&host=rt.com&uri=/usa/news/usa-protest-france-economy/&via=(none)&ua=CCBot/1.0 (+http://www.commoncrawl.org/bot.html))
American protests lack French passion
Published: 22 October, 2010, 01:11
Edited: 28 October, 2010, 03:23
TAGS: Crisis, Protest, Politics, Europe, USA, Economy
Europeans take to the streets demanding government action to fix the struggling economy. Americans casually wait and watch as the recession continues.
In France thousands continue to strike, block airports, turn to violence and interrupt businesses calling on the government to stop making cuts and solve a number of economic issues. Their American counterparts are much more passive.
“It’s sort of a tradition. It’s like wine and cheese, and now we can say that strikes define France,” said Philip de Leon, President, Trade Connections International, LLC. “In the end I’m not sure all the French are in favor of this, because it’s very disrupting, it doesn’t give a good image of the country.”
He explained that the protests have intensified because the government has gotten closer to passing cuts.
The contrast between the US and France are quite large.
“The French have a sense of entitlement and a strong belief in the welfare state,” said Leon. “In the US you are on your own; you swim or you drown, so it’s a very different approach. The French really believe in the system that it’s there to protect them.”
Also unlike the US, unions in France are far stronger. French unions are able to quickly disrupt the system and mobilize members, especially the transit unions.
Leon explained that it is much easier to get arrested at demonstrations in the US. French police offer more leniency and tolerance to avoid further outbreaks.
“What the French are doing is excessive and unreasonable,” said Leon. “The pension reform has to pass. Everybody knows that, it’s just the implementation that is very difficult. So what can we learn? I think there is nothing we can learn or we can watch and think, this is crazy, and we should try to avoid getting to this point.”
21.10.2010, 18:00
4 comments
America’s “spoiled child” holds the key to Middle East peaceDespite reassuring words out of Washington that a two-state peace deal is possible for the Israelis and Palestinians, the facts on the ground tell a very different story. |
22.10.2010, 01:17
6 comments
Chinese economic model replacing Washington consensusChina’s rate of development on a global scale is moving faster and more consistently the other nations. Should the world take note of the Chinese economic system? |
So USA Citizens, you help bring down the Communism You fought against the communism. Now the USA rich society no longer need the masses: that’s YOU. The machines and computers have replaced the need of most working class, including the army. The rest of the products are made in Asia, China in particular. A service industry will not help. Not many of you want to protest because you helped bring the communism down. Now who was at fault? The rich are having a great time. The USA Police force has increased to the max to control the potential masses/protestors. All you can do is to die in pace; revolting is out of question.