Wednesday 5 December 2018

Man the barricades, mes amis.



We are used to riots here in France. The French don't muck about when it comes to telling their political leaders what they think; and Macron has been told!

It must be said that the CRS don't muck about either when faced with rioting mobs. A poor innocent woman was accidently killed, recently, by a tear gas canister as she closed the shutters from inside her Marseilles apartment. I believe there have been four deaths in all.

I don't approve of wanton destruction and violence, but I have to agree with the concerns of the demonstrators.

The main problem with politicians ignoring their citizens, is that it gives rise to extremism. Marine Le Pen must be rubbing her hands with glee.

Expect more this weekend.



30 comments:

  1. I believe many people in parliament should be looking across the channel with some concern. This batch of MPs are out of touch with the electorate over Brexit, I am surely not alone when I hope that some particularly smug examples are shown the door, sooner rather than later.

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    1. They WILL be, and it probably starts next weekend.

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  2. Take care when you next visit VdP.

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    1. It's Lumberjack I'm worried about. I have to visit the Mairie this afternoon with a box of luxury Chocs for the Telethon, and I'm worried I may be mugged by rioters.

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  3. Just think, if Mme Le Pen was in charge all these riots could have been avoided.

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    1. They would, and a lot besides too; even though I think she'd be a disaster.

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  4. Can't help but wonder what will happen now over here with this contempt of parliament disaster.

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    1. I've been wondering that too. I'm working on it!

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  5. "The main problem with politicians ignoring their citizens, is that it gives rise to extremism." So true.

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    1. It happens everywhere. Ignore the populus at your peril (or have some very brutal riot police).

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  6. Perhaps its time for proportional representation or even voting for the person not the party?

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    1. I'm actually in favour of the 'first past the post' system. It usually guarantees a more decisive government; not always, of course.

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  7. It seems to me that the present population of voters in the UK not have much political acumen in regard to how the EU works or even of how their own government relates to the UK and the crux of the matter is the fault of successive UK governments by not educating the populace.

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    1. People voted with their hearts. Too much meddling from Brussels, too much money being paid to the EU, and too many immigrants for a social infrastructure that stayed static. At the time of the referendum, no mention was made of N Ireland, Scotland, etc. People imagined that the next day we would just walk away. How wrong they were!

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    2. Your comment confirms my reasoning ie "a lack political acumen"

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  8. I have no sympathy with a movement that uses vandalism and intimidation to get the case across. Its the tax payers who will pick up the bill for the big clean up, its the people whose cars were destroyed who will suffer. They should take there anger directly to the politicians instead of attacking easy targets.

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  9. Replies
    1. There are better ways to show disapproval. Rioting (and looting) are not amongst them, but unfortunately are the most popular.

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  10. We in Britain are charged literally twice as much for electricity as you in France. Our largest electricity supplier is owned by the French. Farmers here have no influence over politicians at all, whereas the French farming lobby is probably the loudest voice in the land. If you try to organise a peaceful rally here in Britain, 9 times out of 10 it is hi-jacked by violent anarchists, and most of us do not like violence.

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    1. This has always been the folly of selling off essential services to foreign Co's. I was horrified when a German Co wanted to buy The London Stock Exchange, luckily it never happened.

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    2. Our local water company is owned by Malaysians. Harold MacMillan was right to tell Margaret Thatcher that she was selling off the family silver. Corbyn will never be able to re-nationalise. We cannot afford to buy it all back.

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    3. Re-nationalisation would be a disaster; I think even Jezza is aware of this. It's just another electioneering ploy, a bit like scrapping student fees. The gullible will love it.

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  11. Sadly I think the rioters/looters have nothing to do with the real protest (as usual). We still have the gilets jaunes here (they were setting up road blocks near here tonight). And there is a lot of support for them too - people taking them hot drinks and food and even a local construction company towing over portable toilets. The arrogance of the wealthy politicians has brought this on themselves. At my sewing club our teacher read out an article stating how much Edith Cresson (who was Prime Minister for one year about 25 years ago) gets in pension, in addition to the approx. 33,000 her private car costs the tax payer etc. I understand their frustration but will never condone the violence. I feel particularly sad for the poor lady who was trying to get her daughter to her hospital appointment, was surrounded by protesters and accidentally accelerated and killed a woman protestor. I know I would have panicked in that situation too.

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    1. I agree with you 100%. Hooligans will always join a peaceful protest; the cover it gives allows them to loot and burn, and let the blame be taken by others.

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  12. It is now Thursday and Macron has backed down. He will not be upping fuel tax. We need some of those yellow jackets here in Old Albion.

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    1. Yes, I heard he's delayed the rises for a while. However, the list of rises on just about everything else will still go ahead; unless he sees sense.

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  13. The destruction at the Arc de Triomphe was a shame.

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    1. I cannot understand what makes people do such things.

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