French Frying

I've been watching with some interest the problems that the French are having. There seems to be a tendency here to smirk and say, in effect, that they had it coming to them, and that their problems are purely of their own making. The first isn't necessarily so, and the second is only partially true. Their style for addressing the problem(s) may be uniquely French, but it isn't unknown here.

As I understand it, the proximate cause for the unrest is a proposal to allow employers to discharge employees for cause within the first two years of employment (currently, apparently, that can't be done). Employers say that without it they effectively can't fire someone who hasn't worked out; employees (potential ones) say this exposes them to the possibility of gratuitious firing for no good reason. A related problem is a general sense of loss of power and prestige by the country -- a feeling that the things which are uniquely French are being lost to barbarians, and things which are not uniquely French, such as industrial strength, are being lost due to a feeling that the state is gripped by malaise and loss, hobbled by excessively generous social securities.

The leadership of the country is imploring the people to use reason and to come to their senses; instead, the people are using cobblestones and coming to the streets. The leadership seems adrift and unable to conceive of, let alone take, direct measures to address the problems of the country. The sole solution being proposed is to scuttle the employment law - a solution which would leave things at the status quo, if not a bit worse (since it would clearly demonstrate the strength of the opposition against the government).

Its always a pleasure to see other people's problems and reflect on the fact that they're not ours. It helps to distract us from our own problems, and its much more fun to point fingers and laugh than it is to solve intractable difficulties. That mode of government is particularly in favor with people who think that changing the names of French Fries to Freedom Fries is a demonstration of leadership. I would suggest, though, that our problems aren't that much different. In (countryX) there is economic stagnation and a liberal set of social support organizations which the country is finding increasingly difficult to support. They can either reduce the SSOs, address the causes of stagnation, or continue as they have been. The name of the country doesn't matter; the problems do.

We should watch what they do. At worst, it'll provide amusement. At best, we can learn from it.