Why are Brits not like the French

[Worker29]

BBC News - France fuel protests: Tear gas fired in clashes in Paris
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46411699
There are riots. About fuel taxes.
Brexit has caused no such demonstrations.
Why?

Maybe there aren't enough hi-vis vests in Britain?

I've not thought about this before, but when the French do their car flipping protests does there tend to be a lot of looting? For essentials, like designer gear and big TVs?

I think a lot of it is down to the electoral system, which means that a far wider spectrum of parties is represented on the mainstream political scene. Lots of places still have communist party mayors, for instance. On the whole people are brought up to be more politically aware and will often start going on protests as children with their parents. It's a bit of a rite of passage.

The unions are still very powerful in France , unions in the uk have been weakened to a point where they have min8mal influence. They are much more left wing than the uk and beleive in Liberté, égalité, fraternité

And they are being listed to now, Chicka, they are getting the Brexit they voted for along with more misery for all of the nation. So who will they blame for that? Surely we all have to take responsibility for the they way we vote.

StripySocksAndDocs, yes there is. There's also a lot of football violence and looting (by the French, in France).

Following on from UC and democracy comments, I think it's because the UK is not very democratic. We all know that the political class don't listen: they continually insist that the blindingly obvious things we see going wrong are not actually happening. We still have a class structure, and sharply defined 'places' in society. Many of us grew up in the shadow of the miner's strikes. If need be, our higher classes will use force to keep us under control, and remove whatever rights they like. So we mostly want to look after our own and stay out of trouble.

"they are getting the Brexit they voted for"

No they're not. And those that were most vocal for Brexit have admitted it was lies that they propaganda'd.

ivykate I think that everyone will suffer under Brexit. That’s why the middle classes are furious with people who are less affluent. The difference is that some people felt they had nothing to lose.

No looting is not commonplace. I think there was some yesterday but the vandalism is by ideologically motivated anarchists (or agents provocateurs, depending on who you believe) not people out for a fast buck.

I find it astonishing that even after the event people can’t grasp that Brexit was a protest vote exercised by a large section of society who had fuck all to lose.

Yes, there was a lot of lies and propaganda, but there was also expert opinions available, you could choose who you listed to.

As I said above, you take responsibly with your vote.

People who felt they had nothing to lose ain't seen nothing, yet...

No, I get that it was a protest vote, what I worry is that the same people will be out rioting after Brexit, as a protest against their protest vote.

Bollocks roundabouttown When you are at rock bottom you can’t get any lower.

Good grief. They should have chosen who they listened to? They have been ignored for decades. Whatever David Cameron told them to do, they did the opposite because he hasn’t down nothing for them in the past and is all about self interest. That’s why we now have Brexit.

I've come to the conclusion that a lot of people prefer lies to facts and those leading us have been lying for so long, they aren't remotely bothered when their lies are exposed, because fuck all is done about them. As for "democracy", that's a complete bloody joke. Cloud cuckoo land is what most people are voting for, because they have no grasp whatsoever of reality from the lies they are given by those competing for their vote.

roundabout If you lived in despair and someone lied in such a way that gave you and your dc hope you would vote for them too. They are not stupid. They are desperate.

Bowchicawowwow - if you have a home and a right to vote, of course you have something to lose.

It wasn't only Cameron though, it was Mark Carney and other experts.

I agree that the Remain campaign wasn't good, but the information was out there.

Are you for real? Do you know how a lot of people live roundabouttown?

Why should they vote in favour of the status quo -Chardonnay when for them the status quo is a shit life for them and their dc?

We have a lpt of laws around striking which used to be a significant type of protest. And there are laws around other types of protest too.

Yes, I do, Bowchicawowow. I know there will be growing numbers living in awful conditions and increasing numbers of homeless people. I know things can get even worse still and affect ever increasing numbers of people. Why don't you think things can get any worse?

Because the alternative is worse?

I have never said things won’t get worse. I have said that people voted for Brexit as a protest vote. They are bottom of the pile and thought they had nothing to lose.