Page 67 - Almanacco_ENG_2014
P. 67
but also delocalization and bankrupt- cies. Today, food sector employees are losing their jobs, without any prospects for reintegration. In the fall of 2013, faced with the evidence of this social tragedy, tens of thousands of people, wearing red caps, took to the streets.manipulationIronically, it was the same people re- sponsible for the economic crisis who organized the movement. Showing significant manipulation skills, they made the red cap an identifiable sign and a media symbol. The red cap has resurfaced from the distant past of lo- cal history. The bonnets rouges were first used as a symbol in 1675, during a major revolt against taxes, the royal centralism of Louis XIV and the Breton nobles. Now this strong symbol of re- bellion against power is being exploited by the economic powers themselves. Taking advantage of the confusion of people on the verge of losing every- thing – trade, job, income, housing and social ties – and gambling on the Bret- ons’ sense of solidarity and their anti-authoritarian culture, the leaders of the red caps have offered the eco tax and François Hollande’s government as targets for rage. Thousands have put on a red cap, declaring that they can’t take this dog’s life any more!The manipulators – a cartel of business- es who have turned this land into a reg- istered trademark, supported by a sep- aratist faction interested in the results of local elections – are not only ignoring their responsibilities, but also increasing consensus in their favor by accusing the government of all kinds of iniquities. This is a classic populist technique. The red caps are harshly criticizing the govern- ment, which is not responsible for the failure of the “Breton” bosses; what’s more, by opposing the eco tax, they are putting a spanner in the policy of eco- logical transition, which would harm the profits of the food industry. The Breton identity is being used to ask for billions from central government to continue the economic and ecological massacre of the land! The red caps of November 2013 are certainly starting to look a lot like dunce caps.67


































































































   65   66   67   68   69