Now it's just chaos, looting, and burning.

I'm guessing if you talked to the black bloc types engaging in this protest as individuals, they'd probably be in favor of the gas tax.

black bloc types dont give a shit, they just want to riot

most of them are as dumb as a rock

If the authorities lose control it's going to get really ugly. This is rapidly turning from an understandable protest of a government policy into just ransacking and stealing whatever isn't nailed down. And there are plenty of underclasses in Paris who would love a lapse in authority. Lots of expensive shit to steal and upper class people to rob.

i say let them

hehe

Paris is turning into a shithole

dang

Norm is here

fuck i have family living in Paris

im legit concerned for their safety

There might be a unifying theme of class struggle. Both the antifas and the Yellow Jackets seem angry with upper classes.

thatd be a first

i.e., people who are ideologically driven to enact policies that don't affect them but significantly impact the middle and lower classes.

Because no one is going to convince me that middle class working people were in favor of increasing gas taxes for environmental reasons.

I don't really know enough about French politics to understand this though.

Are both groups vandalizing?

Not sure if they're really separate groups at this point.

If you look at videos of the protest you see some guys with vests and no masks, and other guys in full black bloc.

There are middle class working people who are very concerned about climate change

I think we can safely say that the number of middle class working people who would advocate for a 25% increase in fuel prices is an electorally insignificant minority.

there is a growing resentment going on (including myself), because these taxes:

If the taxes on gas are offset by reductions in other taxes that fall primarily on middle and lower income people, then it makes some sense if you believe that taxes can be used to recoup the cost to society for behaviors that cost society money.

1) arent used for anything like investment in getting more reliable green energy for example

2) are on their way to create a situation where only the upper class & elite will be able to have a car and go on vacation

basically, a return to the 19th century

I would advocate for higher taxes on oil products and products with disproportionate packaging or which cost society a lot to dispose of (i.e. LCD screens) if it were offset by a proportional decrease in general sales tax, for example.

Idk the situation in france

but over here, if u are doing a working class job

u can forget about public transport to get to work

But I expect the tax increase on gas wasn't offset at all.

Its not just gas, diesel apparently costs 0.something a liter

yet at the pump ppl pay up to 1.5€ a liter

typo?

nah i dont remember the exact number

ah

its really small something around 0.20

But thats just gas cat

Trudeau wants a carbon tax here as well

Diesel is about $0.90/liter here in OR after taxes