[News] The French Pension Protests

[Lenny Rider]

In Paris for a few days for Mrs H’s 30th birthday (She’s 53 but we got there eventually ), staying near the Opera House, yesterday the road was closed and most of the shops boarded their windows up in preparation for a mass protest about the retirement age going up to 64.

Thousands took to the streets, never seen so many coppers, riot vans, even armed military anywhere else in my travels, as I understand it went off fairly peacefully, but talking to our cabbie last night, it’s not just about the age rise it’s how Macron wanted to just put it through without any kind of debate or vote.

The French, who clearly have a history for this, I recall learning about the student riots of the 1960’s at college, clearly have an issue with people controlling tactics.

Bit different to the UK, the retirement age just gets put up and we all accept it.

Off to see the Mona Lisa

 

[B-right-on]

Off to see the Mona Lisa

Looking for a mirror then Lisa?



But seriously, Zee French have a bit of history of protest, ask Louis on down. A bit heavy with the recent yellow jackets etc... But they don't bend over and take it.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Was in France for some of the Yellow Jacket protests. Spoke to a few of the protestors who were very friendly. Was very satisfying seeing the burnt out speed cameras. Love how the French protest properly ( but then their government, unlike ours, haven't banned protesting ).

 

[Javeaseagull]

I like that saying about how with the French the Government are scared of the people. Us on the other hand are a people scared of the Government.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Gotta love the French. All this plus top notch food and wine!

 

[Beach Hut]

So is this thread actually about a mass protest in France or that Lenny is in Paris ?

 

[Spiros]

Was in France for some of the Yellow Jacket protests. Spoke to a few of the protestors who were very friendly. Was very satisfying seeing the burnt out speed cameras. Love how the French protest properly ( but then their government, unlike ours, haven't banned protesting ).

The only protests I've seen recently are a few twats gluing themselves to the road or smashing up petrol pumps at M25 services. These days the lazy Brits mainly think the way to protest is to post an angry message on Twitter or phone in to a radio talk show. A lot of apathy out there these days

 

[jamie (not that one)]

So is this thread actually about a mass protest in France or that Lenny is in Paris ?

The latter.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

The only protests I've seen recently are a few twats gluing themselves to the road or smashing up petrol pumps at M25 services. These days the lazy Brits mainly think the way to protest is to post an angry message on Twitter or phone in to a radio talk show. A lot of apathy out there these days

We have a chance to register our protest at the next set of elections.

Proof of identity permitting.

That said, if people can't be arsed to bring proof of identity what can I say? One of my brothers no longer gets a free ticket off me to watch the Albion when the missus or my boy can't attend, because it was too much 'faff' to register and get the tickets transferred to his phone. So he now misses out.

Don't miss out, people.

 

[Hugo Rune]

In Paris for a few days for Mrs H’s 30th birthday (She’s 53 but we got there eventually ), staying near the Opera House, yesterday the road was closed and most of the shops boarded their windows up in preparation for a mass protest about the retirement age going up to 64.

Thousands took to the streets, never seen so many coppers, riot vans, even armed military anywhere else in my travels, as I understand it went off fairly peacefully, but talking to our cabbie last night, it’s not just about the age rise it’s how Macron wanted to just put it through without any kind of debate or vote.

The French, who clearly have a history for this, I recall learning about the student riots of the 1960’s at college, clearly have an issue with people controlling tactics.

Bit different to the UK, the retirement age just gets put up and we all accept it.

Off to see the Mona Lisa

It’s not just Paris. Annoyingly, there is a blockade of some major French motorways by lorries which I imagine is connected. Our little sojourn of Épernay needed a number of detours on the journey there but the Mercier tour (86km of underground tunnels used for storing champagne) was worth it!

 

[GT49er]

The only protests I've seen recently are a few twats gluing themselves to the road or smashing up petrol pumps at M25 services. These days the lazy Brits mainly think the way to protest is to post an angry message on Twitter or phone in to a radio talk show. A lot of apathy out there these days

So, let me get this straight. French protesters, standing up for their rights, standing up to their government, wonderful they don't roll over like the Brits. Brits who do protest - twats.

Yep, that seems pretty straightforward...................

 

[Chicken Run]

The only protests I've seen recently are a few twats gluing themselves to the road or smashing up petrol pumps at M25 services. These days the lazy Brits mainly think the way to protest is to post an angry message on Twitter or phone in to a radio talk show or NSC. A lot of apathy out there these days

Amendment alert

 

[Simster]

So, let me get this straight. French protesters, standing up for their rights, standing up to their government, wonderful they don't roll over like the Brits. Brits who do protest - twats.

Yep, that seems pretty straightforward...................

I suppose the difference is that the British "twats" tend to protest against stuff like environmental or animal rights issues. The public at large are more concerned with their living standards, pensions, cost of living and so on - and there isn't really a groundswell of support for any group that protests against any government that threatens those things. The last time we had that was the poll tax riots in the 80s!

In fact, it's worse that - our government forces a hard Brexit on the country that demonstrably reduces living standards, and a good third of the country think it was done for their benefit and the other two thirds do nothing about it except whinge on twitter.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Looking for a mirror then Lisa?



But seriously, Zee French have a bit of history of protest, ask Louis on down. A bit heavy with the recent yellow jackets etc... But they don't bend over and take it.

No she's complaining about not being able to get tickets near the dug out until today.

 

[Stat Brother]

So 'we' are in favour of protests 'we' agree with, but demand the full force of the law, and then some, be bought down on those protesting against the things 'we' want.


A little confusing.

 

[Spiros]

So, let me get this straight. French protesters, standing up for their rights, standing up to their government, wonderful they don't roll over like the Brits. Brits who do protest - twats.

Yep, that seems pretty straightforward...................

Not quite what I meant, but I think you knew that anyway ...

 

[Spiros]

I suppose the difference is that the British "twats" tend to protest against stuff like environmental or animal rights issues. The public at large are more concerned with their living standards, pensions, cost of living and so on - and there isn't really a groundswell of support for any group that protests against any government that threatens those things. The last time we had that was the poll tax riots in the 80s!

In fact, it's worse that - our government forces a hard Brexit on the country that demonstrably reduces living standards, and 52% of the country think it was done for their benefit and the other 48% do nothing about it except whinge on twitter.

Corrected your numbers slightly
My point is that the protests we do see in this country seem to be of the mindless 'look at me' variety by a small number of people. Take the idiots that protested about the environment by climbing on top of tube trains - they are actually inconveniencing the very people that are using the more sustainable forms of transport. The French would have protested by marching through the centre of a city disrupting the traffic instead.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a big protester (the only protests I've joined were those against the former owners of our football club) but if you're going to do something do it properly

 

[Blue3]

Only time the British have been really upset was when we had a King Charles on the throne

 

[Coldeanseagull]

I find it very hard to care what those 'european types' are doing

 

[sparkie]

Lucky, lucky French people to have a retirement age of 64.

When it goes over 67 I'll start sympathising with them.