In a remarkable display of fiery temper tantrums, over 500,000 bourgeois Frenchmen took to the streets yesterday to protest government plans to wean them from unsustainable state guarantees of jobs for life. Because, as farfetched as it may seem to nationals elsewhere, these congenitally-spoiled socialists insist that – once hired for any job – no employer should have the right to fire them, even if they are irremediably incompetent. And, they are determined to protest to their deaths, unless the French government of Jacques Chirac gives them what they want.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is fighting more orderly, but no less defiant, acts of civil unrest. Because public workers across Germany have been on strike for over five-weeks protesting a government plan to add an onerous 1.5 hours to their current 38.5-hour work week. As a result, mounds of garbage have piled up all over Germany and some hospitals have been forced to cancel non-emergency operations.
Of course, it would be unseemly to cast these European rioters in the same light as the Muslim-immigrant rioters who torched cities in France and Germany recently to protest their grievances with government policies. Nonetheless, it is ironical that these more genteel rioters may have a more destabilizing impact on governance in both countries for decades to come.
NOTE: It cannot be lost on Chirac and Merkel that – although Bush has to fight insurgent fires in Iraq – at least he does not have to worry about such infernal national protests or fear his home being torched….
French jobs protest, Germans strike
James says
Welcome back ALH
We missed you the last few days. I know one shouldn’t gloat and it’s big of you not to. But it is hysterical to see the turn of events in these countries. And why not compare this pampered white Europeans to the immigrants they so despise. At least the blacks and muslims have good reaon to be rioting.
I read your previous articles you link to with keen interest. I think you’ve covered the angles here brilliantly, even better than any journalist I’ve read. But I think you’re a little to kind to the French and Germans.
Anonymous says
europeans are pathetic. they are backbiting ungrateful cowards who resent us for saving their asses and are too lazy to put in an honest day of hard work. the germans spend almost as much time on paid vacation as they do working. things will only get worse. the moslems are the least of their problems.
A European says
Absolutely. If you poorly educated, naive yanks only knew the extent of the social benefits (free education, free health care, fantastic unemployment benefits, great pensions, short working hours, loads of holidays…) available to the average Frenchman you would be frothing at the mouth. Anyway the European worker will keep fighting (and rioting – national pastime in France, everybody does it) to defend their great lifestyle.
Too bad hey that with a U.S. Federal Government deficit which has gone through the roof (not to mention your chronic reliance on foreign capital inflows to fund your growing external deficit – 7% makes you guys a banana republic, you better make nice with the Chinese or they’ll stop buying the buck) you can’t afford the same luxuries.
Indentured servants and wage slaves keep working. At some point you may be able to pay off your national debt. But not any time soon !!
Don’t get mad at your administration get mad at all those nasty foreigners who haven’t made the same stupid choices.
Last time I looked the Eurozone wasn’t relying on anyone else’s dough to keep the show on the road. So guess what ? Europeans get to choose how they allocate their resources and spend their own money.
You guys don’t have any money to spend and in any case your Government couldn’t give a toss about what you want. Tough luck. Keep up the hard work. Losers.
ric says
Losers? I think inhaling all them fumes from your cities going up in flames has affected your brain. Did “temper tantrums and congenitally spoiled” get lost in translation on you Mr European. Your pathetic attempts to insult the people who are always saving your asses makes ALH’s points Who saved Europe from ethnic cleansing in your back yard? And who do you think will have to save the world from the Islamic fanatics who nearly burned Paris to the ground last year as you guys picked your noses?. But you all want your cradle to grave welfare even if it means destroying your country.
Proud American! And you’re welcome buddy!
A European says
Americans need to recover from the delusion that they are “saving asses” everywhere. Stay home, learn to read and write and stop bombing other countries. That would be a good first step. Civilisation is a long, hard road and when you have learnt some basic rules of democracy like how to run a free and fair election you can start crticisizing other countries and their democratic choices. Europe does not want to be America, does not admire America and would really appreciate it if you guys kept the depleted Uranium for yourselfs. God knows you could probably get it ruled safe for human consumption over in your kasbah of a country.
ric says
Hey Euro
Would you change your mind about us if we elect Jerry Lewis president?
Unlike you, I gotta go to put in a hard day’s work for a living.
See ya!
A European says
Slave away. It’s one of your finest traditions.
claire says
A European,
I too am European but I am embarrassed by your arrogance and stupidity. Not all of us believe goverment should guarantee the benefits you gloat about. The European economy is a shambles because of all of these government subsidies, so what is it to be proud of. Also, since we introduced slavery to the new world I would not be so keen to call on others to slave away.
Claire
A European says
“Not all of us believe goverment should guarantee the benefits you gloat about.”
Which benefits in particular are you willing to give up ? Free health care ? France is seeing a flood of refugees from the British health care system (which IS a shambles) all the time. The French pay high social charges to ensure that health care is good and universal. Ditto education. And any government which suggested reducing holidays would start a revolution. It’s called ‘lifestyle’ and its something Europeans expect and, more importantly, can afford.
“The European economy is a shambles”…. is it really ? Any particular statistics you would like to quote here or did you get that impression from the tabloids ?
“because of all of these government subsidies” Thanks for the potted analysis.
Living standards in Europe are high. And that is something to be proud of. I don’t necessarily agree with the students but I also disagree with the blog. Getting fired in France is a reality. At present employees are guaranteed compensation for getting fired unfairly. If you are fired for insubordination or gross incompetence as the law now stands, there is no compensation and there is no intention to change the law. The introduction of an employment contract for new employees and employees under the age of 26 would do away with compensation altogether in the first two years of employment, even in the case of unfair dismissal.
Not that the people writing here have any idea of the present law or the changes proposed. And, I dare say, neither do you Claire.
When commenting (or blogging) it would be normal requirment to at least be aware of the facts.
And proud ? I am proud that France and Germany did not take part in creating the blood bath and environmental disaster that is now Iraq. And I am proud of the standard of living that France and Germany have achieved.
Michelle says
A Eurpoean
Keep fiddling….
Claire does not have to read tabloids to know that your economies are “a shambles”. She only has to listen to the French PM and German Chancellor both of whom have said as much.
A European says
Quotes please.
A European says
Just out of curiousity are both of you (Claire and Michelle) from the land of two up two down, carpet in the bathroom and beans on toast for dinner ?
ALH ipinions says
A European
I appreciate your spirited defense of your “lifestyle”. But your failure to recognize the economic implosion France and Germany are now experiencing – because of such lifestyle expectations – is rather like President Bush failing to recognize the civil war now threatening to blow Iraq asunder.
As it happens, Claire and Michelle seem more informed about what is going on your Europe than you do. But you need not take their word for what’s happening outside of your apparently cloistered space.
After all, just today, Reuters published an Agence France-Presse poll which says that “Seventy-one percent agreed with the statement that France was in a profound social crisis which will grow in the weeks ahead”. No doubt because labor unions have given French PM Dominique de Villepin 48 hours to withdraw the government contract that ignited the riots we watched unfold on TV – during the few hours of work release we had in America this past weekend.)
But, lest you think de Villepin is unaware of your well-settled expectations, here’s how he described your refusal to accept the reality of your country’s dire circumstances:
“It is the anguish of the middle classes that is being expressed — a desire for the status quo, for a return to the French society of 30 years ago.”
Nonetheless, I hope, for your sake, that de Villepin and Merkel (of Germany) have the political fortitude to hold the anguished, middle-class mobs at bay and implement the economic reforms that are clearly in the enlightened national interest of their respective countries.
France and Germany are great countries. And I’m encouraged that they are blessed with visionary leaders who I am confident are quite capable of leading their people through these difficult times.
Michelle says
Hi Anthony
Thanks for sticking up for us. That “A European” guy is a real “A hole”.
A European says
“unsustainable state guarantees of jobs for life”
Factually inaccurate.
“once hired for any job – no employer should have the right to fire them, even if they are irremediably incompetent.”
Factually inaccurate.
Anthony don’t obfuscate. You have the facts wrong.
A link which explains the content of the law is here :
http://libcom.org/blog/what-is-the-cpe/
READ IT.
And “your failure to recognize the economic implosion France and Germany are now experiencing”
Hello? That would explain the 27%rise in the Stock market in France over the past twelve months and the strong performance of the Euro.
I live in France and I have a fairly good idea of what economic conditions are. You do not.
“Claire and Michelle seem more informed about what is going on your Europe than you do”
Perhaps to you they do. But your judgement is suspect to say the least. Let’s stick to the facts, shall we ? Perhaps Claire and Michelle would care to weigh in with some data rather than purile insults. If you want to discuss economic statistics…. I’m here.