The French riots are what happens when a country can no longer fund the promises it makes to its citizens. Riots like this just happened all across the Third World, as rising prices outstripped the (huge) subsidies governments pay to keep fuel affordable for the lower middle classes and below. In France, state spending makes up an astounding 57.1% of GDP, higher than in many Communist nations. 15% goes to public pensions alone. France has established a baffling and complex network of subsidies and tax rebates and cash transfers which mean just about every person living in France receives some benefit from the French state. Meanwhile, GDP growth has been either modest or stagnant for years. The French economy simply doesn't generate enough added value to pay all its bureaucrats (and their pensions) and finance all of its benefits and subsidies. France's state debt is already high and increasing rapidly. The French political class, like the political class in many Third World countries, is part of the problem. No political party is willing to state the truth, which is that France has been living beyond its means for decades, and must make massive cuts across the bord to stay fiscally viable. The majority of the French have been conditioned to believe that their right to various subsidies, such as "free" university educations, agriculture subsidies, government pensions etc., are inalienable: "How dare you balance the budget on the back of students / small business owners / artists/ public employees / farmers / the disabled / immigrants / pensioners / child-care workers / stay-at-home mothers / police," etc. It's a war of all against all for an ever-shrinking pie. It will get progressively worse until French voters are willing to support politicians who tell them the truth. Or until France is forced to seek a bailout from the EU or the IMF. Which is much more likely. edition.cnn.com/2026/10/19/e…