Guillaume Albasini + 851 December 3, 2018 5 hours ago, Dan Warnick said: Here is an interesting, seemingly fairly thorough analysis of what is and what is not going on in Paris: ANALYSIS: The savage violence in Paris was not a protest, it was an insurrection I'll leave it to those closer to comment and/or reflect. Good article. I think it is an accurate report of the events and a strong analysis underlining the divide between the metropolitan and peripheral France I have already mentioned before. Sunday a group of moderate Yellow Vests were asking in an op-ed to find a solution to the crisis and the government invited them for talks on Tuesday but they were forced to cancel the meeting, the moderates having received death threats from some hardliners Yellow Vests. How to negociate with a leaderless and structureless movement ? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Illurion + 894 IG December 4, 2018 (edited) 9 hours ago, Guillaume Albasini said: Your friends in France are probably among the supporters of Marine Le Pen who try to put the blame on the migrants for all the problems the country is facing. But they represent only a fraction of the french population (around 20% in the last polls) and are not representative of the whole French society. Your point of view is strongly biased. I live close to the french border, just on the opposite side of a lake. I read french newspapers, watch french television, listen to french radio stations, have french friends and family members living in France, spent part of my summer holydays in France... So I know this country is more complex and diverse than the picture some french-bashing Americans try to paint. Based on what I see, the Yellow Jackets protest seems to be about the center-periphery divide and not about a native-migrants divide. The big cities are benefiting from the globalization (wealth and jobs creation) while the small and medium cities are feeling left behind. You can blame everything on the migrants but it is as silly as blaming the Honduran migrants for the industrial jobs lost in Michigan. TO : Guillaume Albasini You seem to make a lot of decisions about PEOPLE based on "ASSUMPTIONS." You assume too much.. And you are rude in doing so some times. If i set you off by saying you were "DREAMING" in my earlier post, i apologize, However, i believe your response was a bit "over the top." (assumption 1) you said " YOUR (my) POINT OF VIEW IS STRONGLY BIASED." (assumption 2) you described my friends as " FRENCH-BASHING AMERICAN EXPATS " ... YOU THEN EDITED OUT THE WORD "EXPATS.' (assumption 3) you said " YOUR FRIENDS IN FRANCE ARE PROBABLY AMONG THE SUPPORTERS OF MARINE LE PEN." (assumption 4) you said " THEY (LA PEN SUPPORTERS) REPRESENT ONLY A FRACTION OF THE FRENCH POPULATION ( AROUND 20 % IN THE LAST POLLS )" (assumption 5) you said " YOU CAN BLAME EVERYTHING ON THE MIGRANTS BUT IT IS AS SILLY AS BLAMING THE HONDURAN MIGRANTS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL JOBS LOST IN MICHIGAN." (assumption 6) you said " THE BIG CITIES ARE BENEFITING FROM THE GLOBALIZATION (wealth and jobs creation) ". MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #1: This is the only one of your assumptions that is TRUE. I freely admit that i am definitely biased on many different things.... But the problem isn't me... THE PROBLEM HERE IS YOU.......... !! WHEN ARE "YOU" GOING TO ADMIT THAT "YOU" ARE BIASED.........??? ACCORDING TO YOU, EVERYONE IS BIASED BUT YOU...! ! ! EARLIER TODAY YOU SAID "DAN WARNICK" WAS BIASED TOO... WHAT IS EXTREMELY OBVIOUS IN ALL OF YOUR WRITINGS IS THAT "YOU" ARE EXTREMELY BIASED : -- toward - anything PRO-GLOBALIST, PRO LEFT WING, PRO LIBERAL, ANTI-NATIONALIST, PRO-SOCIALIST -- against - anything PRO-NATIONALIST, PRO RIGHT WING, PRO-CONSERVATIVE, ANTI-GLOBALIST, ANTI-SOCIALIST MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #2: My friends are "NOT AMERICANS"... THEY ARE "NOT EX-PATRIOTS" OF ANY FOREIGN LAND... THEY ARE NOT "BASHING" FRANCE IN ANY WAY.... THEY ARE NATIVE FRENCH. A MARRIED COUPLE I HAVE KNOWN FOR OVER 40 YEARS WHEN I MET THEM WHEN I WAS IN MY 20'S... THEY WERE BORN IN FRANCE.. THEY HAVE LIVED THEIR ENTIRE LIFE IN FRANCE... THEY ARE BOTH JEWISH... THEIR GRANDPARENTS DIED IN THE HOLOCAUST... THEIR PARENTS SURVIVED THE DEATH CAMPS AS CHILDREN.. THEIR GREAT-UNCLE, WAS A "HERO OF FRANCE" FOR HIS WORK WITH THE FRENCH UNDERGROUND DURING WW2... THEY HAVE 5 CHILDREN, ALL LIVING IN FRANCE... THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THEY HAVE "FORGOTTEN MORE ABOUT FRANCE, AND HOW THE FRENCH REALLY FEEL", THAN YOU, Guillaume Albasini, WILL EVER KNOW. MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #3: My friends in Paris "DID NOT VOTE FOR LE PEN." Which is now something they freely admit they now wish they had done, for they say things would have gotten better under Le Pen, but, instead, have gotten far worse under Macron. They voted for Macron, and say Macron lied to them. They realized immediately after the election that they had made a mistake, and were devastated when things continued to spiral out of control. And yes, they said there were several abnormalities on election day that made them doubt the actual election numbers to this day. They ARE hoping Le Pen will run again in the next election. At that time, they WILL vote for her. MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #4: You are quoting FAKE NEWS.... You are manipulating the numbers... CONVENIENTLY not counting them all. Over 45 years ago, when i was in college as an ACCOUNTING MAJOR, my Professors described your kind of accounting as " LS " - which means "Liars Statistics." In other words, "A BIAS TO MANIPULATE THE NUMBERS TO SUIT THE MANIPULATORS DESIRED OUTCOME." I can read as well as anyone, and at the time of the last French election, POLLS SHOWED OVER 53% OF the French populace were very concerned about the MIGRATION PROBLEM DESTABILIZING THE COUNTRY. In the end, Le Pen and her party were penalized and lost the election "BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE HISTORY TIED TO HER FATHER, AS THE FOUNDER OF THE PARTY. " That "negative history" apparently caused 33% of the French citizens who "AGREED WITH LE PEN'S IDEAS", to nonetheless vote for someone else. Leaving only approximately 20% actually voting for Le Pen. THOSE OTHER 33% OF THE FRENCH CITIZENS WEREN'T PRO-MIGRATION , THEY JUST DIDN'T TRUST LE PEN. MANY ARE NOW REGRETTING THAT DECISION TO NOT VOTE FOR LE PEN. Despite what you say, the French People are EVEN MORE CONCERNED NOW ABOUT THE MIGRATION PROBLEM DESTABILIZING THE COUNTRY, than they were at the last election. At poll out today, 12-3-2018, ( https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2018/12/03/poll-majority-french-people-say-immigration-is-harmful-nation/ ) says " 58% OF THE FRENCH PEOPLE BELIEVE IMMIGRATION HARMS THE ECONOMY, NATIONAL COHESION, AND NATIONAL SECURITY." So, the number of anti-migration French Citizens has RISEN FROM 53% TO 58% AS OF TODAY.... FAR MORE THAN THE 20% THAT YOU CLAIM THERE ARE. MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #5: What is "SILLY" is your patronizing tone as you "ASSUME" that people in Michigan blame the NAFTA, GATT, and WTO, etc. treaties that destroyed the INDUSTRIAL JOB BASE IN MICHIGAN, and other American States on Honduran refugees. You seem to "ASSUME" that everyone is stupid, and ignorant, and un-informed... That is, everyone but YOU, Guillaume Albasini.... You know everything.... No-One is allowed to disagree with you... MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #6: Apparently you are one of the many people who are enchanted by the concept of GLOBALISM... You are a Globalist worshiper. Well, i hate to break it to you, but GLOBALISM IS: (A) failing (B) becoming less popular in the world due to the immense destruction it causes by making jobs "MOBILE.' (C) hurts big cities just as much as it hurts small towns. The EU is an example of "GLOBALISM GONE AMOK", and that is why the EU economy is tanking, and the UK , among others want OUT. ................. In conclusion, Guillaume Albasini, i do not know why you use your posts to attack me, and others. Can't you just "agree to disagree" ? and leave it at that...? What you wrote about yourself today shows me the following: * YOU ADMIT THAT YOU ARE NOT FRENCH * YOU ADMIT THAT YOU DO NOT LIVE IN FRANCE * BUT, FOR SOME REASON YOU SEEM TO FEEL THAT "YOUR FRIENDS" ARE BETTER THAN "MY FRIENDS", and you want to argue about everything about France.. A long time ago, there was an American Journalist, Infantryman, and Writer named "ERNEST HEMMINGWAY." Ernest spent much time in France and wrote several novels about his experiences there. Ernest Hemmingway had a funny way of ending many of his "more controversial" descriptions of French Life. He would say what he had to say, and then add, as an afterthought, "BUT WHAT DO I KNOW ?.". Guillaume Albasini, i "ASSUME" that nothing will change, and you will continue as you are. I only request is that you act more like Ernest Hemmingway... So in all of your future posts, whenever you insult someone, please end your post with the words: "BUT WHAT DO I KNOW ? ' That way, we can pretend we weren't insulted. Have a nice day. Illurion ps: My French Friend's wife says you are lucky that the migrants do not seem to have moved into your area, as she says you would think differently if they had. Edited December 4, 2018 by Illurion 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jan van Eck + 7,558 MG December 4, 2018 7 minutes ago, mthebold said: As an American, I'm proud of my fellow citizens for not caring about our anthem or central government. I take it as evidence that we still want to be left alone and, therefore, are capable of sustaining some measure of freedom. I must say that that is a refreshing stance. Not exactly typical! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume Albasini + 851 December 4, 2018 36 minutes ago, Illurion said: TO : Guillaume Albasini You seem to make a lot of decisions about PEOPLE based on "ASSUMPTIONS." You assume too much.. And you are rude in doing so some times. If i set you off by saying you were "DREAMING" in my earlier post, i apologize, However, i believe your response was a bit "over the top." (assumption 1) you said " YOUR (my) POINT OF VIEW IS STRONGLY BIASED." (assumption 2) you described my friends as " FRENCH-BASHING AMERICAN EXPATS " ... YOU THEN EDITED OUT THE WORD "EXPATS.' (assumption 3) you said " YOUR FRIENDS IN FRANCE ARE PROBABLY AMONG THE SUPPORTERS OF MARINE LE PEN." (assumption 4) you said " THEY Le )" (assumption 5) you said " YOU CAN BLAME EVERYTHING ON THE MIGRANTS BUT IT IS AS SILLY AS BLAMING THE HONDURAN MIGRANTS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL JOBS LOST IN MICHIGAN." (assumption 6) you said " THE BIG CITIES ARE BENEFITING FROM THE GLOBALIZATION (wealth and jobs creation) ". MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #1: This is the only one of your assumptions that is TRUE. I freely admit that i am definitely biased on many different things.... But the problem isn't me... THE PROBLEM HERE IS YOU.......... !! WHEN ARE "YOU" GOING TO ADMIT THAT "YOU" ARE BIASED.........??? ACCORDING TO YOU, EVERYONE IS BIASED BUT YOU...! ! ! EARLIER TODAY YOU SAID "DAN WARNICK" WAS BIASED TOO... WHAT IS EXTREMELY OBVIOUS IN ALL OF YOUR WRITINGS IS THAT "YOU" ARE EXTREMELY BIASED : -- toward - anything PRO-GLOBALIST, PRO LEFT WING, PRO LIBERAL, ANTI-NATIONALIST, PRO-SOCIALIST -- against - anything PRO-NATIONALIST, PRO RIGHT WING, PRO-CONSERVATIVE, ANTI-GLOBALIST, ANTI-SOCIALIST MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #2: My friends are "NOT AMERICANS"... THEY ARE "NOT EX-PATRIOTS" OF ANY FOREIGN LAND... THEY ARE NOT "BASHING" FRANCE IN ANY WAY.... THEY ARE NATIVE FRENCH. A MARRIED COUPLE I HAVE KNOWN FOR OVER 40 YEARS WHEN I MET THEM WHEN I WAS IN MY 20'S... THEY WERE BORN IN FRANCE.. THEY HAVE LIVED THEIR ENTIRE LIFE IN FRANCE... THEY ARE BOTH JEWISH... THEIR GRANDPARENTS DIED IN THE HOLOCAUST... THEIR PARENTS SURVIVED THE DEATH CAMPS AS CHILDREN.. THEIR GREAT-UNCLE, WAS A "HERO OF FRANCE" FOR HIS WORK WITH THE FRENCH UNDERGROUND DURING WW2... THEY HAVE 5 CHILDREN, ALL LIVING IN FRANCE... THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THEY HAVE "FORGOTTEN MORE ABOUT FRANCE, AND HOW THE FRENCH REALLY FEEL", THAN YOU, Guillaume Albasini, WILL EVER KNOW. MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #3: My friends in Paris "DID NOT VOTE FOR LE PEN." Which is now something they freely admit they now wish they had done, for they say things would have gotten better under Le Pen, but, instead, have gotten far worse under Macron. They voted for Macron, and say Macron lied to them. They realized immediately after the election that they had made a mistake, and were devastated when things continued to spiral out of control. And yes, they said there were several abnormalities on election day that made them doubt the actual election numbers to this day. They ARE hoping Le Pen will run again in the next election. At that time, they WILL vote for her. MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #4: You are quoting FAKE NEWS.... You are manipulating the numbers... CONVENIENTLY not counting them all. Over 45 years ago, when i was in college as an ACCOUNTING MAJOR, my Professors described your kind of accounting as " LS " - which means "Liars Statistics." In other words, "A BIAS TO MANIPULATE THE NUMBERS TO SUIT THE MANIPULATORS DESIRED OUTCOME." I can read as well as anyone, and at the time of the last French election, POLLS SHOWED OVER 53% OF the French populace were very concerned about the MIGRATION PROBLEM DESTABILIZING THE COUNTRY. In the end, Le Pen and her party were penalized and lost the election "BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE HISTORY TIED TO HER FATHER, AS THE FOUNDER OF THE PARTY. " That "negative history" apparently caused 33% of the French citizens who "AGREED WITH LE PEN'S IDEAS", to nonetheless vote for someone else. Leaving only approximately 20% actually voting for Le Pen. THOSE OTHER 33% OF THE FRENCH CITIZENS WEREN'T PRO-MIGRATION , THEY JUST DIDN'T TRUST LE PEN. MANY ARE NOW REGRETTING THAT DECISION TO NOT VOTE FOR LE PEN. Despite what you say, the French People are EVEN MORE CONCERNED NOW ABOUT THE MIGRATION PROBLEM DESTABILIZING THE COUNTRY, than they were at the last election. At poll out today, 12-3-2018, ( https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2018/12/03/poll-majority-french-people-say-immigration-is-harmful-nation/ ) says " 58% OF THE FRENCH PEOPLE BELIEVE IMMIGRATION HARMS THE ECONOMY, NATIONAL COHESION, AND NATIONAL SECURITY." So, the number of anti-migration French Citizens has RISEN FROM 53% TO 58% AS OF TODAY.... FAR MORE THAN THE 20% THAT YOU CLAIM THERE ARE. MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #5: What is "SILLY" is your patronizing tone as you "ASSUME" that people in Michigan blame the NAFTA, GATT, and WTO, etc. treaties that destroyed the INDUSTRIAL JOB BASE IN MICHIGAN, and other American States on Honduran refugees. You seem to "ASSUME" that everyone is stupid, and ignorant, and un-informed... That is, everyone but YOU, Guillaume Albasini.... You know everything.... No-One is allowed to disagree with you... MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #6: Apparently you are one of the many people who are enchanted by the concept of GLOBALISM... You are a Globalist worshiper. Well, i hate to break it to you, but GLOBALISM IS: (A) failing (B) becoming less popular in the world due to the immense destruction it causes by making jobs "MOBILE.' (C) hurts big cities just as much as it hurts small towns. The EU is an example of "GLOBALISM GONE AMOK", and that is why the EU economy is tanking, and the UK , among others want OUT. ................. In conclusion, Guillaume Albasini, i do not know why you use your posts to attack me, and others. Can't you just "agree to disagree" ? and leave it at that...? What you wrote about yourself today shows me the following: * YOU ADMIT THAT YOU ARE NOT FRENCH * YOU ADMIT THAT YOU DO NOT LIVE IN FRANCE * BUT, FOR SOME REASON YOU SEEM TO FEEL THAT "YOUR FRIENDS" ARE BETTER THAN "MY FRIENDS", and you want to argue about everything about France.. A long time ago, there was an American Journalist, Infantryman, and Writer named "ERNEST HEMMINGWAY." Ernest spent much time in France and wrote several novels about his experiences there. Ernest Hemmingway had a funny way of ending many of his "more controversial" descriptions of French Life. He would say what he had to say, and then add, as an afterthought, "BUT WHAT DO I KNOW ?.". Guillaume Albasini, i "ASSUME" that nothing will change, and you will continue as you are. I only request is that you act more like Ernest Hemmingway... So in all of your future posts, whenever you insult someone, please end your post with the words: "BUT WHAT DO I KNOW ? ' That way, we can pretend were weren't insulted. Have a nice day. Illurion ps: My French Friend's wife says you are lucky that the migrants do not seem to have moved into your area, as she says you would think differently if they had. Wow... I should be honored to have been the main subject of such a long comment. I never said I wasn't biased. Perfect objectivity is never found among humans. We have all our own bias because it's impossible to take into account all the parameters so we have do some choices and doing that we miss some relevant elements. You admit you are biased and i admit also that I'm biased towards a pro-globalist. pro left wing, pro liberal anti-nationalist and pros socialist point of view as you, as you describe me. So on what you call ASSUMPTION #1 we can both agree that our point of view is affected by our very opposed opinions. Moving now to ASSUMPTION #2, you said I edited the word EXPAT. But I never wrote this word nor edited it. You can check and you'll see my post wasn't edited. When talking about "french-bashing Americans" I was not talking about your french friends. It was rather about the US right wing community where franch-bashing seems from what I can read a very popular sport. I must admit however that US-bashing is also a very popular sport in Europe. I apologize if my sentences were not clear enough. I never doubted your friends were French. On ASSUMPTION#3 you just admitted that your french friends are now supporting Le Pen even if they voted for Macron. My assumption was not on what they voted in the last election but rather on their present political positioning. So my assumption was true. You said your friends are casting some doubts on the results of the last presidential election. May I remind you that Macron won with 66% of the votes and Le Pen got only 33% on the second round ? It should have been a very very very big fraud to change the results. My ASSUMPTION#4 is that Le Pen supporters represent only around 20% of the french population. I'm not quoting fake news or manipulating the numbers. Marine Le Pen obtained 21% of the votes on the first round of the last presidential election. And in the last poll on next year European election the National Rally is at 21%. The highest score Le Pen party ever got was in 2014 at the European election at 25%. The 33% obtained at the second round of the presidential election included those who voted more against Macron than for Le Pen and does not necessary imply a full support for Le Pen ideas. To be concerned about migration does not necessary imply supporting the radical solutions proposed by the far right. On ASSUMPTION#5, I'm not assuming the people in Michigan blame on the Honduran the lost jobs. I was just saying that blaming on the migrants the problems the small and medium french cities are facing would be as absurd as blaming on the Honduran migrants the industrial jobs lost in Michigan. I was just underlining that the french Yellow Vests protest is not an anti migrant protest. My ASSUMPTION#6 is that globalization is benefiting the big metropolis and hurting the small and medium cities. You said it hurts big cities as much as small cities. I disagree with you. I've based my assumption on several readings and conferences I attended on the subject. I'll try to find references in English for you. And to your French Friend's wife who says I'm lucky that the migrants do not seem to have moved into my area, as she says I would think differently if they had, you can reply that her assumption is wrong. In the city where I live 42% of the population are foreigners and it's not a problem. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Illurion + 894 IG December 4, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, mthebold said: I had an interesting experience in Iraq: what was reported in the news, while factual, bore no resemblance to the truth on the ground. I see a similar phenomenon in America: those living comfortably read the news and assume all is well. Meanwhile, those who live in struggling areas tell their stories honestly only to be ignored. The rest of the country is safe and comfortable, so all their talk of unpleasantness must be political theater. Personally, I have lived and worked with people from both sides of the issue. Without exception, if people who live in an area complain that something is wrong, something has, in fact, been wrong. If @Illurion's friends live near France and report trouble with immigrants, my bet is that there is, in fact, trouble with immigrants. I would also note that Illurion's friends' comments about Islamic immigrants are consistent with Islamic behavior throughout all of history in every place. In short, they have multiplied, failed to integrate, and come to conflict with every native population they've encountered. I don't know of a single case where a Muslim majority has peacefully coexisted with non-Muslim minorities. If such a case exists, it's certainly not the norm. Given that frighteningly consistent track record, it should take extraordinary evidence to convince anyone that mass Islamic immigration has led to a result other than conflict. mthebold I like the way you think. My take on the Germans is not exactly "numbers" based, as much as "events" based. The migrant / crime rate (RAPES, MURDERS, BURGLARY, TERRORISM) in Germany appears to be much larger than in France, and the German Government, like the French Government, is in full denial of the situation. Both France and Germany are failing their people, and moving closer to revolution for different reasons. The French Government has far more migrants per capita, and those migrants are the cause of far more crime per capita than the native French population. BUT THE MIGRANT CRIME RATE IN FRANCE IS FAR LESS THAN THE MIGRANT CRIME RATE IN GERMANY. There is a HUGE CULTURAL DIVIDE in the France. However, it is the "FINANCIAL COST" of the migrant population that has tipped France past what i consider to be the point of no return. THE MIGRANTS ARE THERE TO STAY... THEY WERE INVITED BY THE GOVERNMENT... THEY ARE NOT ILLEGAL.... YET THEY REPRESENT A HUGE, UN-RECONCILABLE CONFLICT WITH FRENCH CULTURE. THE MUSLIM MIGRANTS WILL NEVER INTEGRATE INTO THE ESTABLISHED FRENCH CHRISTIAN CULTURE.. FOR FRANCE TO REMAIN FRENCH, THE MIGRANTS MUST GO... and they won't go willingly. Hence, war and revolution. Germany is different. There are fewer Muslim migrants, but they are FAR MORE VIOLENT. To make matters worse, not only is the German Government in total denial, but the German Government is taking active measures AGAINST THEIR OWN NATIVE GERMAN POPULATION to help WHAT THE GERMAN PUBLIC IS MORE AND MORE SEEING AS "CRIMINAL MUSLIM MIGRANTS" TAKING AWAY MORE AND MORE OF NOT JUST THE "RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS" OF THE NATIVE GERMANS, BUT THEIR PHYSICAL PROPERTY ALSO. The German government has begun kicking people out of their homes in order to give those homes to migrants. Germany is not the only EU country to begin doing so. In Germany, the "FINANCIAL COST" at this time is not the "tipping point" that will cause revolution, it is the "LOSS OF RIGHTS BY THE NATIVE GERMANS" that is the cause. So, in conclusion, two revolutions are coming down the pike. In France, it will be the Native French people, and possibly a new conservative government, going to war against the Muslim Migrants (who were invited in by the previous liberal government) to kick them out of France, and restore France to its historical Christian norms. In Germany, it will be the Native German people, standing alone, who will be going to war against their own government to overthrow and restore the government to Native German control, this would ideally be followed by the kicking out of the Muslim Migrants invited in by the overthrown government. But don't be surprised if the Muslim Migrants join the Government in fighting the Native German people. It is in the Muslim Migrants interest that the current German government stay in control. The German government has always shown a willingness to attack their own people. The French government has a history of being weak, and easily overthrown. But then, what do i know ? Edited December 4, 2018 by Illurion 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Illurion + 894 IG December 4, 2018 20 minutes ago, Guillaume Albasini said: Wow... I should be honored to have been the main subject of such a long comment. I never said I wasn't biased. Perfect objectivity is never found among humans. See, that wasn't hard. You wrote a whole long response, succinctly, and clearly, and didn't insult me at all. We both agree that my post was long, and i hope to not have to write another long one again. I am tired and going to bed now. Good night. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Warnick + 6,100 December 4, 2018 2 hours ago, mthebold said: On 12/2/2018 at 6:38 PM, Dan Warnick said: I can't be bothered to type "duckduckgo" every time, which unfortunately helps Google win that war for my search efforts It is possible to add a "quick search" to any web browser. I have mine set up so that typing "ddg <space> <term to search>" in the address bar completes a DuckDuckGo search. You can do this for any search bar in any website; it's quite convenient. Interested. How is the "quick search" added? What is the setup to make it an option? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Kirkman + 8,860 December 4, 2018 9 minutes ago, Dan Warnick said: Interested. How is the "quick search" added? What is the setup to make it an option? On my smartphone, I have 2 browsers on my home screen. ● One browser is Google Chrome, and its default search engine is Google. (I tend to avoid using Chrome and Google search unless I need to.) ● The other browser is Brave, and I made its default search engine DuckDuckGo. (I tend to use Brave for most internet browsing - it blocks most ads by default). 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Warnick + 6,100 December 4, 2018 @mthebold was talking about being in ANY browser and being able to do a quick search in the Duck. I'm normally using Chrome and would like to do a quick alternative-search-engine search from within Chrome. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume Albasini + 851 December 4, 2018 As I've said before, I think the opposition between big metropolis (core cities) benefiting from globalization and peripheral cities hurted by globalization is essential to understand the current "Yellow Vests" protests in France. Ilurion disagreed with me and said that globalization was hurting big cities as much as small and medium cities. So I promised him to add some references to explain on what my assumptions were based. The following text is an excerpt of a recent review essay from Robert Mark Silberman (Buffalo University) titled "Rethinking shrinking cities : peripheral dual cities have arrived" and published in the "Journal of Urban Affairs" "Globalization has transformed a select group of core cities into an integrated network of knowledge and financial centers. This network is composed of large megacites across the globe like Tokyo, New York, London, and Paris. During the last quarter of a century, these cities have experienced an infusion of capital and economic growth. The ascent of these cities has also been accompanied by the concentration of wealth and growing income inequality. In the shadow of global cities, there has been increased instability in cities on the periphery brought on by international investment and labor patterns characterized by increasingly footloose industries operating within the construct of multilateral free-trade policies The relationship between global cities and other urban places found on their periphery is structurally unequal. Unlike global cities, peripheral cities are at the base of a system of inequality and oppression. They are most vulnerable to the mobility of labor and capital and pitted against one another in the global economy. In contrast to global cities that form a network of command centers for the accumulation of knowledge and capital, peripheral cities are fragmented and dependent on the flow of outside resources for their survival. Global cities have emerged as new command and control centers focused on generating wealth and extracting resources from peripheral cities. At the top of this system, global cities are well networked and integrated. At the bottom of the system, peripheral cities are pitted against each other in a fight to the bottom. In the short term, capital ebbs and flows into peripheral cities in order to sustain global city growth. Across cycles of investment, some individual peripheral cities prosper, whereas others do not. In the long run, peripheral cities are maintained in a relative state of stasis as a group, in order to perpetuate the global system of inequality that their oppression supports. Consequently, the growing concentration of wealth in a small number of global cities increases the ranks of peripheral cities. The omnipresent need for these cities to compete for investment from the core results in stunted development and eventual shrinkage as the global economy expands. The material conditions in shrinking cities are qualitatively different from global cities. Although both exhibit spatial and social polarization, shrinking cities are chronically resource depleted, dependent, disenfranchised, and dispossessed from the networks that promote the stability of the broader global economy. In essence, shrinking cities are alienated from the global economy and subordinated by it. Their underdevelopment is a structural component of the broader global economy and it is expressed through spatial and social polarization. Being a shrinking city is more than being peripheral to and dependent on global cities for resources. It also entails the internalization of a colonized mindset where decision makers actively seek affirmation from above by internalizing the institutional norms and practices that form the core of the global economy. This is largely a subconscious process where local leaders rationalize their actions as pragmatic efforts to make the best out of a bad situation. By failing to recognize the contradiction between the material conditions in shrinking and global cities, the former become alienated from their own interests, which perpetuates their acquiescence to the global economy." Link to the whole article : http://www.thecyberhood.net/documents/papers/rms18.pdf 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marina Schwarz + 1,576 December 4, 2018 I see there's a profound discussion going on here but this just in: a source told Reuters the government is considering a U-turn and suspension of the tax rise. Sorry for the intrusion! https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-france-protests/french-government-preparing-to-suspend-fuel-tax-increases-source-idUKKBN1O30NR?rpc=401& Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Warnick + 6,100 December 4, 2018 1 minute ago, Marina Schwarz said: I see there's a profound discussion going on here but this just in: a source told Reuters the government is considering a U-turn and suspension of the tax rise. Sorry for the intrusion! https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-france-protests/french-government-preparing-to-suspend-fuel-tax-increases-source-idUKKBN1O30NR?rpc=401& Yeah, saw that a while ago. Inevitable, really. But not enough (even one of Macron's ministers saying that). Why does this look a lot like the last U.S. election? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume Albasini + 851 December 4, 2018 20 minutes ago, Marina Schwarz said: I see there's a profound discussion going on here but this just in: a source told Reuters the government is considering a U-turn and suspension of the tax rise. Sorry for the intrusion! https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-france-protests/french-government-preparing-to-suspend-fuel-tax-increases-source-idUKKBN1O30NR?rpc=401& The governement is postponing the tax and not removing it. But the fuel tax was just the spark starting the fire. This decision will not treat the real roots of the discontent. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Kirkman + 8,860 December 4, 2018 11 minutes ago, Guillaume Albasini said: But the fuel tax was just the spark starting the fire. This decision will not treat the real roots of the discontent. ^ this 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rasmus Jorgensen + 1,169 RJ December 4, 2018 13 hours ago, Illurion said: TO : Guillaume Albasini You seem to make a lot of decisions about PEOPLE based on "ASSUMPTIONS." You assume too much.. And you are rude in doing so some times. If i set you off by saying you were "DREAMING" in my earlier post, i apologize, However, i believe your response was a bit "over the top." (assumption 1) you said " YOUR (my) POINT OF VIEW IS STRONGLY BIASED." (assumption 2) you described my friends as " FRENCH-BASHING AMERICAN EXPATS " ... YOU THEN EDITED OUT THE WORD "EXPATS.' (assumption 3) you said " YOUR FRIENDS IN FRANCE ARE PROBABLY AMONG THE SUPPORTERS OF MARINE LE PEN." (assumption 4) you said " THEY (LA PEN SUPPORTERS) REPRESENT ONLY A FRACTION OF THE FRENCH POPULATION ( AROUND 20 % IN THE LAST POLLS )" (assumption 5) you said " YOU CAN BLAME EVERYTHING ON THE MIGRANTS BUT IT IS AS SILLY AS BLAMING THE HONDURAN MIGRANTS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL JOBS LOST IN MICHIGAN." (assumption 6) you said " THE BIG CITIES ARE BENEFITING FROM THE GLOBALIZATION (wealth and jobs creation) ". MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #1: This is the only one of your assumptions that is TRUE. I freely admit that i am definitely biased on many different things.... But the problem isn't me... THE PROBLEM HERE IS YOU.......... !! WHEN ARE "YOU" GOING TO ADMIT THAT "YOU" ARE BIASED.........??? ACCORDING TO YOU, EVERYONE IS BIASED BUT YOU...! ! ! EARLIER TODAY YOU SAID "DAN WARNICK" WAS BIASED TOO... WHAT IS EXTREMELY OBVIOUS IN ALL OF YOUR WRITINGS IS THAT "YOU" ARE EXTREMELY BIASED : -- toward - anything PRO-GLOBALIST, PRO LEFT WING, PRO LIBERAL, ANTI-NATIONALIST, PRO-SOCIALIST -- against - anything PRO-NATIONALIST, PRO RIGHT WING, PRO-CONSERVATIVE, ANTI-GLOBALIST, ANTI-SOCIALIST MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #2: My friends are "NOT AMERICANS"... THEY ARE "NOT EX-PATRIOTS" OF ANY FOREIGN LAND... THEY ARE NOT "BASHING" FRANCE IN ANY WAY.... THEY ARE NATIVE FRENCH. A MARRIED COUPLE I HAVE KNOWN FOR OVER 40 YEARS WHEN I MET THEM WHEN I WAS IN MY 20'S... THEY WERE BORN IN FRANCE.. THEY HAVE LIVED THEIR ENTIRE LIFE IN FRANCE... THEY ARE BOTH JEWISH... THEIR GRANDPARENTS DIED IN THE HOLOCAUST... THEIR PARENTS SURVIVED THE DEATH CAMPS AS CHILDREN.. THEIR GREAT-UNCLE, WAS A "HERO OF FRANCE" FOR HIS WORK WITH THE FRENCH UNDERGROUND DURING WW2... THEY HAVE 5 CHILDREN, ALL LIVING IN FRANCE... THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THEY HAVE "FORGOTTEN MORE ABOUT FRANCE, AND HOW THE FRENCH REALLY FEEL", THAN YOU, Guillaume Albasini, WILL EVER KNOW. MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #3: My friends in Paris "DID NOT VOTE FOR LE PEN." Which is now something they freely admit they now wish they had done, for they say things would have gotten better under Le Pen, but, instead, have gotten far worse under Macron. They voted for Macron, and say Macron lied to them. They realized immediately after the election that they had made a mistake, and were devastated when things continued to spiral out of control. And yes, they said there were several abnormalities on election day that made them doubt the actual election numbers to this day. They ARE hoping Le Pen will run again in the next election. At that time, they WILL vote for her. MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #4: You are quoting FAKE NEWS.... You are manipulating the numbers... CONVENIENTLY not counting them all. Over 45 years ago, when i was in college as an ACCOUNTING MAJOR, my Professors described your kind of accounting as " LS " - which means "Liars Statistics." In other words, "A BIAS TO MANIPULATE THE NUMBERS TO SUIT THE MANIPULATORS DESIRED OUTCOME." I can read as well as anyone, and at the time of the last French election, POLLS SHOWED OVER 53% OF the French populace were very concerned about the MIGRATION PROBLEM DESTABILIZING THE COUNTRY. In the end, Le Pen and her party were penalized and lost the election "BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE HISTORY TIED TO HER FATHER, AS THE FOUNDER OF THE PARTY. " That "negative history" apparently caused 33% of the French citizens who "AGREED WITH LE PEN'S IDEAS", to nonetheless vote for someone else. Leaving only approximately 20% actually voting for Le Pen. THOSE OTHER 33% OF THE FRENCH CITIZENS WEREN'T PRO-MIGRATION , THEY JUST DIDN'T TRUST LE PEN. MANY ARE NOW REGRETTING THAT DECISION TO NOT VOTE FOR LE PEN. Despite what you say, the French People are EVEN MORE CONCERNED NOW ABOUT THE MIGRATION PROBLEM DESTABILIZING THE COUNTRY, than they were at the last election. At poll out today, 12-3-2018, ( https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2018/12/03/poll-majority-french-people-say-immigration-is-harmful-nation/ ) says " 58% OF THE FRENCH PEOPLE BELIEVE IMMIGRATION HARMS THE ECONOMY, NATIONAL COHESION, AND NATIONAL SECURITY." So, the number of anti-migration French Citizens has RISEN FROM 53% TO 58% AS OF TODAY.... FAR MORE THAN THE 20% THAT YOU CLAIM THERE ARE. MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #5: What is "SILLY" is your patronizing tone as you "ASSUME" that people in Michigan blame the NAFTA, GATT, and WTO, etc. treaties that destroyed the INDUSTRIAL JOB BASE IN MICHIGAN, and other American States on Honduran refugees. You seem to "ASSUME" that everyone is stupid, and ignorant, and un-informed... That is, everyone but YOU, Guillaume Albasini.... You know everything.... No-One is allowed to disagree with you... MY REPLY TO YOUR ASSUMPTION #6: Apparently you are one of the many people who are enchanted by the concept of GLOBALISM... You are a Globalist worshiper. Well, i hate to break it to you, but GLOBALISM IS: (A) failing (B) becoming less popular in the world due to the immense destruction it causes by making jobs "MOBILE.' (C) hurts big cities just as much as it hurts small towns. The EU is an example of "GLOBALISM GONE AMOK", and that is why the EU economy is tanking, and the UK , among others want OUT. ................. In conclusion, Guillaume Albasini, i do not know why you use your posts to attack me, and others. Can't you just "agree to disagree" ? and leave it at that...? What you wrote about yourself today shows me the following: * YOU ADMIT THAT YOU ARE NOT FRENCH * YOU ADMIT THAT YOU DO NOT LIVE IN FRANCE * BUT, FOR SOME REASON YOU SEEM TO FEEL THAT "YOUR FRIENDS" ARE BETTER THAN "MY FRIENDS", and you want to argue about everything about France.. A long time ago, there was an American Journalist, Infantryman, and Writer named "ERNEST HEMMINGWAY." Ernest spent much time in France and wrote several novels about his experiences there. Ernest Hemmingway had a funny way of ending many of his "more controversial" descriptions of French Life. He would say what he had to say, and then add, as an afterthought, "BUT WHAT DO I KNOW ?.". Guillaume Albasini, i "ASSUME" that nothing will change, and you will continue as you are. I only request is that you act more like Ernest Hemmingway... So in all of your future posts, whenever you insult someone, please end your post with the words: "BUT WHAT DO I KNOW ? ' That way, we can pretend we weren't insulted. Have a nice day. Illurion ps: My French Friend's wife says you are lucky that the migrants do not seem to have moved into your area, as she says you would think differently if they had. Who is being patronizing and condesending again? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rasmus Jorgensen + 1,169 RJ December 4, 2018 2 hours ago, Tom Kirkman said: ^ this Tom, You are so rigth. Years of protectionist policies have created a largely in-efficient french industry. I fully agree with you that these protectionist policies must end to the benefit and prosperity of the French people... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jan van Eck + 7,558 MG December 4, 2018 3 hours ago, Guillaume Albasini said: As I've said before, I think the opposition between big metropolis (core cities) benefiting from globalization and peripheral cities hurted by globalization is essential to understand the current "Yellow Vests" protests in France. Ilurion disagreed with me and said that globalization was hurting big cities as much as small and medium cities. So I promised him to add some references to explain on what my assumptions were based. The following text is an excerpt of a recent review essay from Robert Mark Silberman (Buffalo University) titled "Rethinking shrinking cities : peripheral dual cities have arrived" and published in the "Journal of Urban Affairs" Being a shrinking city is more than being peripheral to and dependent on global cities for resources. It also entails the internalization of a colonized mindset where decision makers actively seek affirmation from above by internalizing the institutional norms and practices that form the core of the global economy. This is largely a subconscious process where local leaders rationalize their actions as pragmatic efforts to make the best out of a bad situation. By failing to recognize the contradiction between the material conditions in shrinking and global cities, the former become alienated from their own interests, which perpetuates their acquiescence to the global economy." Link to the whole article : http://www.thecyberhood.net/documents/papers/rms18.pdf Yet what you are not allowing for, in referencing the quoted article, is that that writer is from BUFFALO, New York State. For our international readers, Buffalo, and its companion Niagara Falls (the city, not the Falls itself!) are old industrial sites, where American heavy industry, including steel and chemicals, were fabricated. At one time these were wealthy cities; walk around the streets of Buffalo and see the mansions that the captains of industry had built. So, why did it all fall apart? Was it some cabal, some conspiracy of financiers on Wall Street? Nope. The abject failures of peripheral cities in the USA such as Buffalo is the result of internal city politics. Those places ended up with large numbers of immigrant workers, in Buffalo and Niagara Falls from countries such as Italy and Poland and Hungary, and those migrants joined up and voted for the Democratic Party. The problem with one-party Rule is that it ends up corrupt and stagnant, and new entrepreneurs cannot cope with that mentality. So the new entrepreneurial class flows to the Southwest and the West, and sets up shop in places such as Santa Clara and San Francisco and Seattle. and the old industrial cities die. Do they need to die? Of course not! Once you kick out the encrusted layers of party sycophants and hangers-on that so stultify the internal thinking of those cities, and bring in fresh new politicians, they can take off. the fundamentals that were the bricks of those places are still there: access to shipping, water and rail, access to a labor force, good industrial land, what's not to like? But if you have a dispirited police force, and corrupted City Hall, and people constantly fighting each other, with influxes of drugs (especially drugs) and crime that goes with drugs, then nobody wants to know about you, and your city falls apart. It is easy for some college academician to go blame "Wall Street" and "financiers" for setting up some exploitative economic system, and a lot less painful than to admit that the failures of Buffalo lie right smack inside City Hall - and with the voters that put the corrupt into power. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jan van Eck + 7,558 MG December 4, 2018 11 minutes ago, Rasmus Jorgensen said: Tom, You are so rigth. Years of protectionist policies have created a largely in-efficient french industry. I fully agree with you that these protectionist policies must end to the benefit and prosperity of the French people... Not really. I would posit the thought that the underlying problems with French industry are its internal labor policies. The inability of a French manufacturer to actually fire anyone, to adjust the labor force to the ebb and flow of product demands, is the single biggest problem it has. France has effectively decreed that employers must deal with its labor as a fixed cost - same as if the employer purchased a new production machine. the difference is that, if demand shrinks, the manufacturer can go sell that machine tool and recoup some of the capital. But you cannot sell the people. They continue to cost you to oblivion. I remember the story of a typewriter manufacturing plant in, I vaguely recall, East Germany or Czechoslovakia. The Iron Curtain came down and the Italian gian Olivetti was invited to go in take it over. The deal was, you pay one lone dollar for all the assets, just keep the workforce employed. Olivetti took a look and walked away. Even at only one dollar, that plant was worthless,as the workforce employed could never be justified by the output of the plant. What does this tell you? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rasmus Jorgensen + 1,169 RJ December 4, 2018 2 minutes ago, Jan van Eck said: Not really. I would posit the thought that the underlying problems with French industry are its internal labor policies. The inability of a French manufacturer to actually fire anyone, to adjust the labor force to the ebb and flow of product demands, is the single biggest problem it has. France has effectively decreed that employers must deal with its labor as a fixed cost - same as if the employer purchased a new production machine. the difference is that, if demand shrinks, the manufacturer can go sell that machine tool and recoup some of the capital. But you cannot sell the people. They continue to cost you to oblivion. I remember the story of a typewriter manufacturing plant in, I vaguely recall, East Germany or Czechoslovakia. The Iron Curtain came down and the Italian gian Olivetti was invited to go in take it over. The deal was, you pay one lone dollar for all the assets, just keep the workforce employed. Olivetti took a look and walked away. Even at only one dollar, that plant was worthless,as the workforce employed could never be justified by the output of the plant. What does this tell you? Agree. But what I am trying to say is that protectionist policies paved the way for the strength of the unions which brought on this situation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rasmus Jorgensen + 1,169 RJ December 4, 2018 14 minutes ago, Jan van Eck said: It is easy for some college academician to go blame "Wall Street" and "financiers" for setting up some exploitative economic system, and a lot less painful than to admit that the failures of Buffalo lie right smack inside City Hall - and with the voters that put the corrupt into power. So true. And incidently, in real life, these corrupt politician tends to blame immigrants for everything because that is that easier than than telling your base that there is only one way out of this mess and it ain't gonna be easy. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jan van Eck + 7,558 MG December 4, 2018 Just now, Rasmus Jorgensen said: Agree. But what I am trying to say is that protectionist policies paved the way for the strength of the unions which brought on this situation. Probably not. I suggest it is (was) the mentality of entitlement to perpetual employment at perpetual wages, forever, that brings on the protectionist policies, not the other way around. You go to the historical industrial regions in the North of France and you stumble across, say, some old tire-making plant. The French has a long and storied history in manufacture of tires: look at Michelin. Now, what brought about the collapse of this tire plant? Was it the machinery? Not likely. OK, was it the managers - were they profoundly stupid imbeciles? Probably not. What is left? Guess what: it is the labor laws. You hire that man, and you will keep him on at full pay until he dies. How can you run a plant under those conditions? Cannot be done. So the plant closes, and the tires are imported from Korea. Just lovely. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jan van Eck + 7,558 MG December 4, 2018 3 minutes ago, Rasmus Jorgensen said: So true. And incidently, in real life, these corrupt politician tends to blame immigrants for everything because that is that easier than than telling your base that there is only one way out of this mess and it ain't gonna be easy. The irony is that a workforce that adopts a flexible attitude generally expands and ends up with higher wages and benefits, as that plant with labor flexibility will continue to innovate, generate good gross margins, and capture market share, as well as introduce new products. Politicians, including (sadly) quite a few labor union leaders, just don't understand this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rasmus Jorgensen + 1,169 RJ December 4, 2018 2 minutes ago, Jan van Eck said: Guess what: it is the labor laws. You hire that man, and you will keep him on at full pay until he dies. How can you run a plant under those conditions? Cannot be done. So the plant closes, and the tires are imported from Korea. Just lovely. True. But why were these labor laws enacted? I am there is some causality / negative spiral in this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jan van Eck + 7,558 MG December 4, 2018 1 minute ago, Rasmus Jorgensen said: True. But why were these labor laws enacted? Never underestimate the profound stupidity of really dumb people. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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