John Brandt
3/18/2006, 06:57 PM
I love France. I love the culture, the food, the people.
But I am constantly amazed at both at the ossification of French economic thought and at the violent reaction of various French intereszt groups to change.
500,000 protesters gathered around France today to oppose the government's liberalization of employment laws that stifle growth. You'd think that in a country with overall youth unemployment of 23% and rates of 50% unemployment among the poorest young, anything that could spur job growth would be welcomed. But not in France.
Are these people living in the same world we are? Do they understand that economic advantage is more fleeting and fluid than ever, that you can't legislate prosperity and economic security?
Sacre bleu!
But I am constantly amazed at both at the ossification of French economic thought and at the violent reaction of various French intereszt groups to change.
500,000 protesters gathered around France today to oppose the government's liberalization of employment laws that stifle growth. You'd think that in a country with overall youth unemployment of 23% and rates of 50% unemployment among the poorest young, anything that could spur job growth would be welcomed. But not in France.
Are these people living in the same world we are? Do they understand that economic advantage is more fleeting and fluid than ever, that you can't legislate prosperity and economic security?
Sacre bleu!