[anovikov]

It's a translation problem actually. For the French, there is no mystery there. She said "brioche" but because most cultures didn't have brioches yet, it was usually translated as "cake".

The point was that, price of simple bread was government-regulated, so producing and selling it lost money to bakers and they either didn't do that at all when they could get away with it, or only did in minimum quantities that got quickly sold out. Prices of brioche, as a higher grade product, were not regulated, and brioche was always available.

So really, that comment was more of pun illustrating how lame government price control policies were, rather than an indication of lack of touch with ordinary people's lives.

[jszymborski]

This is an interesting reading, but it's hardly the generally accepted interpretation. Typically, this is read to reflect the flagrant indifference or ignorance of the ruling class for the plight of the French people.

And ultimately, that common reading is what is being referred to in the comment that spurred this thread. Regardless of the historical minutiae regarding the quote, it's making reference to the anger of a country's people when the cost of living rises and is perceived to be met with indifference.