Oh yes, what a sham. Every five years we get to choose between Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Or more appropriately perhaps, between plague and cholera.
And to think that 70% of French decisions are actually Brussels-made... I'm so thrilled to exercise my voting right!

Talk about democracy. Everywhere you turn it's just a self-perpetuating farce wherein an elite gets voted in at regular intervals, thanks to state-controlled media. I'm no expert, but it is my understanding that in the USA you cannot even hope to be in the running unless you're loaded or sponsored. Election costs are just prohibitive. (If I could be proved wrong, I'd welcome the news.) As for Russia, everyone knows Putin comes from the KGB. Need I say more? You can sense an iron fist from here (whether for good or ill, that's not for me to tell).

Also, Russia seems very united. It wouldn't be that way in France, which tends to create conflicts of interest and general ill-feeling. Racial minorities (but this is very politically incorrect, will I get censored?) far outweigh the supposed white catholic majority, the public sector has been at variance with the private sector for decades, unions and employers are at daggers drawn and after epic street protests, homosexuals have recently been allowed to marry... in short, when the people are so divided, can they still rule? I don't think so. I think they're under a yoke, now more than ever.

Divide and conquer!