I didn't know the difference was that huge...

[Starfox]

It took me a video made by an American living in France to realize that some of my assumptions about the American social networking was wrong. Here it is. I will give my opinion as a French but she mostly is right (for the French side of things).

OK, so I know that the French are a source of jokes when it comes to striking. Constantly on strike and so on... That's a reality but that's because we are taught since our young age by our parents and grand parents of how fragile democracy and the upholding of our rights are.

This is also due, as this lady points out, to our history. We are firmly in a Republic since 1870 but before that it was a mess. from 1789 to 1870 we've known: the first revolution, the First Republic (with three different forms of government, one after the other), the First Empire (Napoleon), The restoration (return to the monarchy), the 1830 revolution (also called "Les trois glorieuses" -- The three glorious -- because it happened on 3 days of hard fighting by the French people against the French government) which gave way to a new King and a constitutional monarchy, the revolution of 1848 which gave us the 2nd Republic and also happened on three days of fighting, the 2nd Empire (led by a nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte after he performed a Coup d'Etat) and finally the 3rd Republic in 1870 (the first stable Republic, although its constitution took nine years to be proclaimed because politicians didn't want to upset the crowd... again).

And I may have forgotten a couple. In total that makes three constitutional monarchies (all failed), two empires (both failed), two republics (failed because badly designed) not to mention a civil war at some point, all of that in less than a century.

Oh and there was this little period more recently when we were under Nazi boots for 4 years. That also gave us perspectives...

Our French history taught us some vital lessons. 1st, democracy and freedom are not guaranteed, they need to be actively protected and defended. 2nd, politicians are in it for themselves, not for the people. Some may do the right thing, true, but they still need to be monitored and act against if they stray from the path.

The third thing that all people living in a democracy should know and take to heart because this is absolutely vital information and unique to democracy: presidents, ministers, prime ministers, representatives, whatever the level... all those guys are working for the people and are paid by the people to perform a job, that of leading the country on the roads of democracy and freedom as best they can. It's not the other way around. NEVER! Those guys are not above the people, they are employees of the people. And what happens when an employee doesn't do his job right? They get fired (or they resign but that happens much less frequently than you'd think because, when it comes to politicians, integrity is rarely part of the resume).

Those lessons shaped the "striking spirit" of the French. "of the People, for the People" (an American thing, ironically) never had more sense than that. There's nothing in those words saying "of the People, for the politicians and the ultra-rich".

For all the mouth he has on him, his love for precious metals, and for dubious characters attracted to minors, Trump is just that guy you're paying to do a job -- being the CEO of the company USA, if you will -- and he's badly failing at it. He turned America's allies against America, he cozies up with America's adversaries so much so that he could just be working for them (I'm still pretty sure he does because that's the only logical explanation for all the crap he's been pulling out lately), and where is all the money and the better life he promised you? Oh, wait, his ICE started executing citizens, maybe that's the way to a better life? And now he's prepared to use ICE to restrict the right of citizens to vote in the midterms (doesn't that scream "fascist" enough yet?). Additionally, do you now how much other countries pay for Trump's tariffs? Around 4%. Gosh, who can possibly pay the other 96%? Take a guess. As a CEO his only purpose seems to screw over the shareholders of the company USA -- meaning YOU -- and to put as much money from the company -- your money -- in his pockets and those of his friends.

When historians are discussing who was the worst president of the USA ever, Woodrow Wilson often tops the lists. Well, they are damn wrong. Because the worst president of the USA ever is sitting right now in the White House. The man that has the potential and the will to completely break apart American democracy.

Worst of all, I see Americans on the Internet that are apparently expecting other countries (Canada, the EU...) to pull them out of their misery. Sadly, they got it backward. Yes, other countries, Canada, Europe, are fighting back but we do it mainly to protect ourselves. We do a lot of of things currently that have Trump pissed off and we certainly don't care. The order of the day is: the US is no longer our friend, we have to close ranks. What did Trump expect? I don't know. That we were going to gently bend over and wait for the rod in compliance to his will? Too bad, we're not in the mood.

Ultimately though, other democratic countries are doing their job, protecting their economy and their citizens. It's not up to us to get Trump out of a job, that is the job of the American people. You have a fantastic tool for that (the US Constitution) all you have to do is apply it. And if your representatives are not willing to do it, make them do it. They are your employees! Make them understand the cost of not complying with the will of the people: not holding any political office ever again for the rest of their lifetime, because you're the voters, you decide who get the shiny seats! You are the people and you are (still) in a democracy. You have the power. It's more than time that you realize that.

And I leave you with a funny bit about the Constitution, specifically the second amendment that for some reason everyone understands wrong. Everyone think it's about the right to own guns. Well, let's read it again, shall we?

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Funny enough, that is specific and non-specific at the same time. It gives a clear reason "A well regulated militia being necessary for the security of a free State" but it does not say security against what or who. Considering the fact that citizens militias do not exist anymore and that obviously the purpose of the 2nd amendment is not owning a gun just for the fun of owning a gun, the whole thing is puzzling enough.

Fallout 3 decrypts the founding fathers' possible intent very nicely if you choose the right dialogue options with a NPC -- an old patriot guy residing in Megaton specifically):

NPC: You must support your government!

Player: Are you crazy, It's the duty of the people to question the government.

NPC: Where does it say that in the Constitution?

Player: Well, they did give us guns and said: "If we fuck up feel free to take us out"

Maybe not 100% what the founding fathers had in mind but I know that Washington was worried about the fragility of a democracy, so much so that he tried during his presidency to limit the powers of the President to prevent a greedy lunatic from taking control of the country for himself or a little group of people someday (a year ago to be precise). Although, he didn't think that such a guy would come in and decide to bypass the whole system of checks and balances making all of its protections basically useless, and here we are.

Something to think about...

But I don't know what Americans will do. I just know what the French would do in the same situation. If it had to be a fourth revolution... then so be it. And that thought is what keeps the French politicians relatively honest. They know the lines to not cross, and they don't. Sure they try to test them from time to time but in general that doesn't go well for them. Because we remember that they are our employees, not the other way around. We pay them very well, some would say ludicrously well, to manage company France and we, the shareholders, expect results and dividends in exchange.

Again, Trump is not your boss. He just works for you and he's currently doing a very bad job. Even worse, he's trying to take over the company.