Hilton: French riots part of worldwide populist uprising
You can't treat working people with contempt and expect no consequences.
In 1790, one of the most important documents in the history of conservatism was published: Edmund Burke's “Reflections on the Revolution in France.”
Burke criticized the revolutionaries for their focus on pompous high-minded abstractions instead of practical measures to help actual people.
Well, now the tables are turned.
It's the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, who's wandering around the world issuing high-minded proclamations while the “yellow vest” revolutionaries on the streets of Paris are intensely practical.
As one of the protestors pithily put it, "we are overtaxed. But at the Elysee, that’s the president’s residence, they spend 10,000 Euros a month on the hairdresser."
I don't know if President Macron's haircut is worth what’s about $11,000 dollars a month but the style he really should have is that of the original, out of touch French elitist, Marie Antoinette.
When told that the people couldn't afford bread she famously said, "Let them eat cake."
Guess what Macron said when French workers complained that his new gas tax meant they couldn't afford to get to work?
He told them to carpool!
What's going on in France is part of a worldwide populist uprising.
In the UK, in Germany, in Italy, in Eastern Europe, in Brazil and, of course, here in America with Donald Trump's election -- and support for Bernie Sanders. Let's remember, working people are saying they've had enough of decades of elitist policies -- like uncontrolled immigration -- that help those at the top but hurt everyone else.
But there's something else going on, too -- the elitist fightback.
In Britain, they're about to overturn Brexit. In Italy, the new populist government is about to have its budget rejected by the EU. And, of course, here in America the establishment is doing everything it can to get Donald Trump out of office before the next election
Well, here's the takeaway from the chaos in France. If the elitist idiots think that Trump, Brexit, and all these other populist movements are some kind of aberration and they can soon get back to business as usual, forget it.
You can’t treat working people with contempt and expect no consequences.
There's a reason our show is called “The Next Revolution.” If the establishment overturns the Brexit vote or the 2016 presidential vote or any other of these votes -- people are not going to passively take it.
The revolution will continue.
People will be on the streets.
And no, President Macron, they won't get there in a carpool.
Tell me what you think of that @SteveHiltonX and @nextrevfnc.
Adapted from Steve Hilton’s monologue from “The Next Revolution” on December 9, 2018.
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