When most people think of the country of France, they might think of Paris or romance or food. However, when it comes to the people of France, all I can think of is a bunch of wine-sucking, chain-smoking, work-strikers.
Case in point this week: Many French citizens have been protesting for days against the proposed increase of their retirement age from 60 to 62, leading to riots, school closings, and the shutdown of a major airport.
That's tremendous, France. You're already part of a socialistic Euro culture with a poor work ethic. Might as well take a few more days off to protest this very small change that will save your society from itself.
I especially get a kick out of how stdents are so involved in these rallies. They say it's because this later retirement age will keep people in the workforce longer, meaning the younger generation will be less likely to find jobs. Of course, this makes no sense, because the lower retirement age also means the student will ultimately pay higher taxes on the wages from those jobs, to allow the goverment to subsidize the above-60 crowd. (I think the real reason the students are rallying is because they don't want to work anyway, and by getting behind this protest, at least they can miss class for several days. More time to drink wine and chain smoke.)
Like most protests in France, I suspect this one is nothing to worry about. Both sides will surrender soon - it's another part of their culture.
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