Europe is falling economically, demographically and culturally because its leaders have confused growing the state and increasing regulation with success while green policies gut its industries…
On October 24th, France recorded 410,000 demonstrators and 1,314 arrests, according to the Interior Ministry’s provisional tally. After the previous weekend’s protests, the trade minister estimated that at least 3,000 businesses had been affected, and historic buildings were destroyed. The authorities pointed to the involvement of radical far-Left groups in the attacks. In Milan, looting and destruction on October 17th and 18th caused damage to businesses that Confcommercio estimated at close to €1 million. Similar events took place in Rome. In Barcelona, on October 24th, 23 businesses were looted or vandalized, and firefighters were called out 33 times to fires in public streets.

Behind those figures lie livelihoods destroyed, business owners intimidated and public property attacked. People who keep a business running are expected to pay their taxes on time. The security they finance deserves the same promptness. Peaceful protest must be protected and vandalism punished with the utmost firmness. No cause turns someone else’s business into legitimate spoils.
Fritz Scharpf explained that legitimacy also depends on the ability to solve problems. That is the corrosive contradiction of governments that collect vast sums yet struggle to guarantee services, opportunities and security. When the protection they promise deteriorates, their institutional rhetoric loses credibility.
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