Politics
The French Go Mad as Retirement Unrest Gets Heated
The French have gone mad again, tearing up their own streets for the 4th day in a row in protest against the Macron government they elected for a second term just under a year ago. The catalyst? We mainstream media say it was the decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 years that motivated citizens to set fire to their cities
BRIAN SOCKINGTON: It seems the French have gone mad again, tearing up their own streets for the 4th day in a row in protest against the Macron government they elected for a second term just under a year ago. The catalyst? We mainstream media say it was the decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 years that motivated citizens to set fire to their cities – so is this just another bout of French silliness, or could there be other unresolved factors behind the unrest that French citizens have been trying to spell out for years? James Plushfoot attempts to find out.
JAMES PLUSHFOOT: It started with another Captains’ Call from French President Emmanuel Macron, raising the national retirement age from 62 to 64 through an executive order, bypassing the consensus of his National Assembly by invoking an obscure clause within the French Constitution. This sparked wild protests both inside and outside French Parliament – Macron’s political opponents banged on desks while roaring their national anthem in defiance, while epic riots sprawled onto French streets. This garbage strike left Paris and other French cities in filth, while rioters in Bordeaux set fire to their City hall. Cars were torched and chaos reigned as police struggled to contain the relentless anger.
But what exactly do these people want, and why won’t they just go away? We offered this group in Marseille a chance to explain themselves, but the just stood around sounding like a large, unintellegable crowd. It’s no wonder President Macron can’t understand what protesters want, such as the estimated half a million at this rally (or precisely 107,000 according to Macron’s interior minister).
“…What exactly do these people want, and why won’t they just go away?“
It’s an issue that has plagued large scale protests throughout Macron’s 6 years in power – and it isn’t easy to figure out – which is why media reports often poke fun at the French their fierce defence of culture and rights, and an apparent lack of work-ethic – things that resonate with the average Joe – people like INN’s own Joe Sockic and the Drudge, who also find it difficult to understand why the French aren’t INNformation with everyone else…
JOE: Lazy frog-eaters, ‘ey THE DRUDGE?
THE DRUDGE: Who?
JOE: The French mate, keep up! They’re all on extended smoko again, bludging and carrying on about their retirement age going up 2 years…
THE DRUDGE: Good on ‘em?
JOE: Good on ‘em? Pull ya finger out Stalin. Why shouldn’t they be on the tools for a few extra years like the rest of us?
THE DRUDGE: Right…
JOE: ‘Course I’m right. I’m no pinko commie mate – I got no problem with work
THE DRUDGE: Me either…
JOE: ‘Course you don’t – and you’re doing alright. What are ya now, 60 or something?
THE DRUDGE: I’m 28…
JOE: 28! Jeezzus, The Drudge, you stressed out at home or something?
THE DRUDGE: I don’t have a home
JOE: Why don’t you get one then?
THE DRUDGE: I’ve been working since I was 14 mate, and I still can’t afford one…
JOE: You just need a bit of overtime mate, you’ll be right! Age is just a social construct cooked up by socialists like the French who wanna get out of work
THE DRUDGE: You sure?
JOE: Yeah mate! You gotta serve your state as long as you can mate! When you get a Centrist, third-way politician like Macron, guess who wins in the end?
THE DRUDGE: Rich people?
JOE: We all do mate… What do you want, your “rights” or more money mate?
THE DRUDGE: Can’t I have both?
JOE: Oh, here we go. You want everything, just like the French! Hard times are good times ‘The Drudge’. Trust your leaders mate and you’ll always win in the end…
THE DRUDGE: Like, when I’m 64?
JOE: Yeah, like the song ‘The Drudge’. Be patient, stay in line and we’ll all be laughing one day mate
THE DRUDGE: You sure?
JOE: Look mate, I don’t know… Could I bum a smoke off ya, I’m out again…
Perhaps it’s only through one on one interactions like these that we can gain insight into the issues faced by these shouting unintelligible masses in France and around the world. But it would be great if someone could articulate a plan to resolve these issues, because at this stage, I won’t be able to retire until I’m about 80. James Plushfoot, INN News.
BRIAN: To his credit, President Macron continues to look at the bigger picture, rather than the constant and desperate calls for change across his country, choosing to focus his agenda on global climate change and providing money and weapons to Ukraine. The mainstream media are also staying clear of the issues of protestors, although similar french-inspired action has been reported recently in countries around the world, including these ones [Scroll these countries on screen: Australia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Libya, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, the United Kingdom and the United States]. Bunch of bludging, whinging, hedonists, socialists – all of ‘em…
