more than a quartermillion in france join protests against planned gas tax hikes crediteric gaillardreutersnov 17 2018ragny france more than a quartermillion people across france joined protests on saturday against planned hikes in gas taxes drivers blocked roundabouts highway access roads and intersectionsthe demonstrations have harnessed a broader discontent with high taxes and for some with the policies of president emmanuel macronmost of the 2000 demonstrations were in the suburbs exurbs and rural areas of france where people rely on their cars to go to work visit the doctor and do their grocery shopping some protesters also blocked access to border crossingsmost of the protests were orderly though one person was killed and more than 200 were injured in accidents or altercations around the country according to the interior minister christophe castanerin paris some 1200 demonstrators almost reached the elyse the presidential residence where they shouted macron quit and blocked the champslysesthat hostile tone though was not evident in most small towns and suburban areaswe are not political people we do not belong to a union we are citizens said didier lacombe a retiree who lives on a fixed income near ragny a small town about an hour west of paristhe taxes are rising on everything they put taxes on top of taxes said mr lacombe as he and his wife prepared to join what has come to be known as the yellow vests protest after the vests that are required in french cars and that were worn by the demonstratorsimagecreditstephane de sakutinagence francepresse getty imagesit is not the tax on gas its everything the injustice is greater and greater he saidthe protesters whose movement coalesced rapidly over the last six to eight weeks through social media have grown quickly in numbers while the demonstrations were no larger than those organized by unions who object to labor reforms they were strikingly consistent given the distance between gatherings which reached from the mediterranean coast to the northern industrial areas of the countrythe demonstrations are unlike some past protests that pressed for higher salaries now people are seeking a reduction in the gas tax as well as expressing frustration with payroll taxes which are used for social services like health care and social security said alexis spire a senior researcher in sociology at the national center for scientific research a government research agencythe french taxes known as social charges can top 40 percent of paychecks and are used to cover health care unemployment insurance and other servicesits a big difference with movements such as the tea party in the united states mr spire said because the french want government involvement the french are very attached to their model of social protection and they are also very attached to government servicesfor those living outside of cities it is often hard to feel they are getting their moneys worth unemployment has remained stubbornly high at nearly 10 percent rural hospitals have closed making it more difficult for those in need to access health care