Though seem different at first instance, the reactions in the two sides of the ocean are quite alike.

It appears that the crisis and the developments aftermaths lead to different reactions in the two sides of the Ocean. While Americans hit the streets yelling "downsize the public sector, take it out of our lives" French revolt saying "neither downsize the public sector not take it out of our lives." These might appear as reactions in opposite directions at the first instance, but in my consideration they are quite alike. And I really am not happy with this. Let me tell what is that I am unhappy with.

The latest political movement in the US of the post-crisis period grew from the conservative wing. Tea Party Patriots based in Republican Party first started with house meetings and then hit the streets. They nominated the candidates they desire within the Republican Party two weeks before the by-elections. They erased the party elites. Who are these people? They are regular middle-class Americans. They do not have a huge political background. Most of them even have not casted a vote before. They are unhappy with the political class. They are fed-up and more importantly concerned about their future. Why are they concerned? They believe that the hike in public expenditures will be translated into their lives in form of high tax rates. Tea Party Patriots mainly seems like a regular people's movement. They seem like they will be upset also if someone goes to them and says: 'We will take away this and that rights of yours in order to cut the public expenditures'.

And in France, workers are on top of the agenda with their strikes to protest the new Pension Plan. Soon ago, they blocked the oil delivery from refineries to distribution stations. As latest news reveals, almost 10 percent of stations cannot serve since they ran out of oil reserves. In fact, a populist like Sarkozy would normally wait and see which way the cat will jump. He was hoping to come out ahead of this. He was getting prepared for the role of rainy day leader ready to take tough decisions. Maybe he would even cry a drop of tears before the elections. As you know, this is the trend among the contemporary center-right party leaders. However, public opinion surveys indicate that 71% supports the strikers. They believe that the strikers are the oppressed.  They do not think this time that Sarkozy is the 'president of the masses on the streets'. He is now considered as an 'elite that tries to impose the burden of the crisis on the shoulders of the regular people.  And in that case, workers become regular people that stand against the tricks and games of large firms and their allies.

The first similarity between Tea Party Patriots and striking workers in France, which at first sight seem diverse, goes as follows in this respect:  both movements are nurtured by the deep concerns of regular people about their future. And the second is the voter movement and mobilization in none of the countries has a goal or an objective. They are just angry.  In the case of France, workers have no manifest with respect to the steps to be taken if the retirement age is raised from 60 to 62. And if you ask the Tea Party conservatives in the US which programs should be abolished, I challenge you that they cannot reach a consensus. At best, they end up fighting. Thus, we can conclude that at the outset of both movements appear hopelessness and desperation.

The third point to emphasize follows right from the second one: Concerned and desperate regular people who do not have a goal are bad for the future of our beautiful blue planet.

Then, what is the situation in Turkey? Do you see non-concerned and non-afraid regular people who have concrete targets concentrated on and a solid belief in and strong hopes about the future? I do not. Do you?

I guess this is the exact issue of the era.

This commentary was published in Radikal daily on 22.10.2010