As an Englishman whose heart (and, to declare an interest, some property) lies over the channel, I am following the events in France with interest and some relish. Not least because the contrast between the response to the cuts in England and the pension proposals in France is so marked.
Whereas we merely complain in the language of the playground that the cuts are 'not fair', the French do something about it. They don't sit wringing their hands. They don't write to MPs or The Guardian. The French mobilise. They take to the streets.
As always, the established parties are apprehensive. The Socialist Party is arguing that the protesters should wait until the Presidential elections in 2012; the PCF is, as always, frightened of mass mobilisation.
But that's the so-called leadership. The people are ignoring them. They don't want votes in parliament or a referendum, because they know that parliamentary democracy is a sham.
So should we after seeing the appalling triumphalism of the Tories at the end of Osborne's O level Chicago School speech and hearing Clegg and Cable renege on their pledges and reverse their stated policies in order to maintain their precarious positions of power.
I know this is what has happened with successive governments of every persuasion. So we shouldn't be surprised.
But we should be angry. La lutte continue ...
Today's listening: Paul Kantner + Jefferson Starship, Blows Against the Empire. Played loudly.
Whereas we merely complain in the language of the playground that the cuts are 'not fair', the French do something about it. They don't sit wringing their hands. They don't write to MPs or The Guardian. The French mobilise. They take to the streets.
As always, the established parties are apprehensive. The Socialist Party is arguing that the protesters should wait until the Presidential elections in 2012; the PCF is, as always, frightened of mass mobilisation.
But that's the so-called leadership. The people are ignoring them. They don't want votes in parliament or a referendum, because they know that parliamentary democracy is a sham.
So should we after seeing the appalling triumphalism of the Tories at the end of Osborne's O level Chicago School speech and hearing Clegg and Cable renege on their pledges and reverse their stated policies in order to maintain their precarious positions of power.
I know this is what has happened with successive governments of every persuasion. So we shouldn't be surprised.
But we should be angry. La lutte continue ...
Today's listening: Paul Kantner + Jefferson Starship, Blows Against the Empire. Played loudly.
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