Comments on: sarkozy

By: deck

deck — Mon, 14 May 2007 18:02:45 +0000

actually, the “migrating french” (around 800 000), come back in France for the caring of the social system.
Anyway, 35 hours is way too much.
Great cartoons, but maybe a little quick judgement and a quick summary of “french way of life”.
Snails, anyone ?

By: selekta

selekta — Fri, 11 May 2007 18:27:07 +0000

Dublin traffic isn’t half as bad as it is in other capital cities of the world. The city is crowded, but what can you do, somewhere needs to accomodate all the migrating French, escaping from “very, very good social security system”

By: Eolai

Eolai — Thu, 10 May 2007 08:46:01 +0000

Oh Hugh, surely with a Global Microbrand you wouldn’t need to be paid a lot of money to start a business there?
Isn’t that what Cumbria was for you — until you decided you wanted more, of something Cumbria couldn’t give you?

By: thom singer

thom singer — Thu, 10 May 2007 02:56:58 +0000

The French get a raw deal in the press. The people are actually delightful (in a rude french sort of way). I was there two years ago and only encountered genuine people who love life (and did not resent me for being American!). I like France and the people of France. I intend to go back again for a longer visit, but not to start a business!
That being said, it all comes down to economics for a country. If 15 years ago you had told folks to look at Ireland as and economic leader in the EU, everyone would have been puzzled. Yet the Irish have made changes to their economics and their economy is doing well. Yet, I do hear that the traffic in Ireland is now a mess due to the growing population and growing middle class buying more cars. I guess there is a trade off to everything!

By: Rebecca Caroe

Rebecca Caroe — Thu, 10 May 2007 02:33:59 +0000

Glad you posted the cartoon again, Hugh. I spent a while looking for it on your site last week to link to my post about Loic speaking at IW 2007!
now I can!

By: Dennis Howlett

Dennis Howlett — Thu, 10 May 2007 02:05:27 +0000

Who’s wearing rose coloured specs here then? For many French people, life really isn’t the idyll Hugh suggests. I know, I’ve lived there. As Hugh says — no way would you set up business there unless you have very deep pockets.
Their main problem is one of being schizophrenic about their social security system. It’s very, very good, but it is expensive to run (as is the case everywhere.)
Stifling entrepreneurship with a heavy tax burden exacerbates the problem yet successive governments have been too frightened of dealing with public service unions who think they can hold the country to ransom when it suits them.
Sarkozy has a tough job on his hands. It’s really a matter of the extent to which he has the will to introduce what for many will be unpopular reforms.

By: Loic

Loic — Thu, 10 May 2007 00:45:47 +0000

Hi Hugh &all, thanks and see you soon !

By: RKR

RKR — Thu, 10 May 2007 00:45:32 +0000

I say give the French “more credit”!
More credit cards, predatory mortgage lending and out-source their jobs to China.
Viva La USA’s Quality of Life!
Americans work hard to give a BS perception that there is a better quality of life here. If Americans are having leisurely second glass of wine, it will probably the only thing that they can afford without going over credit limit on their VISA and they are drinking to numb the feeling of having way too many bills!
And that my friends, is why Americans work harder.
So, is France going to join our war, too?

By: hugh macleod

hugh macleod — Thu, 10 May 2007 00:19:20 +0000

John, I agree with the thought re. resentment. I’d also wager that most Americans are blissfully unaware how simply lovely and magical France can be, on a good day.
But you’d have to pay me a LOT of money to start a business there…

By: john wesley

john wesley — Wed, 09 May 2007 23:31:16 +0000

I’d say in America the French way of life arouses more resentment than anything else. They’ve chosen to work less and live more. We’ve chosen to work more and buy more. We’re all running a deficit but at least the French aren’t busting their asses to get there.

By: hugh macleod

hugh macleod — Wed, 09 May 2007 19:59:34 +0000

Good point, Adriana. Maybe “Making money vs quality of life” would have been a better word choice.

By: Adriana

Adriana — Wed, 09 May 2007 19:54:40 +0000

Hm, I find the Economics vs Quality of Life line puzzling. I’d say without economics there isn’t much quality of life… no dilemma there.

By: Frenchmat

Frenchmat — Wed, 09 May 2007 19:32:51 +0000

A foreign point of view is always interesting to hear.
Especially this one
I think I have a small idea of who is gonna pay for it…
At least, it won’t be those people who spend their holidays on yachts and have dinners at Fouquet’s, like Mr new President and his friends…