Riots in France over fuel tax rises

[Trumptonium1]

As the topic title says, the recent protests against high fuel prices have expectably escalated as regional protests were due to converge on Paris this weekend. The effect is most certainly visible, and unlike Macron failing to deliver on his political promises the leaderless Gilets Jaunes movement certainly delivered on theirs by bringing the entire city to a standstill, with barricades and riots breaking out in Champs Elysees.

Long story short, the immensely popular liberal democrat Macron, who sits at a comfortable 19% approval rating, has lived up to his anti-populist credentials by spending his entire presidency doing the opposite of what people want or need, and decided that one of the ways to pay for it in a great way is to raise fuel taxes by an extraordinary amount (7.6 cents per litre - instantly making fuel in France the most expensive in Europe) to have the 'added bonus' of less emissions and fewer cars.

In a recent opinion poll, 73% of people supported the protests. Diesel prices (petrol/gasoline is less prevalent in Europe) have risen by 23% in the last 12 months in France. Which is basically everyone who has a car. Although the irony is that bus prices have been rising in Normandie too.

The Gilets Jaunes movement - literally Green Jackets - are named after the vests all drivers in France must have in their car ready to wear in case of breakdown or risk a 150 euro fine on check-ups, something French drivers never liked and now satirise. The movement is described as completely grassroots - there isn't a leader, there isn't a council, there isn't even some kind of organisation HQ. It's just a bunch of people on a platform agreeing where and when to meet up to release their anger.

Last week, one person died and 106 were left injured as protests occurred nationwide against the fuel tax increase. This weekend they all converge on a bigly Paris protest, and it's just beginning.


https://www.ft.com/content/b47b5f06-ef5 ... 6339d835c0
https://www.politico.eu/article/emmanue ... olt-rages/

Thoughts?

[Page]

Damn, the French know how to have a riot. Maybe the Greeks are a bit better but the French definitely have serious riot credentials.

Anyway, although I am supportive of moving away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy, raising prices even higher on motorists isn't the way. It's not like everyone with a car is rich or that their car is an unnecessary luxury.

[95X]

So in another thread we're discussing the United States bureaucracy releasing a report detailing the drastic predicted effects of climate change if action isn't taken now, and in France someone with the power to do something is taking such actions.

[Trumptonium1]

So in another thread we're discussing the United States bureaucracy releasing a report detailing the drastic predicted effects of climate change if action isn't taken now, and in France someone with the power to do something is taking such actions.

Shock horror, looks like people prefer their own financial situation to be prioritised over the finances of Bangladeshis born 10 years from now.

[Havenborg]

1. The Macron government has aimed to move fiscality from labour to carbon, at least according to PM Edouard Philippe. Of course the French have seen very little shift and much more accumulation, though they are quick to forget the fall in business owner fiscality that is supposed to lead to lower unemployment in the mid term. Nevertheless, I like the idea that it is carbon and not labour that has to pay up. The problem of course is that it is badly executed.

2. Gilets Jaunes translates to yellow, not green, jackets.

[Ifreann]

The prophecy has come to pass.

[-Ocelot-]

Taxation aside, this shows how volatile the global economy is against a post-peak oil scenario or any other kind of fossil fuel crisis. A significant rise in fuel prices can immediately trigger riots even in otherwise stable and developed nations like France. We must reduce our demand on fossil fuels or we are screwed.

France was in a tough spot in 2017. At the final phase of the elections, they had to choose between an extreme neoliberal and a fascist. Macron may not be a fascist but, just like Le Pen, he will put the interests of the rich elite over his county.

So in another thread we're discussing the United States bureaucracy releasing a report detailing the drastic predicted effects of climate change if action isn't taken now, and in France someone with the power to do something is taking such actions.

Shock horror, looks like people prefer their own financial situation to be prioritised over the finances of Bangladeshis born 10 years from now.

Better blame random immigrants.

[The Holy Therns]

New petitions against tax!?

[Toaslandia]

Well this could be solved if people decided to have a nice, civilized chat instead of immediately resorting to violence.

[LiberNovusAmericae]

So in another thread we're discussing the United States bureaucracy releasing a report detailing the drastic predicted effects of climate change if action isn't taken now, and in France someone with the power to do something is taking such actions.

Said actions taken by Macron are idiotic. It is a no brainer that some people need their cars in their daily life.

[Agarntrop]

Whilst I support the fuel tax rises, I find Macron's economic policy overall repulsive.

[Telconi]

Gas taxes are a crummy way to combat climate change. They result in a minimal level of pollution reduction, and place the burden on people who are neither heavy polkuters, nor easily able to accommodate the tax.

[Genivaria]

This kind of thing is only acceptable if the government also hands out something like free bus passes as an alternative, even then that won't help everyone.

[Novus Wrepland]

Wasn't there another thread about this before? It's almost as if someone is either taking his ability to post things here extremely seriously or really needs to vent.

[Shofercia]

Macron - a true Napoleon III. You'd think that the French People would learn from their History, but they have to be beaten into protesting by horrendous policies of yet another Napoleon III wannabe. The sheer size of the protests tells me that it's not just about Le Fuel Taxes, but rather about the French having had enough of Macron's idiocy, and are using Le Fuel Taxes as an excuse. Hopefully Au Revoir Macron becomes a popular saying in La France.

[Shofercia]

Shock horror, looks like people prefer their own financial situation to be prioritised over the finances of Bangladeshis born 10 years from now.

Better blame random immigrants.

In what World is that quote blaming immigrants?

[Kowani]

Side note, in the OP, there's an error.
Gilets Jaunes is Yellow Jackets.
You said Green Jackets, which would be Gilets Verts.

Sorry for the nitpick.

[Arlenton]

A horrible policy.

[Petrolheadia]

Well, it's been leftists, rightists, black people, racists, Nazis, anti-Nazis and all sorts of folk protesting, so motorists joined in.

[Kowani]

Well, it's been leftists, rightists, black people, racists, Nazis, anti-Nazis and all sorts of folk protesting, so motorists joined in.

Better protests than guillotines.

[Petrolheadia]

So in another thread we're discussing the United States bureaucracy releasing a report detailing the drastic predicted effects of climate change if action isn't taken now, and in France someone with the power to do something is taking such actions.

The results are easily visible.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

So in another thread we're discussing the United States bureaucracy releasing a report detailing the drastic predicted effects of climate change if action isn't taken now, and in France someone with the power to do something is taking such actions.

Shock horror, looks like people prefer their own financial situation to be prioritised over the finances of Bangladeshis born 10 years from now.

People like there money over a world that is not going to drown them.

Who knew mankind could be so ignorant.

---

Anyway, riots are unacceptable displays of violence that have no place in a democracy.

Not a fan of fuel tax increases however, that kinda stuff only puts the burden on the working man.

What would be good is more cheaper electric cars and investment into nuclear fusion as a way of powering France and the world.

[Petrolheadia]

Shock horror, looks like people prefer their own financial situation to be prioritised over the finances of Bangladeshis born 10 years from now.

People like there money over a world that is not going to drown them.

"Drown"?

Most won't even have to move.

[Telconi]

Shock horror, looks like people prefer their own financial situation to be prioritised over the finances of Bangladeshis born 10 years from now.

People like there money over a world that is not going to drown them.

Who knew mankind could be so ignorant.

---

Anyway, riots are unacceptable displays of violence that have no place in a democracy.

Not a fan of fuel tax increases however, that kinda stuff only puts the burden on the working man.

What would be good is more cheaper electric cars and investment into nuclear fusion as a way of powering France and the world.

Shoot, even alcohol fuelled vehicles would be an improvement at this point.

I just find it amazing how the government always finds a way to make a buck off of "helping the environment" while doing very little helping of the environment.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

People like there money over a world that is not going to drown them.

"Drown"?

Most won't even have to move.

Unless you live in the Netherlands. Or Florida. Or California.