For
centuries, the “left” hoped popular movements would lead to
changes for the better. Today, many leftists seem terrified of
popular movements for change, convinced “populism” must lead to
“fascism.” But it needn’t be so, says Diana Johnstone.
by
Diana Johnstone
Part
3 - Incoherent Energy Policies
And the
tax announced by the government – an additional 6.6 cents per liter
for diesel and an additional 2.9 centers per liter of gasoline –
are only the first steps in a series of planned increases over the
next years. The measures are supposed to incite people to drive less
or even better, to scrap their old vehicles and buy nice new electric
cars.
More and
more “governance” is an exercise in social engineering by
technocrats who know what is best. This particular exercise goes
directly opposite to an earlier government measure of social
engineering which used economic incitements to get people to buy cars
running on diesel. Now the government has changed its mind. Over half
of personal vehicles still run on diesel, although the percentage has
been dropping. Now their owners are told to go buy an electric car
instead. But people living on the edge simply can’t afford the
switch.
Besides,
the energy policy is incoherent. In theory, the “green” economy
includes shutting down France’s many nuclear power plants. Without
them, where would the electricity come from to run the electric cars?
And nuclear power is “clean”, no CO2. So what is going on? People
wonder.
The most
promising alternative sources of energy in France are the strong
tides along northern coasts. But last July, the Tidal Energies
project on the Normandy coast was suddenly dropped because it wasn’t
profitable – not enough customers. This is symptomatic of what is
wrong with the current government. Major new industrial projects are
almost never profitable at first, which is why they need government
support and subsidies to get going, with a view to the future. Such
projects were supported under de Gaulle, raising France to the status
of major industrial power, and providing unprecedented prosperity for
the population as a whole. But the Macron government is not investing
in the future nor doing anything to preserve industries that remain.
The key French energy corporation Alstom was sold to General Electric
under his watch.
Indeed,
it is perfectly hypocritical to call the French gas tax an “ecotax”
since the returns from a genuine ecotax would be invested to develop
clean energies – such as tidal power plants. Rather, the benefits
are earmarked to balance the budget, that is, to serve the government
debt.
The
Macronian gas tax is just another austerity measure – along with
cutting back public services and “selling the family jewels”,
that is, selling potential money-makers like Alstom, port facilities
and the Paris airports.
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