Not everyone was on side of the protesters. As expected, the traditional apologists for the status quo opposed concessions to the protesters. However, the Gaullists and similar rightists were not alone opposing the just demands of the protesters. Similar coalition problems were besetting France . Prime Minister Lionel Jospin's .
Green allies are livid over what they denounce as handouts to polluters.
Also the US Greens Web Sites and other statements haven't taken an official position on these European strike waves and are opposing a reduction in fuel taxes. From Europe to the U.S., governments have been reducing taxes for the rich and shifting the burden of financing governments onto the backs of working people - governments which deliver fewer and fewer social services while bringing more and more wars onto. Sales taxes are part of that trend. Working people spend much greater percentage of our income filling up our cars with gas than rich folks do filling up their limousines. Marxists say that there should be just one tax - a steeply graduated income tax, tax system under which working people would to have pay zero while those who can easily afford to pay would pay.