Gilets Jaunes is a French crisis; part of a wider, existential crisis for all

[davidbfpo]

The Yellow Vest protest movement in France has attracted considerable media reporting, sometimes with decent comments; his article by John Lichfield, an experienced British journalist living in Paris beats them all.
Link:https://beergbrexit.blog/2019/02/02/...-giletsjaunes/

He describes why this protest, sometimes violent, has it's geographical roots beyond the cities and reflects the frustration of many. Plus the reaction of the government, the police and the extremes. One of the unreported aspects is the widespread damage to speed cameras.

This is not a France-only phenomenon. It sits best here for now.

He ends in part with:

What scares me is not the fact of the GJ movement – not the fact of the anger – but the fact of the fury, the white-hot fury. We speak a great deal about radicalisation, especially of young Muslims etc. But what explains the radicalisation of home carers and garage mechanics in small towns who don’t understands the basics of how their own country’s political and tax system works but know they’re out of the loop, left behind. They have been persuaded that they are being cheated, conspired against. This is partly explained by lack of trusted guides such as political parties, media, church, unions – to shape public opinion. But the white-hot anger can only be explained by the facing mirrors, the multiplier effect, the compound or viral effect of social media. Thus, the Gilets Jaunes is a French crisis but also part of a wider, existential crisis for all 21^st century economies and democracies.

Thanks to 'Red Rat' providing the pointer.

[Bill Moore]

but what explains the radicalisation of home carers and garage mechanics in small towns who don’t understands the basics of how their own country’s political and tax system works but know they’re out of the loop, left behind.

First blame a particular group (Muslims, Jews, homosexuals, white males, the rich, cops, the homeless, pick your adversary), groups then form around this hatred and begin to reinforce their beliefes leading to radicalization and violent action in the pursuit of political power. Nazis, Maoists, etc., provide examples of where it can lead over time.