Not another French Revolution!

Is France abandoning socialism in favor of free-market capitalism? Is the land of “liberte, egalite, et fraternite” looking for closer ties with the United States instead of acting reflexively anti-American? If this past weekend’s national elections are any indication, the French may have become weary of the 12 years of Jacques Chirac’s corrupt and ineffective leadership, and are ready for some serious change.

In an election in which an astounding 85% of eligible voters cast ballots, Nicolas Sarkozy, a Hungarian immigrant and conservative, defeated Sergolene Royal, the socialists’ candidate. Despite her gender, French voters were not compelled to vote for a woman “just because,” but by a 53-47 margin, opted for the clear opposite. Sarkozy promises an end to socialist policies like a 35-hour work week, vows to be tougher on immigrants (especially those from Muslim nations who refuse to adapt to western civilization and the liberties and freedoms many Americans and French fought side-by-side to defend), and pledges to work closely with the US not as a rival to bash but an ally with whom to cooperate.

In the 2004 American election, Monsieur Jean-Luc Kerry decried the “fact” that George Bush had isolated America in the world, and that he alone would stop America from acting unilaterally in any military action. Since that time, Australia re-elected its conservative Prime Minister John Howard, Germany elected a conservative chancellor in Angela Merkel, Canada threw out its liberal government in favor of Tory Stephen Harper, and now even France tells its socialists “au revoir.” With Tony Blair resigning as Britain’s Prime Minister, he will likely be replaced by an even more pro-American conservative. Perhaps the ideas of liberals/progressives/socialists are not as universally accepted as truth as they imagine, even in secular Europe.

So what happens when liberals/progressives/socialists are unable to persuade the majority of voters to select them as leaders? In America, they go to court or claim that there was a conspiracy by the makers of Diebold voting machines. In short, they try to deligitimize the election of any opponent. Thus you continue to read in each and every Garrison Keillor column Mr. Bush referred to not as “the President” but as “the current occupant of the White House.” (By the way, read Keillor's article--you'll see a fascinating discussion of the TULIP of Calvinim, too. But I digress.) In short, they refuse to accept the results. So it appears to be with the French. There, in a scene reminiscent of Les Miserables, the university students have taken to the streets in order to incite riots for the past four days. Methinks if they keep it up there will be quite a few “empty chairs at empty tables.” Maybe France has learned from its violent history and realizes that mob rule, riots, and anarchy can only end in a Reign of Terror.

Congratulations to Msr. Sarkozy. Vive le France! Nous Americains sont les amis!