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2003-05-14 Europe
France grinds to a halt amid protests at Chirac reforms
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Posted by Bulldog 2003-05-14 03:28 am|| || Front Page|| [11129 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 One of the key indicators that the old Soviet Union was on the verge of collapse was when the people no longer took any pride in workmanship, in cleanliness (of where they lived - the country, not personal hygiene), and in personal dedication. The same is easily seen in some urban areas of the United States. Whenever a neighborhood becomes filled with trash, when graffiti covers the walls, when the people sit around doing nothing, that community will eventually collapse. Some of what is happening in France is evident of the same moral and public decay that caused Russia to collapse. There are other places in Europe with the same symptoms. Italy had them for a number of years, but now are reversing the trend. East Germany was a trash dump in the late 1980's. When there's no incentive to do a good job, and no consequences for doing a poor one, things go downhill, fast. If I were a Frenchman observing what I see happening, I'd want to immigrate - immediately!
Posted by Old Patriot  5/14/2003 10:11:41 AM||   5/14/2003 10:11:41 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 I was at the parade yesterday. It was like a party. Literally, the whole communist party was there. These lazy bastards are holding the French hostage. It's really the French govts fault they let them do it. But in truth it is all coming to an end. Currently one in four workers is public. After denationalization of the companies it will be much lower. That is what they are truly afraid of. The public workers here (the marxist minoriety) control the government. But they know with the EU reforms it will come to an end, because every country (including France) has to align with those free market changes. France can nolonger be a communist country. The EU is actually pushing for some very good measures, but the Marxist and the Mafia are opposed.
Posted by George 2003-05-14 04:55:44||   2003-05-14 04:55:44|| Front Page Top

#3 "France Grinds To A Halt". I believe this happens about every 2 weeks.
Posted by tu3031 2003-05-14 08:33:43||   2003-05-14 08:33:43|| Front Page Top

#4 Is it really grinding to a halt if you go from nearly immobile to immobile?
Posted by Chuck  2003-05-14 09:20:51|| [blog.simmins.org]  2003-05-14 09:20:51|| Front Page Top

#5 Regine Linard, 45, a nurse from a Paris hospital, said that yesterday's protest was about much more than pension reform. "It is about the European conception of society.

Oops! There they go speaking for the rest of Europe again. Such a bad habit.
Posted by g wiz 2003-05-14 09:40:44||   2003-05-14 09:40:44|| Front Page Top

#6 One of the key indicators that the old Soviet Union was on the verge of collapse was when the people no longer took any pride in workmanship, in cleanliness (of where they lived - the country, not personal hygiene), and in personal dedication. The same is easily seen in some urban areas of the United States. Whenever a neighborhood becomes filled with trash, when graffiti covers the walls, when the people sit around doing nothing, that community will eventually collapse. Some of what is happening in France is evident of the same moral and public decay that caused Russia to collapse. There are other places in Europe with the same symptoms. Italy had them for a number of years, but now are reversing the trend. East Germany was a trash dump in the late 1980's. When there's no incentive to do a good job, and no consequences for doing a poor one, things go downhill, fast. If I were a Frenchman observing what I see happening, I'd want to immigrate - immediately!
Posted by Old Patriot  2003-05-14 10:11:41||   2003-05-14 10:11:41|| Front Page Top

#7 pasties? what is this? Vegas?
Posted by Frank G  2003-05-14 10:11:52||   2003-05-14 10:11:52|| Front Page Top

#8 "France grinds to a halt"...

So what's the big deal? Oh, wait, it's not August yet... Well maybe they just want to institute a second national vacation month.
Posted by Dripping sarcasm 2003-05-14 10:14:38||   2003-05-14 10:14:38|| Front Page Top

#9 "nurses in lab coats and masks".
And red high heels?
Posted by Steve  2003-05-14 11:07:40||   2003-05-14 11:07:40|| Front Page Top

#10 France has bigger problems than Communism. Their Muslim population is growing, while the birthrate of the native French is declining. This is a ticking bomb that will probably go off within the next 20 years.
Posted by Denny 2003-05-14 11:16:13|| [www.grouchyoldcripple.com]  2003-05-14 11:16:13|| Front Page Top

#11 When, oh when is this country going to get its long-overdue comeuppance? I've read of some French reactions to September 11. I know they hoped for maximum US casualties in Iraq. Now I read that "satisfaction at the bombings in Riyadh is barely concealed" (merde in france). Someone please tell me when the French are going to get what they so richly deserve. I, for one, can't wait until the entire place becomes the Most Holy Caliphate of Francistan.
Posted by Joe 2003-05-14 12:18:28||   2003-05-14 12:18:28|| Front Page Top

#12 This is not going to be funny when the system breaks, but if people are going to be in denial what can you say. The irony of social democracy is that it has to go hand in hand with a dynamic economy. If these people want their pensions, they better start holding out for a crash liberalization of the economy.
Posted by Hiryu 2003-05-14 12:29:50||   2003-05-14 12:29:50|| Front Page Top

#13 My wife trains young people for work and 10 out of 12 said the wanted to immigrate to America. They said they loved the American way of life and hated France. What's going on here is filthy, the govt has no money and the public workers want 35 hrs and retirement at 55. The government is to blame, plain and simple. It lets 1 million people control the life 60 million. It lets the laws be made from the street. Just like the last war, where 22million people from around the world hit the streets when 6 billion didn't, and it was said that Bush was defying the people. BULL!!
Posted by George 2003-05-14 12:52:43||   2003-05-14 12:52:43|| Front Page Top

#14 Ahem. France has NUKES. When Sharia law is instituted, there'll be hell to pay...
Posted by Ptah  2003-05-14 14:08:27|| [www.crusaderwarcollege.org]  2003-05-14 14:08:27|| Front Page Top

#15 Yes, France has nukes. 200 of them, or thereabouts. But will they fly? And even if they fly, will they detonate as advertised?

After this many years of military budget neglect, my basic assumption would be "maybe, and probably no".
Posted by Anonymous 2003-05-14 15:01:16||   2003-05-14 15:01:16|| Front Page Top

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