France, etc. (new highs and blows)

Another site, in addition to the one already on the sidebar, carries brave sarcasm and commentary, as well as translations of graffiti (courtesy of s0metim3s).  In the US meanwhile, we're striking brave new blows in the fundamentalist reactionary nostalgic "preemptive" war on democratic dissidents.

This bit from the former stood out:

The movement is beginning, ever so slightly, to have a bit of an international effect: 

In Auckland, New Zealand on March 21st, over 1,000 high school students walked out of class to protest against youth pay rates, whilst linking their protest to the events in France. The protest ended with some violence and a sit-down protest in a major intersection. Students from schools including Auckland Girls Grammar, Selwyn College, Epsom Girls and Senior College went to a rally during school hours to demand equal pay with adults. 

Germans have travelled to Paris to join in the confrontations and assemblies.

Not much further news so far – but watch this space.

However, the international ruling class is probably watching this movement far closer than the working class, and don't want to be taken by surprise like they were in May '68 – they obviously  don't want a third international proletarian assault on class society happening to subvert their Midas touch (the reduction of everything to money, the attempt to ensure that nothing survives except the Economy). Consequently, it is unlikely that the government will withdraw this law, even though, in itself, it doesn't make a great deal of difference. On March 22^nd de Villepin said, “With this law, there are three things which are impossible. The first, is its withdrawal, because that would be like saying that we capitulate to the logic of the ultimatatums and preconditions. This, our electorate obviously does not want, and they would not forgive us for it. The second, is its suspension, because quite simply, that is contrary to our Constitution. And the third thing that is impossible, is the distortion of our law, because to lose the balance of the project would be to deprive it of any chance of success”. Bernard Accoyer, the UMP governing party parliamentary president, said,  “The UMP deputies are convinced that we must hold firm - the street cannot prevail over the law.”

Like Thatcher, there's ''no turning back''.  Although the law might be given the appearance of being modified, withdrawal would be a clear sign of weakness on the part of the State and would probably open up an even larger Pandora's box than is already happening.  It would be a serious setback for their neo-liberal project.  The movement has yet to anticipate how the French State can intelligently develop methods of defending its stupidity – there's an assumption that they're idiots.  For the moment, the State is mainly  hoping that workers don't take any initiative independent of the Unions, and that the movement of youth doesn't try to make any direct communication with workers.

Comments

Possible discussion topic: how sarcasm may be less honest or helpful when habitually implicit or repressed, instead of open. That is for example: where to begin drawing the line between smugness and sarcasm, in such a way as to redeem or retain (something of the urgency inherent to) the latter.

[Matt]

Please see also, lenin.

[Matt]

Still, there's been precious little direct talk around here regarding what's at stake in these protests today. For instance, where's the effective and articulate counter to something like this please, currently passing for prevailing wisdom of the day. Some sage blogger needs write the 'neither quaint nostalgia and jubilatory counter-celebration of outmoded class and race entitlements, nor wanton acceleration for acceleration's sake' manifesto.

[Craig]

Absolutely unrelated to the precarity protests in France and the illegal immigrant protests in the US, but fascinating and, in my view, quite important all the same: after royal visits by Sir Paul McCartney and Brigitte Bardot, the real business of protesting the seal hunt and the even realler business of slaughtering animals to make fur coats, has begun. Small-scale naval warfare! Government/capital collusion! Arrests and hunger strikes!

[Matt]

I had no idea Brigitte Bardot would be allowed to get so old!

[KnappGertrude35]

People deserve very good life and personal loans or short term loan can make it much better. Just because freedom is grounded on money state.