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I'd really suggest listening.

"

Jean-Baptiste Moreau, a farmer who splits his time between parliament and his cow sheds, thought he would be part of the solution to France's political problems when he was elected.

The 41-year-old won a seat in parliament in June 2017 in what some commentators termed a "velvet revolution" led by President Emmanuel Macron, which saw grumpy voters turf out a whole generation of MPs from the country's main political parties.

Macron's victorious centrist movement filled half its parliamentary seats with people who had never held political office before, including Moreau, who posted a picture on Twitter of himself delivering a calf on Christmas Day.

But less than two years after the biggest turnover in political personnel in 60 years, France has faced another anti-elite revolt led by "yellow vest" protesters commanding widespread public support.

"Given the weight of the legislative agenda, we've been very busy in the parliament and in Paris and not on the ground enough explaining how we want to do politics differently," Moreau said in an interview.

"And perhaps we've not been different enough from our predecessors," the MP from the central Creuse region told AFP in what he called a "mea culpa".

The failure of Macron's bid to restore faith in politicians in France could have repercussions in a country where anti-establishment far-right and far-left parties have never been so popular.

Research published last week by the Cevipof political institute at Sciences Po university found more than two thirds of the French people still had overwhelmingly negative views of politicians.

When asked to sum up their feelings towards them, 37 percent said they felt "distrust", 32 percent "disgust", eight percent "boredom" and four percent "fear".

Only France's roughly 35,000 mayors, seen as close to the people they represent, inspired confidence in a majority of people.

- 'Alarming' results - 

Overall, cynicism was at its highest level since Cevipof began its surveys in 2007, before the presidencies of Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande, which were both judged harshly by French voters.

"The surge in confidence hoped for by Emmanuel Macron after his election has not materialised," Cevipof director Martial Foucault commented last week, calling the results "alarming".

Many of the new MPs in Macron's Republic on the Move (LREM) party have been shocked by the abuse directed at them since the "yellow vest" protesters from rural and small-town France took to the streets in late November.

Bruno Questel, a northern MP, was shaken in mid-December when someone fired six gunshots in front of his house shortly before midnight which was followed by a noisy demonstration of around 40 people.

"I was stunned. We've reached a new level of aggressiveness," he told AFP, adding that the crowd insulted and threatened him when he went outside to reason with them.

"I don't think any MP deserves to have gunshots in front of his house."

Around 50 of Macron's 305 MPs say they have been victims of some form of intimidation.

In other incidents, protesters have smashed a forklift truck through the doors of a ministry building, guillotined an effigy of Macron, and daubed graffiti on the Arc de Triomphe, one of the symbols of the French republic.

- Revolutionary spirit -

Macron has interpreted the protests as a sign of impatience from an electorate desperate for change -- for lower taxes, better public services and democratic reforms.

All of those were campaign promises from the 41-year-old ex-banker, who like many of his MPs had never been elected before becoming president.

But analysts also see Macron's perceived arrogance, top-down governing style, and tax policies favouring high earners as reasons behind the "yellow vest" revolt.

Other research from Cevipof has shown that Macron's MPs are mostly drawn from the middle or professional classes -- with little experiences of the poverty and economic difficulties denounced by the "yellow vests".

Historian Jean Garrigues calls the level of abuse directed at MPs "unprecedented" under the fifth republic, which began in 1958.

But this new wave of anti-elitism draws from deep sources, he says.

"You can see in the 'yellow vest' movement the idea of what was called the 'abolition of privileges' during the Revolution," he said, referring to the 1789 revolt that toppled the monarchy.

"There is this revolutionary idea, that is recurrent and cyclical in French society, of wanting to take revenge on people that are seen as the privileged," he said.

"It's an old theme of the people against the elite."

https://www.france24.com/en/20...ails-with-fed-french

Meanwhile, a helicopter is parked at the Palais Elysee to ensure Macron and mommy don't suffer the same fate as Louis XVI and Marie.

 

TRUTH -- THE NEW HATE SPEECH!

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The Yellow Vest brought down the government in Belgium.  Brits are struggling for a Brexit -- to leave the EU, which has morphed from a simple trade and free travel confederation into a bureaucracy that issues ukases on everything from the required curvature of a banana to who may fish in British waters (hint, its not the Brits).  The Eu has a toothless parliament that can only vote of approved matters. 

Democrats politicized, then weaponized the IRS against the Tea Party movement. Killing that resulted in Trump -- are you happy Demmies?  The MSM is now the Democrat Ministry of Propaganda.  Yet, Trump keeps Trumping.  

 

After another increase in French income taxes, the real elitists of the country have already moved elsewhere to counter having to pay the taxes.

Last time the country spent the entire GNP of the country on frivolous things like palaces, etc., the commoners rose up and it was "off with their heads".

Maybe the guillotine can be brought back against politicians.

Bamaman1 posted:

After another increase in French income taxes, the real elitists of the country have already moved elsewhere to counter having to pay the taxes.

Last time the country spent the entire GNP of the country on frivolous things like palaces, etc., the commoners rose up and it was "off with their heads".

Maybe the guillotine can be brought back against politicians.

Macron was already beheaded in effigy.  In truth, the froggies have a rather poor record as to revolutions -- ending up worse off than when they started.  Like most of the western nations, they need to ensure that not just the wealth flows to the elites that enrich politicians. Bringing in millions of those who have no love for your culture, laws and either drive down the price of labor/skills or live off the state welfare wasn't a good way to go. 

direstraits posted:

The Yellow Vest brought down the government in Belgium.  Brits are struggling for a Brexit -- to leave the EU, which has morphed from a simple trade and free travel confederation into a bureaucracy that issues ukases on everything from the required curvature of a banana to who may fish in British waters (hint, its not the Brits).  The Eu has a toothless parliament that can only vote of approved matters. 

Democrats politicized, then weaponized the IRS against the Tea Party movement. Killing that resulted in Trump -- are you happy Demmies?  The MSM is now the Democrat Ministry of Propaganda.  Yet, Trump keeps Trumping.  

 

But analysts also see Macron's perceived arrogance, top-down governing style, and tax policies favouring high earners as reasons behind the "yellow vest" revolt.

That sounds like someone we know.

Bamaman1 posted:

After another increase in French income taxes, the real elitists of the country have already moved elsewhere to counter having to pay the taxes.

Last time the country spent the entire GNP of the country on frivolous things like palaces, etc., the commoners rose up and it was "off with their heads".

Maybe the guillotine can be brought back against politicians.

the elites don't care about country or party like citizens do.  And most stay away from political careers to avoid public scrutiny and accountability.

 

direstraits posted:
Bamaman1 posted:

After another increase in French income taxes, the real elitists of the country have already moved elsewhere to counter having to pay the taxes.

Last time the country spent the entire GNP of the country on frivolous things like palaces, etc., the commoners rose up and it was "off with their heads".

Maybe the guillotine can be brought back against politicians.

Macron was already beheaded in effigy.  In truth, the froggies have a rather poor record as to revolutions -- ending up worse off than when they started.  Like most of the western nations, they need to ensure that not just the wealth flows to the elites that enrich politicians. Bringing in millions of those who have no love for your culture, laws and either drive down the price of labor/skills or live off the state welfare wasn't a good way to go. 

Create a crisis(they're not affected by), to fix a crisis (so the people can cheer for them)

Naio posted:
direstraits posted:

The Yellow Vest brought down the government in Belgium.  Brits are struggling for a Brexit -- to leave the EU, which has morphed from a simple trade and free travel confederation into a bureaucracy that issues ukases on everything from the required curvature of a banana to who may fish in British waters (hint, its not the Brits).  The Eu has a toothless parliament that can only vote of approved matters. 

Democrats politicized, then weaponized the IRS against the Tea Party movement. Killing that resulted in Trump -- are you happy Demmies?  The MSM is now the Democrat Ministry of Propaganda.  Yet, Trump keeps Trumping.  

 

But analysts also see Macron's perceived arrogance, top-down governing style, and tax policies favouring high earners as reasons behind the "yellow vest" revolt.

That sounds like someone we know.

Yes, Obama to a T. Note that about 60 percent of the cameras, thorough out the nation,  to catch speeders were destroyed.  The contractor is a good friend of Macron.  The rebellion is about much more than taxes. The ludicrous amount of regulations from both the EU and the French nation have destroyed a number of businesses in the rural and suburban areas. 

France should stand as an example of what happens when governments punish the rich elites. Hollande's government raised taxes on the wealthy and when Macron came to power, the definition of "elite" had changed to any poor slob with a business or job. Most of the really wealthy people left France before Macron took office leaving common folks to pay for the welfare state.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ne...res-YEAR-France.html

Stanky posted:

France should stand as an example of what happens when governments punish the rich elites. Hollande's government raised taxes on the wealthy and when Macron came to power, the definition of "elite" had changed to any poor slob with a business or job. Most of the really wealthy people left France before Macron took office leaving common folks to pay for the welfare state.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ne...res-YEAR-France.html

The entire continent is aswarm with discontent and incompetence.  The Yellow Vests have migrated to Scandinavia, the supposed socialist paradise.  The Brits don't like the Brexit deal.  The EU is attempting to plug a 39 billion euro gap, they'd planned to gouge from the Brits as the cost of the divorce.  To accomplish that they've put in play fines to any of the member nations who won't accept certain laws and more immigrants (Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic). 

Stanky posted:

France should stand as an example of what happens when governments punish the rich elites. Hollande's government raised taxes on the wealthy and when Macron came to power, the definition of "elite" had changed to any poor slob with a business or job. Most of the really wealthy people left France before Macron took office leaving common folks to pay for the welfare state.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ne...res-YEAR-France.html

"People are sending a warning to the elites"

You don't see how this works yet?

The definition of elite hasn't changed. The real elites give each other tax breaks. Turn a blind eye to immigration for decades because of cheap labor. Sit back and count their money. Then tell us a wall is the solution.  Us poor slobs with a business or job fall for it.

Naio posted:
Stanky posted:

France should stand as an example of what happens when governments punish the rich elites. Hollande's government raised taxes on the wealthy and when Macron came to power, the definition of "elite" had changed to any poor slob with a business or job. Most of the really wealthy people left France before Macron took office leaving common folks to pay for the welfare state.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ne...res-YEAR-France.html

"People are sending a warning to the elites"

You don't see how this works yet?

The definition of elite hasn't changed. The real elites give each other tax breaks. Turn a blind eye to immigration for decades because of cheap labor. Sit back and count their money. Then tell us a wall is the solution.  Us poor slobs with a business or job fall for it.

California’s wealthy class are mostly those in IT, show business and a few industries.  Lawyers and doctors, who cater to the aforementioned, form the upper middle class.  The wealthy use imported labor to depress IT wages at one end and unskilled labor to keep their lawn, mansions and such, well manicured and spick and span – mimicking slavery of old.  Use of such depresses the wages of a dwindling middle class.  Add, rising taxes and either those in the middle class become poor or leave the state. California has 12 percent of the nation’s population.  But, one-third of the homeless and one-third of those on welfare. Again, a modern version of the old confederacy, complete with rebellious state governments. 

Bringing in cheap labor -- both manual, skilled and IT accelerated the decline of the middle class --  blue and white collar.  In the last two years, we've seen the largest workforce in history, rising wages and the return of industrial jobs -- 470,000.  Jobs we were told were never returning. 

Naio posted:
Stanky posted:

France should stand as an example of what happens when governments punish the rich elites. Hollande's government raised taxes on the wealthy and when Macron came to power, the definition of "elite" had changed to any poor slob with a business or job. Most of the really wealthy people left France before Macron took office leaving common folks to pay for the welfare state.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ne...res-YEAR-France.html

"People are sending a warning to the elites"

You don't see how this works yet?

The definition of elite hasn't changed. The real elites give each other tax breaks. Turn a blind eye to immigration for decades because of cheap labor. Sit back and count their money. Then tell us a wall is the solution.  Us poor slobs with a business or job fall for it.

I don't believe you're getting it. When the "feelthy rich" left for the city limits of Nutbush Switzerland, it became the less wealthy and middle class's turn to become Hollandaise sauce for the revenue needed for the welfare state. In the case of France, immigrants apparently didn't come to work.

Stanky posted:
Naio posted:
Stanky posted:

France should stand as an example of what happens when governments punish the rich elites. Hollande's government raised taxes on the wealthy and when Macron came to power, the definition of "elite" had changed to any poor slob with a business or job. Most of the really wealthy people left France before Macron took office leaving common folks to pay for the welfare state.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ne...res-YEAR-France.html

"People are sending a warning to the elites"

You don't see how this works yet?

The definition of elite hasn't changed. The real elites give each other tax breaks. Turn a blind eye to immigration for decades because of cheap labor. Sit back and count their money. Then tell us a wall is the solution.  Us poor slobs with a business or job fall for it.

I don't believe you're getting it. When the "feelthy rich" left for the city limits of Nutbush Switzerland, it became the less wealthy and middle class's turn to become Hollandaise sauce for the revenue needed for the welfare state. In the case of France, immigrants apparently didn't come to work.

You don't get it.  If TSA agents, air traffic controllers(who are working without pay), and pilots went on strike the government would open up the next day.  That's how people send warning to the elites.  What you're saying is... we can't raise taxes on the wealthy, because they'll leave the country, then we'll have to pay more taxes because of immigrants. 

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