French strikes (Article)

[stephenw]

Mr Sarkozy has so far failed to deliver on his election promise to let France "work more to earn more".
Thank goodness the French unions are standing up to this right wing President.

[Seyorni]

Yet many Frenchmen are tired of paying taxes to suport the able idle.
Is France really going to be able to compete on the world stage working 35 hours per week, with six to eight week vacations, full (including medical and educational) benefits, and complete job security -- barring actually strangling your boss and his entire family?

[GeneCosta]

France's economy has relatively the same growth rate as most of the industrialized world. Let's not presume good working conditions equate to a bad economy. Germany is a stunning counter-example.

Would you believe we have higher corporate taxes than France? We have a lower income tax but France doesn't even compete against most of West Europe.

Highest Taxed Countries: Top Ten Nations Based on Taxation

I can't believe President Sarkozy thought he could just waltz in and take the pension/retirement benefits. I wish labor in the US showed more backbone.

[Scuba Pete]

I wonder what it takes to move my business to Mexico? That's a THIRD of the tax burden.

As for France, they were once the BIG innovators in my industry (Scuba) but not as much anymore. They do know how to diversify their industry though.