moved by freight trucks. So they will all be paying two or three percent on shipping in the future, if this isn’t halted.
My take on this is that Macron and his ‘thinker’s club’ were looking for a way to herd the public toward electric vehicles and electric trucks in the future, and this diesel tax would help to push people along.
[ Interesting how the French protest like this over a rise in fuel prices, but won’t say a word about the Islamic invasion and subsequent acts of terrorism. Priorities... ]
When you are fat dumb and happy you could care less what your neighbor is doing even if they are breeding like rabbits to replace you.
I appreciated the tone of this article.
It’s nice to read something that doesn’t shout at you in all caps or rely on italics, boldface, and exclamation points to make its point.
Even witty turns of phrase and sarcasm can get tiring, no matter how clever and quotable they are.
This author comes across as someone just talking -— making his observations and venturing his opinions on what he thinks they mean. And that is almost always enough. It was refreshing.
It does appear that the philosophical reasoning behind many of the 10 issues listed, were those faced by Louis XVI...
Just sayin....
Yes, the author was referring to Macron, not Trump.
Just another instance of the Ruling class forcing the Country class to do its bidding.
FROG in a boiling pot. Unintended pun??
Violent protesting is just what the French do.
The issue at hand does not matter. A 1% cut on social benefits. A mild relaxation of labor laws. A soccer game. Anything is seems is a handy excuse to go out and riot.
Why don’t the French go out & violently riot against the Muslim takeover of their country?
Oh...wait...Muslims wrote the book on how to violently riot.
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