who else is very concerned about the france election?

[mboxfrogger]

if i could say something to france it would be this: france please do not fuck this up. flashbomb the ingredients of an entire cake at the power figures of your ire, call upon the wisdom of larry skywalker to guide you if you have to, i really don't care just. hey. let's put that sense of superiority to good use and lend it some legitimacy by not being another falling domino of jingoism and xenophobia? take a little lesson from us: 'it's so ridiculous, how could it possibly happen?' just isn't a valid reason to brush off a situation anymore.

on a personal note i have always tried to kind of keep to my life and not let world affairs color the  wayi feel but my personal life has been a struggle of it's own lately and when i try to stop thinking about myself to gain some perspective that has just led me to more scary and depressing news. yeesh.



- S.

[reilli]

I'm hoping they learned a lesson based on what happened in the US election and do the right thing.

[mboxfrogger]

I'm hoping they learned a lesson based on what happened in the US election and do the right thing.

just from a cursory glance their democratic system seems like it's less complicated and shoot yourself in the foot-like than ours so. here's hoping they take advantage of that.


- S.

[barq2]

I find Le Pen a scary figure. My house decorator, who is French, thinks it could happen.

I think she could drag France out of the European Union. Whatever failings the EU might have (e.g. being bureaucratic), it has kept the peace in Europe. You don't need to know much history to be aware Europe spent the previous 1000 years having almost constant wars. France is an important counter-balance to Germany in the EU and Le Pen would destabilise that.

Obviously the UK is not exactly helping matters with it's Brexit, but it is run by a right-wing government rather than actual fascists like Le Pen. (It is right wing by UK standards, but that's different to the USA version of right wing. The UK version is more socially liberal, but financially very conservative - so gay marriage is fine, but God help you if you are poor.)

Unfortunately the path to isolationism and the rise of nationalism was set in the 2008 financial crisis. To be honest I'm surprised it has taken this long to happen.

[nickolyko]

Iam very interesting about the France elections. The result will have great impact for the economy of my country. For 7 years now France and Germany borrow many billions to my country to save Europe from a possible Grexit. Despite that Brexit happened and maybe we have a France exit. I do not believe things will be the same after Brexit for Europe. People of EU hate to see Grermans dominate economy and austerity which was forced to south european countries like Italy and Spain created a huge gap between North and South EU . If Le Pen comes to power France will be isolated and divided leaving Germans alone as captains of a sinking ship. Eu will never be like US. There are many differences and WW2 is still not far away as people who fight are still alive. There are many wounds and nobody likes Germans and their poverty domination. France must be again strong and prove again a liberty force opposing Germans and their austerity policy for the rest of Europe.

[mboxfrogger]

I find Le Pen a scary figure. My house decorator, who is French, thinks it could happen.

I think she could drag France out of the European Union. Whatever failings the EU might have (e.g. being bureaucratic), it has kept the peace in Europe. You don't need to know much history to be aware Europe spent the previous 1000 years having almost constant wars. France is an important counter-balance to Germany in the EU and Le Pen would destabilise that.

Obviously the UK is not exactly helping matters with it's Brexit, but it is run by a right-wing government rather than actual fascists like Le Pen. (It is right wing by UK standards, but that's different to the USA version of right wing. The UK version is  more socially liberal, but financially very conservative - so gay marriage is fine, but God help you if you are poor.)

Unfortunately the path to isolationism and the rise of nationalism was set in the 2008 financial crisis. To be honest I'm surprised it has taken this long to happen.

i am sincerely hoping she gets knocked out in the first round, and frankly it's a scary deja vu scenario when i see french political pundits saying "we will not have another trump situation here" i'm just like... agh don't be so foolhardy to be that confident that the bad thing just cannot and will not happen.

- S.

---

I find Le Pen a scary figure. My house decorator, who is French, thinks it could happen.

I think she could drag France out of the European Union. Whatever failings the EU might have (e.g. being bureaucratic), it has kept the peace in Europe. You don't need to know much history to be aware Europe spent the previous 1000 years having almost constant wars. France is an important counter-balance to Germany in the EU and Le Pen would destabilise that.

Obviously the UK is not exactly helping matters with it's Brexit, but it is run by a right-wing government rather than actual fascists like Le Pen. (It is right wing by UK standards, but that's different to the USA version of right wing. The UK version is  more socially liberal, but financially very conservative - so gay marriage is fine, but God help you if you are poor.)

Unfortunately the path to isolationism and the rise of nationalism was set in the 2008 financial crisis. To be honest I'm surprised it has taken this long to happen.

i am sincerely hoping she gets knocked out in the first round, and frankly it's a scary deja vu scenario when i see french political pundits saying "we will not have another trump situation here" i'm just like... agh don't be so foolhardy to be that confident that the bad thing just cannot and will not happen.

- S.

also the aftermath of brexit is a disgrace. all of the proponents are backpedalling on their platforms and promises. especially that man, i forget his name, but he was in that video where he just absolutely roasted that UN member in parliament which was in such poor taste even the british accent didn't subconsciously soften my opinion about his rudeness.

-S.

[Linville]

I guess I am not quite up to speed on their election. The details etc.

Did what happen today make any sense.

If I was a voter in France, I would want to keep people that wants to kill randomly other peaceful people, from entering the country.

So who is once again claiming responsibility for the horrific killings.

Seems like a no brainer to me.

Who wants to keep the killers out.

...and that is all I would need to know to see who I wanted to vote for.

That is who I would to vote for.

[reilli]

The woman Le Pen is a horrible person and it would be a disaster for her to win. She's a real wack job.

[G.Elias]

Trouble is that most of those doing the attacks were born in France.Agree,Le pen is one horrible person,she would probably cause more problems for France than it has right now.

[mboxfrogger]

Trouble is that most of those doing the attacks were born in France.Agree,Le pen is one horrible person,she would probably cause more problems for France than it has right now.

i have to agree with reilli and tommygun. i know it's totally human nature to react in fear and board up our doors, but look throughout history and bigots and people with really crazy f'ed up ideas know how to use this fear to their advantage. we need people to keep an open rational mind in the face of terror and not resort to nationalism. if france pulls out the entire EU will collapse.



- S.

---

i also would refer back to our own election and britain's brexit... if you look at the leaders who came out on top of these situations they are all boisterous rude morons. our entire country is not convinced our president can read. now, he may be able to read... but that should never be called into question when we are talking about the leader of the free world, in my opinion.


- S.