The extreme right in France is surging

[RestlessSoul]

Looks like the surge has retreated a little

 

[ChristineM]

Looks like the surge has retreated a little

Im so happy i could shout hourra

 

[sun rise]

Looks like the left surged instead. That might be an omen for the USA.

 

[icehorse]

The further left you go the more likely, it seems to me, that you will encounter arguments that capitalism is inherently dangerous and unstable as a result of depending on endless growth. The more evangelical members of the green movement are very vocal about the ecological destruction being driven by the need for capital to constantly expand.

I think it's important to be precise with terms here. First, I think a common false dilemma is that "if you don't like capitalism, you're left with socialism". There are many other approaches.

I'll claim that there are variations on capitalism / free market-ism that still reward invention and innovation and DO NOT require endless growth to flourish.

 

[Yerda]

I think it's important to be precise with terms here. First, I think a common false dilemma is that "if you don't like capitalism, you're left with socialism". There are many other approaches.

I'll claim that there are variations on capitalism / free market-ism that still reward invention and innovation and DO NOT require endless growth to flourish.

Ok, this is fair enough. All I wanted to make clear is that, in my experience, the likelihood of encountering arguments against constant growth increase as you approach the more extreme ends of lefty discourse. It's a pretty common Marxist critique of capital, for instance and abundant throughout the discourses on global justice etc.

I have heard of economic approaches to prosperity without growth within capitalism. I'm not sure if capitalism can stand up without growth but if it can then, yay, let's do that.

The overall point I want to get across is that the bothsiding of problems coming from the extremes appears to be worryingly short sighted. It seems more pressing, to me, that we defeat the dark-money funded movements that want to expel Muslims, drown asylum seekers, ban abortion and gay marriage etc before we take on some noisy students with blue hair trying who want trans women to use women's toilets or deplatform people they disagree with. I'm sure we can manage both - but one is more immediately threatening, imo.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

This just in: When they put their differences aside, stop engaging in factionalism and work together, liberals and the political left can actually keep fascists out of power.

There's many things I never thought I'd see in my time. But, of all the most absurd things to have seen, by far the greatest is seeing the political left and centre-left actually managing to get something done. Well done to France!

 

[sayak83]

This just in: When they put their differences aside, stop engaging in factionalism and work together, liberals and the political left can actually keep fascists out of power.

There's many things I never thought I'd see in my time. But, of all the most absurd things to have seen, by far the greatest is seeing the political left and centre-left actually managing to get something done. Well done to France!

Winning votes is not getting something done by the way. They have to form a govt which is effective and popular. Only then we can say that they have got something done.
The track record of far left is usually deep economic incompetence.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

Winning votes is not getting something done by the way. They have to form a govt which is effective and popular. Only then we can say that they have got something done.
The track record of far left is usually deep economic incompetence.

I would say it demonstrates the willingness to unite under a common cause, at the very least, which is some way towards actually getting something done. Of course, time will tell whether an alliance of liberals and left-wingers will actually produce significant outcomes, though I agree on your forecast re: the far left and economics. The far left tends to treat economics the same way the far right treats modern art: with very little consideration, save the vague notion that it's bad and not worth devoting time to.

 

[icehorse]

The overall point I want to get across is that the bothsiding of problems coming from the extremes appears to be worryingly short sighted. It seems more pressing, to me, that we defeat the dark-money funded movements that want to expel Muslims, drown asylum seekers, ban abortion and gay marriage etc before we take on some noisy students with blue hair trying who want trans women to use women's toilets or deplatform people they disagree with. I'm sure we can manage both - but one is more immediately threatening, imo.

I don't think it's wise for a western country to take on any immigrants or asylum seekers who do not want to assimilate into secular, non-misogynistic, non-homophobic society.

 

[JIMMY12345]

From The Economist ...

AFTER THE first round of voting, an initial projection of the results suggests that France is likely to be headed for a hung parliament. As polls predicted the National Rally (RN), a hard-right party led by Marine Le Pen and her young protégé, Jordan Bardella, looks set to become the biggest party in the lower house of parliament. Ipsos, a polling firm, projects it will win 230 to 280 seats (including the Republicans led by Eric Ciotti)—up from just 88. This would fall short of a majority, for which 289 votes are needed. The New Popular Front (NFP), a left-wing alliance, could pick up 125 to 165 seats. Both the hard right and the hard left have put forward an alarming slate of foreign policies as well as reckless economic reforms that could weaken NATO and the West.​

There's nothing quite like a Putin - Le Pen - Viktor Orbán - Netanyahu - Kim Jong Un - Trump world ushering in the 21st century.

People are not anti immigrant.They realise a lot are escaping poverty,war and hell holes.There for the grace of God go us.
People are anti immigration above a certain cap especially illegals.It is a fight for housing,health,schools and jobs.In a democracy they have valid views.Increase overseas aid and maintain caps on immigration.