December 8, 2018
France is under siege. Some 90,000 security forces are being deployed across France with particular attention to always combustible Paris and Marseilles. Armored vehicles are moving into the capital. Certain military units are on high alert.
The storm that is hitting France came out of what looked like a clear blue sky. The angry demonstrators, known as ‘gilets jaunes’ (yellow jackets), for the warning vests all motorists must keep in their cars, inundated Paris last weekend in peaceful protests over the government’s planned increases in fuel prices, which were already among Europe’s highest.
As too often in France, violent vandals known as ‘the breakers,’ infiltrated the demonstrators and sought to put the most beautiful parts of Paris to the sack. I watched with horror as the magnificent Arc de Triomphe, France’s premier war memorial, was befouled by spray-can graffiti. The majestic Champs Élysée was ravaged by hoodlums, who smashed showroom windows, burned cars, looted luxury stores and set scores of fires.
For people like me who love and esteem France, it was like seeing your mother or daughter being raped by barbarians. The forces of order in France were overwhelmed and outpaced by the fast-moving bands of ‘breakers.’ Media called them anarchists of far right and far left. But anarchists have at least political philosophy. We remember how the Spanish anarchist POUM ruled Barcelona during that nation’s bloody civil war.
The vandals who attacked Paris and other French cities had no philosophy. They were simply scum of the gutter reveling in an orgy of burning and looting. These sewer rats poured out of the back alleys and bleak, suburban housing projects, garbed in masks, goggles, iron bars and jars of gasoline. They are the frightening, violent underclass that has plagued French cities since the Middle Ages.
President Emmanuel Macron appears to have ordered his police forces to go easy on the ‘breakers’ as well as the peaceful yellow jackets. This allowed the rioters and vandals to run amok and overwhelm the police. More of the same impends for this weekend. This was a mistake.
The French Army should have been called in to protect monuments and key thoroughfares. Army troops already patrol airports, train stations and important tourist locations like the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum. They should be heavily reinforced. More important, anyone setting fires, as happened last weekend, is a dangerous criminal and should be shot on sight by the police or army. Arson is not a democratic right. It’s a grave crime.
However, the ‘yellow jackets’ should not be confused with the breakers. What we are seeing is a justified national revolt in France against impossibly high taxes that were ignited by the unwise fuel price increases. After the riots, the price hikes were hastily eliminated. This was a necessary move, but it also undermined the authority of President Macron, whose popularity rating was at rock bottom even before the uprising.
The underlying problem is that France’s taxes are far too high. France has the highest taxes in Europe, almost 50% of gross domestic product, and twice those of the United States. But the French at least get their money’s worth from their sky-high taxes. Historic buildings are lovingly maintained; France’s rail system is splendid – when not on strike. Medicine is top drawer though hospitals need more funding. Streets are clean, highways in top shape.
France is one of the world’s most beautiful nations. There are special inspectors for rivers and streams to ensure their cleanliness and ecology. Pensions are generous and often available to those over 60.
Education is ‘par excellence.’ French high school graduates are often better educated than American university graduates.
It’s superb, but unaffordable. The fuel price increases were the proverbial straw that broke the French camel’s back. Taxes are just too high compared to incomes. Besides, French are being nibbled to death by swarms of taxes that lurk almost everywhere.
King Louis XVI faced the same fiscal problem and lost his head as a result. President Macron, a former Rothschild banker, now faces the angry bourgeoisie and mobs of gutter vandals calling for his head.
With the departure of the UK from the EU and the end of Angela Merkel’s long tenure in Germany, it appeared that Macron would become Europe’s leader. Now, there is even talk of a coup in Paris. Mon dieu!
Copyright Eric S. Margolis 2018
This post is in: France
The choice between saving the planet and increased taxes is a classic logical fallacy of the false dilemma variety. There is no valid reason why wasteful expenditures cannot be eliminated to provide the needed revenue, such as reducing military spending.
That’s why I’m adverse to carbon tax… just another source of revenue for government to waste.
.
The government should be mandating that industry and individuals have to meet a certain standard, and, let this settle out as it will.
.
Governments are dodging the climate change issue by words and not actions. Climate change is progressively getting worse, and, we may already be beyond the ‘tipping point’. By the time any action is accomplished it will likely be too late.
.
Newspapers keep publishing that China and India produce a bigger carbon footprint than the US. This is really ‘fake news’ as intended to be politically correct, and, not show who the real offenders are. Although true, the measure should be based on a per capita value. Using the per capita value, the US is the greatest polluter by far, nearly twice that of China, with China posting as #7, and India posting as #13. Those at the ‘head of the class’ include the UK, Canada, and Australia.
.
China, for their effort are trying to eliminate coal plants, and, those that have been designed are really quite efficient. They are also investing heavily on ‘electric’ cars and have a series that would put Tesla to shame. China is at least trying; the United States has put climate change deniers in positions to prevent ecological change. China is doing this, not for altruistic reasons, but because they have serious health issues related to air borne pollution.
.
I don’t wish wildfires, droughts, floods, Class 5 and 6 (they’re already talking about that category) hurricanes on anyone; it’s a price the Americans will pay for their excesses.
.
Addressing climate change means the entire world will have to step back from the current status quo and live a more simple climate friendly life. Things have to change and quality of life, as we know it, is going to have to change with added hardships and inconveniences.
.
It seems silly that the rest of the world has to do this for the benefit of the US, the greatest cause of the problem. Without their serious involvement, we are only delaying the final outcome by a few years. It might be best that we live in comfort and luxury as long as we can.
.
Dik
Dik
I should have added to the 3rd paragraph that the longer it’s delayed, the more costly it will be.
.
Dik
The problem in France is a manifestation of a much larger problem that is largely worldwide. One cartoon strip from decades back titled ‘The Wizard of Id’, had a ‘toon frame where the King states, “The peasants are revolting.”
.
People have lost confidence in the government, and, for the most part, don’t believe what politicians are saying. Governments no longer represent the will of those that elect them. Governments no longer act in the best long term interests of either the population or the country. It is a ‘them’ and ‘us’ mentality; governments are no longer part of those that put them in office.
.
A classic example could be climate change. It is in the interest of all governments to take the reins. The populations of nearly all countries are at risk. The people, for the most part, are uneducated and are not aware of the huge looming cataclysm. Governments should be educating and providing guidance about what should or has to be done. It’s not happening; there is a total disconnect. Politically the US criticises China, but does nothing about it. In the wake of natural disasters that are increasing in frequency and intensity they stick their heads in the sand, not realising what is exposed.
.
The end result is that Clowns like Trump can be elected as President of the United States, and garner the support of a large part of the population. The masses are fundamentally ignorant or have been stupidified. It appears that it is not in a government’s best interests to have an educated population. The rioting and civil disobedience is only a manifestation of this much larger problem.
.
The French, for decades, have had a lifestyle that was the envy of Europe. European lifestyle should be the envy of the free world. They had a reasonable living wage where it did not require that they have two or three jobs just to survive. They had ample vacation time and leisure time. This is changing, and has changed, due to misdirection of the governments, malfeasance, and mismanagement of the countries finances and resources as countries embrace a form of corporate capitalism. They paid higher taxes for these benefits. The leaders have ‘sold out’ and the taxes have not diminished.
.
This has been further affected by the huge drain on a countries resources by the influx of millions of immigrants that are not contributing to the wealth of the country, but, are draining it. The quality of life of the original population is ‘draining away’. There is resentment of a ‘very visible’ group. The end result is likely the uncontrolled violence and civil disorder observed. To pay for the financial shortcomings, the first casualties are likely social benefits, healthcare and education. Look at what has happened in the US over the last several decades. They squander their wealth on the military and the ultra wealthy.
.
The observation that ‘France is under siege’ is correct and remediation is necessary. The remediation is achieved by governments becoming stakeholders in the ‘old form’, and, being responsible to those that elect them, not some ‘sleazy’ corporation that financially supports and directs them. This lack of direction and malfeasance has given rise to the rightwing and ultra rightwing groups that have become more commonplace in Western societies. Nothing is being done to rectify it. Today France, tomorrow Germany or the UK, and who knows what country will be affected the day after.
.
The rioting is only a symptom; it could just as easily have happened in London, or Berlin, or Detroit. As wages diminish and food prices escalate, people become unhappy. As Yogi Berra might have quipped, “It looks like 1789, all over again.”
.
Dik
It is disturbing to see very moderate green initiatives rolled back. I believe the new gas tax would have amounted to 4%.
The cost of housing has increased in France in them past 2 years which may be related to demand caused by the immigrant influx.
In any case, this is another example of the inability of governments to implement climate change strategies. It doesn’t bode well even if, as some believe, we are too late anyway.
It is a matter of perspective, France is a beautiful country from the lofty view of the elite and middle class… but with an unemployment rate that has hovered between 9 – 10 % for years and a poverty rate of 15 – 20 % a very different view of France exists. I would argue that it is not so much taxes which are more of a factor for the top end of French society, but more cost of living which is making the bottom end grow both in number and in outrage. This is nothing new for this country rich in history, they have been here many times before… Someone once said ” Let them eat cake ” and we know how that worked out.
I always say that the protesters themselves should help take care of the Breakers. I tell them constantly get rid of anyone wearing a mask as they are never there for any good reason and all the media will only focus on them rather than what the protest is really about.
The excise tax increase on motor fuels that the Macron government imposed (then withdrew) was supposedly part of the war on climate change that was being carried out under the implementation of the provisions of the Paris Climate Accord. Politicians everywhere should now be getting nervous about trying to increase “carbon taxes” and raising the cost of living for everyone. Maybe most people are not really prepared to pay the steep price of fighting climate change – and it’s probably too late to make any real difference anyway.
The one thing that might help climate change is population control, and no Western politician will go there… without that any other attempt is pointless.
“and it’s probably too late to make any real difference anyway.”
.
Countries that should be in the ‘know’ have been aware of this for decades, and presently, little is being done. Those largely responsible for it, the Americans, for a large part deny climate change. Unfortunately, I’m of the opinion that the world, as we know it, is doomed.
.
Dik