I suspect that 80% of the French were TOTALLY ON BOARD for ‘saving the world’, even 2 months ago, even if it costs them money.
Now that they’re seeing what that means to them and their lifestyle I suspect the number is 20%.
The difference: In the first case, the money was hypothetical, but the feeling of ‘saving the world’ was good, so why not support it. In the second case, the money is REAL, and thus the good feeling of ‘saving the world’ simply vanishes.
“the feeling of ‘saving the world’ was good,”
They are so into this! I think it is because their lives have been fairly comfortable with all their socialism, and they probably feel a bit guilty and “saving the world” makes them feel virtuous. But now, this gas tax really hurts them.