France is on the verge of implosion, again (or still, I can't tell) and I, for one, am ready to see that collection of arrogant twits beat each other senseless.
The latest upheaval has to do with legislation, which has been approved by the parliament, that would make it easier to hire and fire young workers. Trade unions and students are all a-twitter because workers in their early 20s will now have to (gasp) work to keep their jobs.
The French (and other Euros, the Froggies are only the most annoying example) are used to "employment for life" and other forms of socialized hand-holding. The result of this heart-in-the-right-place-but-brain-stuck-in-the-jacket-pocket sort of societal engineering is a youth unemployment rate of over 20%, a rate that doubles when you look at inner-city youth (yep, the same folks who did their best to burn down metropolitan France about six months ago).
Capitalism sure ain't perfect. Unfettered by oversight, it is as destructive as any other "-ism" out there. However, with good intentions, good oversight, and accountability, it's the best thing going.
Folks from Howard Dean and on over, please take note of what's happening in the land of wine, cheese, and a military tradition second only to Chad and Burkina Faso. Is this REALLY what you want to do to us?
UPDATE: The protests continue, although there are some signs that at least someone (Interior Minister Sarkozy and some of the more moderate unions) is willing to talk.
What am I missing here? Are the students and unions REALLY protesting because they think a status quo where 75% of young Frenchmen and -women have near-guaranteed jobs while 25% (50% of the inner-city and minority population) go without any job at all is better than this law which would mean a FAR higher percentage are employed at jobs they need to perform to keep?
How does this make ANY sense at all?
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