I never thought I’d say this in the same breath, but both Gérard Depardieu and Vladimir Putin have become my personal heroes. When Socialism comes a-knocking in France, where did the scion of the French Cinema go? Why, to the Kremlin, of course!
This is just too delicious for words. Think the rich and successful are dishonest, parasitic leeches on the face of society? Think it’s their duty to sit still for oppressive taxation and social abuse at the hands of a populist government? Well, the Russian Federation will take them off your hands for free! The Wikipedia entry on Depardieu has already been altered to call him a “French-born Russian.” This is just the greatest thing ever. Oh, sure, it’s a lot of political posturing that has nothing to do with France or Russia, per se, I know that. But it’s still pretty funny. It’s also a great example of non-violent, non-aggressive protest, in the finest tradition of Western Liberalism.
«Je pars parce que vous considérez que le succès, la création, le talent, en fait, la différence, doivent être sanctionnés,» wrote Depardieu in the Journal du Dimanche, “I am leaving because you [the Socialists] consider that success, creativity, talent, in essence, non-conformity itself, should be placed under sanction.” Amen, brother.
In the United States, it’s a common and tired refrain (mostly among the members of the Left) to say that you’re going to move to another country if so-and-so gets elected. You have to hand it to a guy who actually followed through. Not to mention the delectable schadenfreude to be found in the howls of anger among the Socialist intelligentsia, calling him unpatriotic and pathetic for thinking that forking over 85% of his income in 2012 might have been a bit burdensome. And oh! the mealy-mouthed rhetoric that goes with it, all the co-opted voluntarist terminology about “spreading the wealth,” “sharing,” “giving” the government your money and “social responsibilities.” Depardieu is simply the most prominent person so far to call this nonsense what it is: theft by violence, plain and simple. One can only hope more people, both in Europe and the U.S., get the message, and soon.
Спрездом в россию, Товарищ Депардье!
It would be a lot cooler if he’d not actually be good friends with certain post-GSU [failed] nation “presidents”, such as this nice guy from Chechnya, who’s also a buddy of Vladimir Putin. ^^
And consider the irony: Abandoning your home country so you don’t have to pay taxes (or less taxes) is the most Russian thing to do, so I guess Gérard qualified himself as a true Russian.
I agree: This is too good to be true. And yeah, that’s one hell of a rage quit.
The current changes in France are worrying. Suffice to say they’ve always been a bit “touched” and special, but right now it starts to worry me.
The French are obviously big in populism. Last week they had hughe rallies against a pro-gay-marriage legislation (a rather “conservative” stance), but on the other hand vote a die-hard Socialist into office who’s main promises have been hand-outs at the expense of the rich and private enterprise. Crying for free money while blaming the “usual guilty parties” (foreigners, gays, jews, etc. – you get the idea) is just the right climate for certain politicians to florish in. The kind who puts their personal gain and power above everything else. Not good. Not good at all.
While the “traditional” political right in France falls into dissaray (mostly caused by the clusterfuck which was the Sarkozy era) the new more extreme political right (notably centered around LePen and her cronies) gain approval.
With a declining economy, major social unrest, xeno- and homophobia on the rise France might be in for some nasty changes to come.
Italy has similar issues and chances are good they’ll re-elect that crazy Berlusconi back into office. I think it’s fair to say that guy in particular is a madman, dangerous and borderline insane. Take into consideration he controls a media empire and thus public opinion and a gargantuan private wealth… stuff for headaches.
And Germans will be dumb enough to vote Merkel into another term this year.
And with these three idiots in control (throw in the useless British PM) and Greece falling apart the European Union will be in for some serious trouble. War not so much. Internal strife, violence and civil war? Likely. Or do I worry too much?
I’d better stock up on headache pills. I think I’ll need them. And maybe a few decent bottles of liquor.