France's Election is Today

ConstantineX · #1 04-22-2007, 07:06 AM

Bizarre French Electorate

The choice is essentially between socialist Segolene Royal and more conservative Nicolas Sarkozy. There are other candidates who might make it into the runoff if they are lucky; it depends on the coalitions voters choose to take - these include the centrist Bayrou and the international embarassment to the French, Jean-Marie Le Pen, known more for his rightist views on French immigration than economic reform.

ConstantineX · #2 04-22-2007, 07:32 AM

The primary issue in this election is economic malaise. It has defined the candidates and the election - the French economy's annual growth rate is lowest amongst the OECD nations at 2%, and the youth unemployment rate of 25% exarcebates the pressure from immigrants in its banlieues, or urban slums.

This article to me clearly highlights the failures of the concept of "enlightened" democracy and the bizarre reasoning of the French electorate. Many of the French believe that the government is some sort of bottomless trough; they believe France's public-sector failures and its decreased global stature are more criticisms of "inefficiency" in government spending rather than structural problems - indeed, the French want the government to spend MORE, addicted as they are to their 35 hour work weeks and long vacations. According to this article,
there's a French word for the belief, debloquer, the belief that the state "does not make Paul worse off by giving it to Peter" - instead, they "unblock" the pent up money somehow.

There doesn't seem to be any tangible hope of relief in sight; just last year, French protestors took to the streets burning cars in protest of a new law that allowed just temporary, short term workers to be fired more easily. With regards to France's declining competency in the sciences, Mme. Royal in the recent publication of Nature believes that the system can be targed with "more support" with "rational, optimal use of resources". Hmm. On the other hand, Nicolas Sarkozy, while admitting the need for more labour flexbility, has promised French farmers higher tariffs and believes that while more general adoption of free-market principles must be encouraged, it must be "regulated" and "controlled". Indeed, he espouses "family capitalism" - whatever that is.

I wonder what it's like to be living as a student in France - reading about a once great power becoming more marginalized culturally, through immigration, and economically, through its failure to reinvent itself. It's tragic to me, having loved reading stories of Napoleon and Louis XIV as a kid. It has also really awakened me to the strength the US posseses in its heterogenous nature - the French believe somehow France is an exception, special, and they accept bad economic policies in the name of class solidarity in the language of the revolutionary principles that has made the nation famous. While Paris' lights and Bourdeaux's wines will always be famous, if Sarkozy (and real reform) doesn't win the day, France will likely be a a very different place in the future.

hmkpoker · #3 04-22-2007, 07:44 AM

I'm rooting for Royal. I want that country to plunge head-first into the crapper as soon as possible, and I would love for a woman to help them do it. Especially before our presidential election.

HeavilyArmed · #4 04-22-2007, 10:18 AM

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I'm rooting for Royal. I want that country to plunge head-first into the crapper as soon as possible, and I would love for a woman to help them do it. Especially before our presidential election.

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Can this happen?

Something to root for as I continue to live a nearly 100% french-free life.

Arnfinn Madsen · #5 04-22-2007, 10:24 AM

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Something to root for as I continue to live a nearly 100% french-free life.

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Even if it can be bad to live there in many regards, it is still a wonderful country to visit and they make great food and great wine, so french-free life sounds like a beat.

Iplayboard · #6 04-22-2007, 04:21 PM

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Something to root for as I continue to live a nearly 100% french-free life.

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Bill O'Reilly would be proud.

Both my roommate and girlfriend are French. I don't understand why so many people in the United States are anti-France. It's a beautiful country with a rich history. Even if its politics are a mess.

In case anyone is interested, here is a good summary of the issues.

Last but not least, I'd definitely hit the socialist candidate Royal. She'd look like a Victoria's Secret model standing next to Hilary.

ConstantineX · #7 04-22-2007, 04:23 PM

Most definitely. It's a shame she's a socialist, but maybe we'd have awesome angry sex.

Metric · #8 04-22-2007, 11:16 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I'm rooting for Royal. I want that country to plunge head-first into the crapper as soon as possible, and I would love for a woman to help them do it. Especially before our presidential election.

[/ QUOTE ]
I am with you -- hope Royal wins. The "conservative" candidate won't be able to make any real changes -- he'll merely slow the inevitable. France needs to become a serious object lesson for the world's economies -- the sooner and the more dramatic the better. Get the pain over with ASAP and get a new generation of people who have a different take on government and socialism.

canis582 · #9 04-22-2007, 11:23 AM

Given the recent trend in Europe, Royal will win.

Most recently, neocons(presidents who take their orders from Bushco) have been routed from power in Italy and Spain. I expect this trend to continue despite tremdous pressure on France's citizenry from the corporate French media to vote against their own interests.

Felix_Nietzsche · #10 04-22-2007, 12:20 PM

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I am with you -- hope Royal wins. The "conservative" candidate won't be able to make any real changes -- he'll merely slow the inevitable. France needs to become a serious object lesson for the world's economies -- the sooner and the more dramatic the better. Get the pain over with ASAP and get a new generation of people who have a different take on government and socialism.

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I agree. I call this the "Jimmy Carter Effect".
Elect a moron that throws your country into the toilet so that the people get pissed enough to elect a 'radical' conservative. A typical French 'conservative' makes John Kerry look like Milton Friedman. Better to let the French socialist tank France so that the French people will wake up... Then perhaps the French can elect a French version of Ronald Reagan.

France needs to hit bottom before they cure themselves...