LA FRANCE, BLEU, BLANC ET….ROSE?
(… by a Left turn from the Right lane, with a turn signal in a fetching shade of Pink)

M. Hollande’s narrow margin of political victory over M. Sarkozy is as close to a split decision as there can be in such a contest. It’s a reflection of the general Euro-zone backlash against the austerity measures being imposed to somehow achieve a return to fiscal sanity.

The failure of M.Sarkozy’s attempts to reform the long imbedded French Statist-Socialist machinery was not caused by any lack of effort, but by his failure to understand that, when it comes to ways and means of reform, it’s not about the means, but about any dumb-ass ways in which these are applied to achieve it (US politicos please note, there will be a pop quiz on the subject here in November).

Whether M. Hollande can do any better is an open question. Many are already questioning the scope of any options available to him to do so, especially if Mme. Merkel, in classic Germanic pragmatic realism, is not likely to bend to any kind of Gallic flim-flam charm, even from a fellow Socialist. But, after seventeen odd years of cruising along on the Right side of the road, making a Left turn from it is problematic, even if your turn signal is flashing a fetching shade of Pink.

Once, long ago, while discussing the pros and cons of various parts of the political spectrum with a long time friend with a strong Socialist bent, I opined that the Left end of that spectrum seemed to have three levels of leftist outlook. That is, the most extreme being the Marxist view of – you’ll get what we damn well decide to let you have! The somewhat less rabid Communist’s approach of – you’ll get whatever we think you deserve! And lastly, good old Socialists, like himself, who’s mantra is – whatever you’ve got, others have to have their fair share! To be brief and blunt about it, a Socialist is really just a Communist….in drag. He may be sporting a neatly tailored suit in a fetching shade of pink, but, his underwear is still a fully-hued red.

Alas, I haven’t heard from that old friend for years since then. You see, because he wasn’t French, he apparently couldn’t appreciate the French sport and delight of deft –irony- as a measure of one’s level of high culture and savoire faire. C’est la vie!

Of course the reality is that the Right end of that spectrum has similar degrees of ideological distinction. Oligarchs operate on the principle of – Since we write the checks, what we say…goes. Simple (or simple-minded) Capitalists on the other hand simply bark _ I’ve got mine, Mac, go get your own! As for the Entrepreneur set, these just growl out – I’m busy here, get out of my F…ing way!

Of course the irony of ironies here is that so few realize that going to either end of that political spectrum just brings everyone full circle back to the old familiar monarchial absolutism of – L’Etat…c’est Moi ! –Well, does any of this mean the French tricolor may soon be called Bleu, Blanc, et…Rose? I think not. Let’s not forget that throughout a thousand years of French history, today’s revolutionary, sooner or later, and one way or the other, has always ended up as tomorrow’s centrist petit bourgeois.

So we should not be surprised if, on our next trip to Paris, when a classic café waiter there has taken our order, and then, slyly attempts to determine our political position in that spectrum by politely asking –Would monsieur prefer a Rose or a Pinard wine with his order?- ….we can’t wait to see his reaction when we respond with: – Merci, neither, just un verre of common sense –Cognac- s’il vous plait!

Vive la France!

CENTURION