France: 25 protesters lose eyes, 5 lose hands

Discussion in 'Western Europe' started by kazenatsu, Apr 24, 2022.

  1. Nonnie

    Nonnie Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Thank you. I often find, on the whole, many Americans can only think chalk v cheese, black v white, all guns v no guns. Your quote sums up this problem.
     
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  2. Pixie

    Pixie Well-Known Member

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    The original complaint of the GJ was the additional costs put on fuel.
    It became à general complaint against taxation and Macrons govt in général.
    Covid and évents have made them irrelevant.
    Macron has handled covid and the fuel issue as well as possible. Inflation is at about 7% in France, around the same as the rest of Europe except the UK which is at about 9%.
    He is well respected internationally and has mellowed in the job. I am happy with his général programme and performance.
     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2022
  3. Pixie

    Pixie Well-Known Member

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    Macron is not a Socialist. He is a centrist.
    Socialism in France is represented by Melanchon who, while always pulling in some support, has never polled enough to get close to the second round.
    There is also an official Communist party which never does well.
     
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  4. Pixie

    Pixie Well-Known Member

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    This article is three years old and pré covid.
    The GJ have not protested since Covid.
     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2022
  5. David Landbrecht

    David Landbrecht Well-Known Member

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    Macron is an arriviste who became President by a fluke of French political history. As with the election when Strauss-Kahn self-destructed, the sure winner was destroyed just before the vote and the Socialist Party abandoned its candidate. Macron faced Le Pen, making election certain. He's intelligent and speaks very well (even in English). He lacks inspiration and dynamism.
     
  6. Pixie

    Pixie Well-Known Member

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    Dynamisme is according to opinion.
    I appreciate his recent attempts to speak with Putin direct, his leadership in the EU and his handling of covid and the fuel crisis.
    While not perfect, he is IMO doing à good job.
    I don't need my politicians to be dynamic. I expect them to be a steady hand on the tiller and reliable. Macron seems to take action when necessary and to good effect.
     
  7. David Landbrecht

    David Landbrecht Well-Known Member

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    No doubt there could be worse than Macron. I can't manage to be a fan, nonetheless.
     
  8. Pixie

    Pixie Well-Known Member

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    I can when my opinion of politicians is in the cellar!
     
  9. David Landbrecht

    David Landbrecht Well-Known Member

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    No lower than mine; just think France could be in a much better place than the Presidents at least since Mitterrand have brought it. It was like watching an F-1 car all ready to compete with the best and the driver can't find the accelerator.
     
  10. Pixie

    Pixie Well-Known Member

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    Out of interest
    Who do you consider the accelerator?
     
  11. David Landbrecht

    David Landbrecht Well-Known Member

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    The question is interesting, but my expertise is lacking. Identifying who, out of those qualified and available, would have made a real difference would be difficult even for an expert, which excludes me. Allow me to say that my 'intuition' is that things would have been better if Jospin had won his election, for example. D.S.K. would have made a better President, especially at that moment in time, than Hollande. You may also be amused to know that I considered Bernard Kushner a good possibility (I once met him on the street and told him as much).
     
  12. Baff

    Baff Well-Known Member

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    Tax rises have everything to do with left wing and right wing.
    It cuts to the very core of left vs right wing economics.

    More money to the state or more money left for the individual to decide how to spend.

    When your life cost is too high, you may wish to decide for yourself how best to economise, or you may wish to have that decision made collectively.

    Tax rises are at the very core of right wing politics. An election issue every time.
     

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