“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The realist adjusts the sail.” William A. Ward
A complainer is often somebody who carps about various things but never proposes a solution. To some, complaining is just a second nature, particularly among the direct descendants of the Fronde.
Charles de Gaulle noticed it a long time ago.
How can anyone govern a nation that has two hundred and forty-six different kinds of cheese? Charles de Gaulle
To complain is easy and that’s probably why we have so many adherents of that practice. It does not require any talent or training, and that lofty occupation (often regally compensated) can be practiced anywhere.
As proven many times by history, many successors often prove worse than the person they opposed and replaced.
Are we better off today than when we were under Obama’s watch?
Complaints often turn into unpredictable mobs. For some, joining a demonstration is like crashing a party. They were not invited and probably not welcome, but by George, they will enjoy themselves. And why not seize the occasion to appropriate a few necessities like iPhones or Rolex watches?
Mobs don’t think, otherwise, there would never be riots and destruction. Any individual would think twice before shattering a storefront window and stealing its contents. When in the anonymity of a group, he relinquishes his thinking to listen to the hooligans’ drumbeat.
Any decision has many unexpected consequences. President Emmanuel Macron thought that he would balance the budget when he decided to implement a “carbon tax”. He didn’t expect the bloody confrontations that resulted. But he showed more resolve than many world leaders (including our “very intelligent” president) to combat global warming.
In a perfect world, balancing the budget should be easy.
Everybody would contribute his fair share, with the wealthy contributing substantially more than the less fortunate.
In France particularly, many elite’s privileges should be abolished, but at the same time, so should many ridiculous subsidies.
A coin always has 2 sides. It would be wise to look at both.
Alain