THE YELLOW JACKETS ARE AWAKE AND RESISTING NEOLIBERAL OPPRESSION — WHEN WILL WE?

One would have to look long and hard in U.S. mainstream media for coverage of the highly important events occurring in France and now spreading to Belgium that signal an outcry for justice and fairness against the cruelties imposed by neoliberalism not only in those countries, but across the globe. When any mention is made of the protests, the media shrewdly employs tried-and-true propaganda tactics to obscure the motives of the protesters and instead take the opportunity to validate the neoliberal agenda. The fuel tax imposed by Macron’s government was merely the tipping point for anger and frustration rooted in decades of neoliberal policies that diverted wealth from most French citizens to the upper 1% — a pattern that we in the U.S. should be painfully familiar with and emblematic of neoliberalism. Government policies in France increasingly were dictated by banking and financial interests to the detriment of the public domain and social services. Thus, the reason given by the Macron government that the fuel tax was implemented in the service of addressing climate change was an utter pretense. It was still another form of economic policy that imposed a burden on the poor in order to advantage the wealthy.

For that reason, articles written by propagandists in the U.S. that what has occurred in France exposes the futility of imposing a carbon tax to promote positive efforts to contain human contributions to climate change must be exposed as the bullshit that it most patently is. A carbon tax, unlike France’s fuel tax which penalizes consumers, is directed toward the corporations that are responsible for the rise in carbon emissions. Its purpose is to place the economic costs of these destructive practices where they belong and to de-incentivize rather than reward engaging in business practices toxic for the environment.

The plight of the people of France holds up a mirror to the ways in which unchecked neoliberalism has wreaked pain, disease, and other forms of destruction everywhere it has been imposed. It has done so by glorifying greed and selfishness, by placing profit over people, and by advocating competition over compassion. The result is morally indefensible levels of inequality of income and wealth. The rich get ever richer at the expense of those they heartlessly exploit. The following graph powerful illustrates clearly the intent of the policies put in place by Macron’s government:

How many times have we seen this same egregious assault of the elite and wealthy class on all who are not allowed admittance to their exclusive “club”? Do we actually believe that such extreme degrees of inequality, oppression and exploitation can continue to go unrecognized, unchallenged and unchecked without dire (and perhaps irreversible) consequences? How much longer can we ignore and inure ourselves to the anger, fear and sadness that roils just below our level of awareness? For it is those very feelings that signal that our efforts to turn a blind eye to the inhumanities that we are our fellow human beings suffer are eventually bound to fail. Listen to the voices of our brothers and sisters in France, as illustrated in this video interview conducted by a journalist from WeAreChange. In these voices the righteous anger and indignation that ought to be directed to such injustices ring out clearly.

The protests in France offer proof that those who share the experience of suffering at the hands of heartless and greed oppressors can see past their differences and unite to take action aimed at liberation. The Yellow Vest protesters in France make up people across age, job, religion and income. Polls show that 78% of the French people believe that they are fighting for the general interest of France. Although from diverse walks of life, one can hear the anguish and desperation in being unable to provide decent care to parents and to provide for one’s children. The indignation at receiving retirement benefits that place you below the level of poverty, while those with more wealth than they can use in multiple lifetimes continue to accrue more and more.

But more importantly, heed the words of our brothers and sisters that they hope that their actions will reach the world and touch the hearts of the millions who, like them, are not longer willing to acquiesce to their oppression and will break their silence. During the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia in 1989 against Communism, the protesters took up the call, “If not now, when? If not us, who?” Those words ring as true today. The revolution is now — it is unfolding before our eyes. The recent events in France and now in Belgium, may be more dramatic evidence that this is the case, but the signs of need to rise up against neoliberalism have been present for some time. However, it is up to each of those of us who know at their core how inequality, exploitation and oppression has wounded us and/or others whether close to or distant from us, to recognize that there is no longer any excuse for delay and that there can be no looking to anyone but ourselves to do something about it.

Increasingly there are bold voices that openly and fearlessly expose the lies and illusions spun by neoliberal ideology — Bernie Sanders, Tulsi Gabbard, Nina Turner, Cornel West, Ralph Nader, Noam Chomsky, Jimmy Dore, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They need those who hear the truth they proclaim to not content themselves with simply nodding their approval and then uselessly engaging is some sort of wishful thinking that somehow things will get sorted out. The Yellow Jackets courage, commitment and action belie our retreating back into mindless inactivity. So what is necessary for us to join them?

We must recognize that the truth that can liberate can also terrify. This is especially so when that truth disabuses us of illusions that, despite the harm they cause us, are held on to for dear life. The human need for security and stability should never be underestimated. But neither should it’s potential to do ever greater harm when it stands in the way of realizing when the lies we have been indoctrinated to accept, and we now tell ourselves, only cause us far greater pain and disappointment. Our oppressors have become very skilled at manipulating our fear of the unexpected and unknown to keep us submissive and complacent. The many promises they make to keep us safe, happy and free of pain are used to deceive and dominate us. Everyday brings with it one or more encounters with concrete evidence that these promises are utterly false and that the very people who pretend to be our protectors are our oppressors.

Of course, the pain and suffering that inevitably accompany the shattering of the illusions we have come to accept uncritically is upsetting, disorienting and frightening. If we stop for a moment and simply sit patiently with that suffering, we soon discover that there is nothing “unnatural”, “dysfunctional”, or “wrong” about it. It is just as it should and must be. A natural consequence of the experience of loss. Surely we know this when we lose someone close and dear to us or when some valued goal is unrealized. We must keep our tendency to respond reactively with resistance and avoidance in check. This is so not merely because resisting such suffering does not good, but because it actually compounds our suffering.

It is not the fact that we are suffering that must be submitted to paralyzing reflection and judgment. Rather it is the message that is always to be found embedded in the suffering that we must turn our attention to. The toppling of an illusion brings us one step (or more) closer to the truth. It is the truth that the Yellow Jackets have embraced despite the anguish and fear that accompanies it. The truth that progressive voices proclaim despite knowing that it will disturb and possibly frighten those who they hope to awake. The most common phrase found in the Bible is “BE NOT AFRAID”. Suffering may break us, but that it is what it takes for us to restore ourselves, others and the world to a state of wholeness. The time has come to stop being afraid, to embrace the suffering we must accept upon realizing our exploitation and oppression, and to transform this into what is the most powerful force for good — compassion and an unswerving commitment to justice.