The French Have It All Right?

On each visit to the grocery store, a child seated in the cart, prods their parent to buy a piece of candy. By the time the child is 3 years old the parent may have heard the child's request for candy as many times as the child has been to the grocery store. Each time the child asks, he may do some whining, may play the "cute" card, or a number of other strategies to get the prize.

If the parent stays firm and does not buy the candy, the child will develop an understanding of the candy will not be purchased, this time or anytime.

If the parent decides to give in one day and buys a Lolly-pop for the child, the child wins their first little battle. The child may not understand it to be a battle, but they remember. They will again ask for candy at the next visit to the store. If the parent establishes a pattern of -trip to the grocery store = candy for child-, the habit is formed and the child will expect the candy. If the parent decides on no candy for the next visit, the child may throw a fit.

What is happening in Paris, France right now may be more than one issue coming to a head. However based on the current news stories on the riots; 1 million protestors hit the streets...some riotting and violence... police had to break up with tear gas, water cannon and rubber pellets.. fires are being set... it may or may not continue and worsen as the recent riots in Paris a short time ago.

1/3 of all teachers in France were on strike today. Nearly all transportation; bus, train, plane were shut down due to strikes. The economy may have come to a halt in France.

Why are these protestors angry? A new labor law allowing companies to fire an employee for any reason if the person is;
1) Less than 26 years old and
2) Has been with the company less than 2 years

The French have been spoiled like a child wanting candy, from laws for 35 hour work weeks. The country has seen little or no economic growth for a number of years. The population is stagnant or falling each year. The bill for French social welfare will eventually drive up taxes and drive away the businesses remaining.

Just just week I listened as an associate (we will name her Denise) stating how "Europe" does so many things better than the US. They are more "advanced" in their "thinking" and "socially" and their "health care." Denise also claims to be a champion of hatred toward minorities, bigotry and prejudice. Yet, she advised a small group of us in one discussion, "I don't date American men... they are all too worried about their money... who's going to take it from them... I only have dated foreign born men." So much for not being a champion.

I will make a generalization of her "kind". She supports France and Europes "ideals" blindly. When asked to explain the above: "Europe is more advanced" and "I don't date American men..." she had no defense and repeatedly chose either to ramble or change the subject. The conversation with Denise had no real meaning. It sounded like a sound-bite laden speech at a rally. Rhetoric only, with one person at the mic.

This I believe, is a typical example of the "progressive" supporter. Frankly it is often mindless repeating of monologue spoken by someone else.

Europe is beautiful with history. I have family just outside of Hanover, Germany. It is a great place to vacation. I would love to live there sometime. Only, I do not want to work 5 months of the year to pay my tax bill.

Perhaps they should start being reasonable like Americans. If we get fired, often times we deserved it. Pick yourself off the floor and find another way to feed yourself.