The French are between a Rock and a hard place.
That Arch of the sky that just collapsed in Gozo seems to sum up their upcoming elections. The only serious contender just collapsed for bad personal accounting. Fancy not declaring income when you are going to run for president. Very sloppy.
Still when it comes down to it none of the hopefuls have a clean fiscal slate. That pretty well levels the playing field. So I suppose the question reverts back to ideology and promises.
These French elections are as important as the recent UK vote on EU membership. I am fed up of calling it BREXIT. The word stinks. The concept stinks. The ideology that drives it stinks. The propaganda that drove it stinks, the losers stink, and actually the winners stink even more.
I didn't get a vote as I live in one of the Crown Dependencies. I was shocked at first, and then have tracked my own sense of mourning and loss over my sense of being European, even if technicality I wasn't. I still feel loss.
There is something we are losing in leaving the EU, and that is our voice. Our ability to shape and change Europe from within. We are a Major player in Europe. No as the UK we can't expect to play solo and still be part of Europe.
My concern about the French Elections is that the electorate will react the same way as the UK, and vote against a broken establishment, in favour of a far right wing ideology that does not have the support of the civil service.
I have a lot of respect for the civil service. It's a bit like the Church, an institution that doesn't like to change! I doubt if Marie Le Pen attains power she will be supported by France's Civil service. If I were a voter I would consider that.
I think the UK Civil service is dragging its heels over leaving the EU as well. The Civil Service in the UK are the ones who will really negotiate leaving the EU.
I am sick already of 'popularist' political decisions on the part of the electorate. We have to be very careful we as the working or retired 'poor' don't end up shooting ourselves in the foot with 'Robin of Sherwoods' arrow. Like electing Donald Trump. However, where was the choice? The elections were rigged for the US to put Trump against Clinton, and it backfired. Now the whole world has lost its grip, because America is on the brink of civil war.
I would suggest everyone 'get a grip'. That means sorting out home policy, spending and looking after people in your own country. That means everyone. Easier to give an amnesty to illegal immigrants and genuine people who have a right to stay. We all have so much to gain from each other.
Invest heavily in countries that need rebuilding, water, and infrastructure. Not for gain, but to make it a right, and a duty towards developing countries. Not to lose their identity, but to enable them to sustain their own people.
We do not need war machines. We do not need more casualties. We need a clean internet, not full of scams and pornography and gambling. We also don't want or need to live in a world of threats.
God can bring down the Sky. If you want a threat, bear that in mind.