Monday, July 16, 2007

Is French Socialism a national socialism?

last year, there were some major riots in france protesting the proposed liberalization of labor laws.
this protest was defined by many as a left-right issue. it was about protecting workers' rights against the predations of the business class.
we were told by 'progressives' that businesses preferred the proposed legislation in order hire/fire as they chose and maximize their profits. the legislation would violate the french principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
but, many said it was not so simple an issue. and, one must ask, if opposition against the legislation was for the people, then how come masses of the poorest didn't protest? how come those who protested were mainly white middle class folks and their kids?
surely, we know that the poorest and most hopeless folks in france are muslims and blacks from africa. where were they in these protests? if they were around, it was mainly to rob and steal from the white protesting kids, not to join the protest.
indeed, the general melee was a boon for the black and muslim criminal classes. they could move about amidst the chaos and beat up and rob white middle class protesting kids. the white kids were helpless against blacks and muslims for two reasons. first, a white french youth is no match physically against the much tougher african youth. if a black youth decided to rob a white youth, the white youth will just have to give up his money or get a broken nose. but, there was another reason why white youths were so helpless. ostensibly 'leftists' and 'progressive', they were supposed to be with the underprivileged immigrant populations. according to the leftist view of society, darkies are victims of society. so, if darkies commit crime, they are doing so out of righteous rage. so, even as the white kids used violence against the police, businesses, and politicians, they dared not fight back when blacks and muslims attacked and rob them in the general chaos.

but, all of this makes us raise another question. how left is the french left? or, can we say that french socialism is more a national socialism than a left socialism? and as a national socialism, is it really more rightish than we think?
think of nazism or the national socialism of germany from 1933 to 1945. it was called 'socialism' but it was not international socialism. it was socialism for the german volk. it was full employment for germans, it was universal healthcare for germans, it was vacation time for all germans. it was not socialism for non-germans. it was jobs and privilege for the germans. according to hitler, socialism was okay as long as it for the german volk, for the nation.

there may be strain of this in french socialism. it may be more national socialism than leftish socialism. it could be argued that the overwhelmingly white kids who opposed the proposed legislation were trying to keep the status quo of french jobs for french whites.
now, why should the status quo support this when there is no law in the french books that discriminates based on race? well, it's like this. suppose you run a business, and the law says if you hire someone, it's damned hard to fire that person. you are stuck with that employee for quite a while, for yrs and yrs. so, you don't wanna take any chances when you hire. you wanna go with the known quality. if you're a businessmen in france--mostly white--, then you know what most french white youths are like. but, if you hire a negro or muslim, you may be taking a chance. you may not know much about their work ethic, their attitudes, or general mindset. but, if you hire one, you are stuck with him or her for yrs and yrs. so, IF you're gonna be stuck with someone for a LONG time, why not be stuck with a known quality/quantity?
it's like this: suppose you have to choose a roommate. and choosing one, you're stuck with him for a whole yr. given this scenario, you are likely to choose someone you feel closer too: of same race, same age, same whatever. there is less risk when you choose a known quality/quantity. but, suppose you are given the opportunity where if you don't like your roommate, you can easily switch him/her for another one. then, you would be more likely to choose people you know less about; the choices could end up good or bad, but you would be open to experimentation cuz you would not be stuck with them if they turn out bad. you can just switch them for someone else.

so, the proposed legislation meant that white french kids would have to compete with unemployed black and muslim kids. if businesses are allowed to hire/fire more easily, they would be willing to employ black and muslim kids and give them a chance. if they turn out to be bad workers, the business can always fire them and get someone else. but, given the currently tight laws on hiring/firing, french businesses don't want to take chances with unknown qualities/quantities.
since they are gonna be stuck with their hirelings, they prefer to go with white french workers.

indeed, the groups that least opposed the proposes legislations were the richest and the poorest segments of french populations. businesses liked the idea of having the freedom to hire/fire.
and poor unemployed kids of muslim and black background saw opportunities for employment. the people who most violently opposed the legislation were white kids and their parents. they were essentially saying 'french jobs for french--white--people'. in a way, it was similar to the german national socialist slogan of 'german jobs/wealth for german volk'.
french folks left don't mind handing out welfare and aid to blacks and muslims but do not want to compete for jobs with those darkies.
in a way, this french national socialism--if such it be--is simply a smaller version of what is happening worldwide. when white workers in the US want american jobs to stay in america, they are saying US jobs for US citizens. if american corporations open up labor competition globally, then american workers have to compete with the chinese and hindus and mexicans. and american workers will lose their security. whether it's capitalism or socialism, it must be national, not international or multi-cultural. our jobs for our people.
whether one agrees or disagrees with this view, what it shows is that this is not a simple left/right issue. there is a national socialism and a leftist socialism.
the idea that socialism is necessarily leftist is false. the most virulent form of rightism--nazism--was a national socialism.

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