Does anyone else rather admire the French?

[squashyhat]

They're not taking the proposed pension changes lying down are they? France riots

I wish we were more rebellious.

I admire their strength of feeling and the strong prioritisation of the right to protest. I don't personally agree with damaging property while doing it. However, the British public could certainly do with a bit more oomph rather than accepting everything the government throws at them.

And I can't think the French government would ever get away with trying to limit the right to protest like our government has done.

I do. They retire earlier, and get many other benefits that we don't, BECAUSE they are prepared to build barricades at the drop of a hat.

I have to say I don’t respect them at all.

So who do you think will pay for them all to retire earlier?

Me too.

I loved when they sang the Marseillaise in parliament, and their (peaceful) protests like strikes and marches. Love their attitude. But setting fire to buildings esp the city hall in Bordeaux, just seems such a sad act. I’m sure lots of French people also found that an act too far.

Don’t be daft that’s not why they get it. They get it as their taxes are so much higher lol. What do you think there is some magic fairy that pays for it if they protest 😂

~25 years ago I went on a holiday with Anglo-Aussie people who lived in France. They insisted that the French were passive as Fk unlike the bolshy Brits. All noise & no results (all bark no bite, never any real change). They despaired of the French letting their govt get away with things.

There are protests in England every day for different things. Just because those protests don't make news for criminal damage doesn't mean they didn't happen. I spoke to quite a few covid vaccine protesters at a civil service conference last year.

Having walked by a French protest the 4 days ago, what struck me was how local French seemed utterly oblivious & unbothered, paying the protest no mind, travelling home or to shops /work/ dinner (like us).

This is why the French get benefits and can retire early . They pay for it. It’s nothing to do with protests. And rhe goverment raised rhe pension age as a payment gap was opening up with folks living longer

I see nothing to admire. 🤷🏻

Who do you think paid for it when we did?

Yes, they protest for a strong tax and benefit system, no magic fairies required.

What do you even mean? We did what? Can you clarify? The population in Europe is getting older and older, the younger taxpayers have to pay, there are fewer and fewer young people contributing to the pot. It's an inverted triangular disaster

No.

Setting a building on fire is not admirable.

Many of the replies on the thread are exactly why we are in such a mess in the UK.

Apathy, passive-aggressiveness and blind obedience to the rich because they happen to have a posh accent...

The French government knows that they are only in power as long as they keep the good will of the people who put them there. The moment they start eroding things like pensions, healthcare, schools or workplace rights, the public will remind them in no uncertain terms that that is not what the majority of people want.

In the UK, recent governments know they can get away with anything and people are either too apathetic or to brain-washed by the right-wing media to fight back.

That's the difference.

Protests have always been used to fight for just causes from anything to demanding the vote for women to fighting racism.

You would not have many rights or freedoms today if someone had gone out on the street to fight for them...

I really despair sometimes.

Instead of sneering at the French I think we might actually learn a thing or two by looking at how they react when governments stop prioritising people's welfare.

I totally agree.

We're just whining on here about the cost of waffles in Tesco

blind obedience to the rich because they happen to have a posh accent...

¢^¢

This. The Brits are by the balls because of their own class system

''@Raineth

Setting a building on fire is not admirable.''

Do they not teach history in schools anymore?

I think quite a few people here need to refresh their knowledge of the civil rights movements, the Suffragettes & various revolutions...

If you think all your rights were obtained because someone asked nicely, think again.

Well not the rioting, but yes, I admire their ability to protest and have their voices heard. This is the only time governments listen to the people.
We, the people, are many and have more power than we realise when we stand united.

I like the way they take no shit.

I live in France. At first I thought, why the big deal? It's only two years. Then the more I listened I realised chipping away at your hard earned rights is the way to ge totally screwed. No one is stopping you working longer you want. But if you've been a manual worker all your life and your body's filled you deserve to retire when you're stil able to enjoy life. France needs to to tax the rich more, and big corporations, just like the UK.

I support them. Protests were the complaint stage, this is fury. The government can stop it anytime they want.

Very much agree with this.

Absolutely.

When the British government fucks us over, we grumble about it then vote for the same party again at the next election. So they fuck us over some more. Truly, we get the government we deserve.

When the French government tries to fuck the French people over, they take to the streets to remind their rulers what happened in 1789. This week, the crowds were chanting : “Louis XVI was guillotined, Macron we can start again”.

I think we should be more like the French in our approach.