I want to close up on my opinion of President Macron. I do not hate the man. Now, I do dislike his politics and character though. I would separate the character from hating him as a person still though because it is based more on the position he sits in and less about some heinous acts he has committed or the like.
To explain, he is in some debt…allegedly. The man came onto the political stage from seemingly nowhere, won the presidential race without any prior political history, and seems to have a shady past. There was a few exposés written about his supposed bank owning funders. Whether you believe them or not, the truth that presidential campaigns are incredibly expensive, especially for those who do not even have their name in the public sphere up until the moment of announcing candidacy, remains. It is evident that some organization or individual was integral to his funding and unexpected rise from nothing-banker to President of the French Republic. For the same concerns that Americans had that Donald Trump was in some way financially owned by a foreign entity during the whole tax document scandal, I am worried on behalf of the French as to who the man owes a great debt. The secrecy surrounding it and constant raising or arbitrary taxes demonstrates poor character to me. Whether or not he is intending wrongdoing is irrelevant because he has carried himself until now in such a suspicious manner. Obviously, considering seventy-odd weeks of continuous protest, I am not in the minority here.
On the other hand there is his politics. Don’t like em, never will. I do not consider myself, in the American sphere, a Republican or Democrat. I dislike republicanism too. France as a state is just not the ideal to me, and his attempts to raise taxes in a nation with upwards of 60% income tax is a philosophy with which I take issue. Furthermore, the gas taxes that started all of this madness were not to solve an issue as much as to discourage the use of fossil fuels. Coercion is not my style. The current hot topic that he is under criticism for is his dealing with the pension system changes. I actually vehemently disagree with the idea of pensions YET I do not have a record of decision making that paints me as anti-American. The man literally told the Danish Prime Minister that there is no such thing as a true Frenchman and that the current French constituency is too stubborn for change. Whether you agree or disagree about the significant nationalism should play, it is undeniable to say that insulting your own people is unacceptable as a leader. Especially because France is one of the most progressive nations on the planet. Its socialist leanings are far more pronounced than any other European power and from green energy to social justice, France has clearly made the greatest attempts at change. It is a boldface lie and therefore egregious insult to say they are too stubborn for change.
I believe, as well, that he used the term “Gaul” when describing them as stubborn. This only makes the situation worse and does more to show him as a foreign leader only there to extract resources, not at all someone to consider you brother. Gauls were the peoples of the land we now consider France about 2000 years ago when Roman expanded northward. To put it lightly, they were not treated the best by the Roman governors, who, for a great while, say the provinces as sacks of wealth waiting to be plundered. There are plenty of picture of yellow vests writing “Gaulois en colere” or “Angry Gauls” on their gear during demonstrations. It was clearly a message they took great offence from and I cannot find it in me to support a leader who clearly does not care for his people.
These protests will not stop soon, this much is clear. I just hope some good does indeed come out of it. Even if the complete dismantling of the French governing system is not achievable like the Gilets Jaunes are demanding, I hope all of this anger, violence, and division was not for naught.
France on Fire 