France Suspends Gas Tax Increase After Nation Wide Protests Turn Violent

When interviewed as to why he was protesting a French farmer stated to the effect "I am all for a cleaner environment, except for when it impacts my personal financial situation". Therein lies a key dilemma, worldwide. Those who would impose carbon taxes, government regs., etc. need to use a modification of the Clinton mantra. "It's the personal economy stupid". That drives how people vote and behave.

Interesting factoid. Because they rely heavily on nuclear power France has one of the lowest CO2 footprints in the developed world. It's already far better than Germany, which shut down its nukes, replaced them with solar and wind, only to find out that they have to burn lots more coal to get continuous power. And German electricity costs 3 times the USA average.

@Vette71 Very true. There is a big meeting in Poland this week about climate change. Poland is a HUGE coal user for electricity. The President said we have it in abundance and it is very important to us as an energy source. We will use it going forward. 200 year supply. Currently it is 80% of their energy mix. No plans to do away with it. Hard "not to use it". People will deny climate change or the need to make a personal change until the water has risen to the point that it is in front of their door.

Bottom line is you take care of yourself and your own. When there is no one else to tax, governments tax the ones they coddled into submission and subservience by giveaways to get votes and power. To take care of yourself and your own you need to make a living. When that is threatened you react and resist. The Parisian intellectuals and politicians are worried now because their policies are coming home to roost. The populus are restless. Deservedly so.

The French elites wanted that. Obviously they are out of tune with the citizens who don't want to pay.

When fascist-socialists like Emmanuel Maricon work their magic, as some point people will revolt, but the people of France are to blame for electing the merde that Socialism is.

They way you drive an economy is to reduce energy cost, not increase it.

Yeah, why didn't they just vote for Le Pen?

Because if you look at the history of France, they are a culture of imbeciles.