Mitt Romney in France | 22 comments (22 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Mitt Romney in France (4.00 / 2)

But his friends say the strikes were terrifying and reinforced their respect for authority.

Now how does that work?

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sun Nov 18th, 2007 at 12:07:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mitt Romney in France (4.00 / 3)

When people come under stress they tend to retreat to the comfortable. Thus, a person who has the tendency to identify with Authority comes under stress through confusion or fear they tend to increase their psychological attachment to Authority.

She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre

by ATinNM on Sun Nov 18th, 2007 at 12:22:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mitt Romney in France (4.00 / 7)

Yes, that struck me as well. Romney would never go against authority - whether it's the authority of the Mormon Church or that of his father.

He deplored the anti-war protests of the "dirty hippie" students, but was perfectly able to change his views on Vietnam when his father told him to...

Dialog International

by DowneastDem (david.vickrey (at) post.harvard.edu) on Sun Nov 18th, 2007 at 12:50:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mitt Romney in France (4.00 / 6)

It's interesting the importance given to Vietnam in the Romney camp accounts. Though it's true Vietnam loomed fairly large in student consciousness in 1968, it wasn't central to the revolt. And I'm having a job seeing all those French doors slamming in the missionaries' faces on the grounds they were American and should get out of Vietnam. I suggest a more authentically French reason for shutting the door was that people selling religion on the doorstep just don't go down well here...

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Nov 18th, 2007 at 02:41:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mitt Romney in France (none / 1)

Well, it works pretty well in Britain, as I understand it, and you know how the conservatives in America can see Europeans a bit like how Reagan saw trees: Seen one, seen'em all.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Sun Nov 18th, 2007 at 05:05:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mitt Romney in France (4.00 / 4)

Yes, there is a difference between France and Britain on this (perhaps even more so 40 years ago).

But the use of Vietnam in Romney's story is above all self-serving, since it shows him being rejected as an American (European anti-Americanism, anyone?), not just because he was a drooling missionary idiot who was pissing people off.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2007 at 02:19:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mitt Romney in France (4.00 / 2)

What?

When society breaks down and chaos ensues, the logical result is that those went through the experience will get have a greater respect and understanding of the anti-chaos forces of the State. They'll see what's needed to make sure those things don't happen again.

Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.

by Starvid on Sun Nov 18th, 2007 at 12:29:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mitt Romney in France (4.00 / 5)

Pfff. I know a lot of people who were witnesses of May '68, and their reactions are extremely varied. Some - of an authoritarian mindset, whether they knew it or not before those events - reacted as you suggest. Others drew inspiration from it for different forms of revolt, collective or (often) individualist.

A number of Parisians who explained their experiences of '68 to me were fairly indifferent. It wasn't such a big deal, they thought. You just worked your way round it while it was happening.

"Chaos" is a big and overworked word, imho.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Nov 18th, 2007 at 02:32:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Chaos (4.00 / 5)

"Chaos" is a big and overworked word, imho.

Especially when used about France and even more about French strikes.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Sun Nov 18th, 2007 at 03:11:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Chaos (4.00 / 4)

Yes, but you have to understand: Here in the states we're so incompetent about strikes and protests that we need to lie to ourselves and pretend y'all are the fuck-ups.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Sun Nov 18th, 2007 at 05:13:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Chaos (4.00 / 3)

It's really so simple. When politicians make policies that deprive people of jobs, homes, health insurance, etc, turning their lives and their communities upside down, that's free enterprise. When you hold up a sign to complain about it, that's chaos.

Karen in Austin

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Mon Nov 19th, 2007 at 05:43:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Mitt Romney in France | 22 comments (22 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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