Nationalism Alive, Well, and Kicking

How the Self-Righteous Have Fallen

President Macron of France has mounted his soap box and stabbed nationalism to death.  At least that's what he thought he was doing.  He and Angela Merkel were on the "right" side of history.  The world was rejecting nationalism in favour of internationalism.  Macron insists that it was a much, much higher calling to serve the globe, not piddly little France.

The price of petrol and rising taxes were caught up in this.  Macron, driven by his global messianism, insisted that France pay a higher price for virtually everything so that money would be available to fund the current flavours-of-the-month (environmentalism, green energy, and the like).  Within a heart-beat the nation turned upon him.  So much for an object lesson for the power of nationalism.  Apparently the archaic notion that governments should serve those whom they represent was not such a fossilised relic in France after all.

Following some of the worst riots seen in Paris in decades, the vast majority of French people still support the goals of the Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests).  A survey of 1,016 people conducted by the polling firm Harris has revealed that even after the riots that saw cars and buildings burned on the Champs-Élysées, 72 per cent of respondents said they still support the movement, broadcaster RTL reports.

The figures are not dissimilar from polls taken in the aftermath of the first protests on November 17th which saw nowhere near the same levels of violence but did see one death from a car speeding into a crowd of protestors. [Breitbart]

The French government has backed down.  They started out by bellowing, "You on the barricades listen to this!"  They ended by crawling on their knees before the public.  Overnight they discovered a deep love for the French people, the voters--that is, those who put them into office.  How quaint and old-fashioned.  The Prime Minister announced that the tax rise on petrol will be "delayed" until the winter is over.  He has also expected to announce "other measures".  President Macron has been conspicuous by his silence.  Rumours abound that he has been receiving emergency medical treatment in the local hospital allegedly from several large holes in his feet, rumoured to be self-inflicted. 

Commentators has been sufficiently brazen to suggest there will be nothing temporary about the delay to impose higher taxes.  They are "gone-burger" as they say in Paris, at least on the barricades.

What has been the underlying problem?  Macron has put his internationalist visions ahead of the interests of the French nation.

The French have seen a 14 per cent rise on petrol (gas) and 23 per cent rise on diesel in the past 12 months, as part of the progressive president’s plans to force renewable energy onto citizens by increasing carbon taxes.  The tax hikes sparked protests across the country that began November 17th by individuals donning hi-visibility jackets — symbolising French drivers — with the movement evolving to include other groups protesting Macron’s progressive reforms and the cost of living. [Breitbart]

Macron's effete, self-adulating internationalism has been knee-capped by the French public whom, the President had so cavalierly dismissed as "ignorant nationalists". 

Revenge is sweet, they say, albeit best served cold.