Ive just read an article in The Telegraph regarding President Hollande and the double dip recession that has hit France. What do you think about President Hollande? what needs to be done to lift France out of its financial doldrums?
Well, better no revolution, the first was bloody enough and it government didn't managed in the two years of it rein to draft any constitution. And not again Charlemagne and all this Karolinger mess. ;-), it was also gruesomely funny episode.
I can see you and the poo are going to be regulars! love it Brian. But you are right...I don't know what it will take to get France to the next level. But tax paying by its citizens...at least more than pay taxes now would be a start. Understanding that those who do pay taxes get pretty damn peed off when others avoid, making our taxes all the higher. Then for the government, understanding that being in power is an honour, and to do right by the citizens of that country is a requirement of the job...not an opportunity to screw around with expenses (something that the UK is still coming to terms with). Customer services, business competence, Oh...just too much to even think about...you are right Brian...it will take generations to get it right...I will now go and pour some wine...and cogitate!
They need to change the political culture entirely. That takes a number of generations or a revolution/war. It would appear the French have failed the test several times, let's award them a 
But this has been my complaint since arriving in France. France and Germany set so many of the rules yet ignore most of them. Apparently the French government was aghast that British MPs will be having their expenses made public knowledge and stated this would never happen in France....why? no...let me guess!
Business acumen is not alive and well and living in France. Why are there not more MPs with business knowledge, cutting edge people who have run businesses and know how to do it...following from another thread...someone high up in Leroy Merlin...a most un French company that not only uses the internet, every day, but cares mainly about customer satisfaction...now there's a first!
Problem is the lack of alternatives who have the future in mind. Le Pen wants a France that finished the day the first world war started, but then who is better?
They are an upwardly moving economy. The human rights abuses and so forth don't count. Back to gazing into the porcelain whilst I empty my stomach!
Celeste....apparently Angela Merkel wants to help the UK renogotiate their terms in Europe....she believes that the UK has a good case. That speaks volumes. Turkey, well....what can I say...they have a huge problem in terms of the disappeared...its never been explained properly, how could they be invited into Europe? I thought we were supposed to be a group of countries of a like mind, Im sorry...that is mad in terms of Turkey.....we are talking about a country that still thinks its ok to excuse members of their society that just happened to drop off the globe because of their political opinions. They have huge numbers of distraught parents wanting to know what happened to their famileis...how Europe could even consider them entering the Eurozone at this stage is beyond reason.
Interesting in its contrariness. France wants Europe pulled out of lethargy! Has he not noticed that his own country is grinding to a halt and many of the things that need shaking up to pull France into the 21st century are backsliding toward the 19th rather than even 20th century. To begin with, the entire French cabinet is nepotistic and not setting an example of any kind to a nation in which cronyism rules supreme in many spheres of life. Then there is the issue of the tax regime, which if the Eurozone is to see banking and fiscal union must be relaxed here. If anything, it is driving progress away instead of attracting it into the heart of France. The ridiculous notion of taxing internet and the rest of the electronic sector in order to raise revenue to stimulate creativity is absurd. There they would be taxing the very people they wish to stimulate if they are to be part of a world community. France is going to bankrupt itself and sit there teary eyed wondering how?
I read a wide variety of news and electronic newspapers. If we only read the papers or listen to the news stations that we have a political connection with, we will never know what the other side is thinking and saying. Fox isnt accurate with many of the things going on in the US and as you say, they take a particular stance, but on Europe their take on news is more even. Its interesting to compare.
Interesting programme on Murdock the other night.
My comments were regarding the situation of countries in Europe and how their finances have been compromised, regardless of why that happened. Germany, Holland, the UK, France, we are all affected, whether that is the knock on effect of sub prime mortgages across the pond or mismanagement of banks. The point is, what would our individual situtations be if we were not part of Europe...not something anyone can answer, but I personally believe this is not turning out to be the umbrella we were all hoping for, safe and snug in Europe, quite the opposite.
I would suggest your comments are personal and rude; you choose to pounce on my comments on a regular basis. You dont like my holiday destination, you object to my use of full stops, you make a point of assuming things about me (for the record I read most newspapers on line) but buy the Mirror. The reality of my last comment was that Teresa May wanted to remove Qatada and was only prevented because leaving the ECHR would mean the UK having to leave Europe. But please dont feel the need to ask questions, just go with your assumptions that you know me despite the fact we have never met. I will 'robustly' suggest you find someone else to irritate.
Deutsche Welle, only reporting the DB story. Of course, because it is a German story. Start looking at banks generally and wonder why anybody trusts them. Then we often remember that we depend on them one way or another...Which they encourage, of course. Morality and money have never been bedfellows.
Robust Carol not rude.
David, why are you so rude?
David, also hyped up by politicians who do know the difference but keep the public ignorant and Paul Dacre who has some irrational hatred of the ECHR.
Alas Carol like so many of the readers of the Daily telegraph and the Daily Mail you confuse the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice. The first is the court at which Abdul Quatada has a case and has nothing to do with the institution known as the European Union. The European Court of Human Rights is an international or supra national court based on the European Convention on Human Rights. The European Court of Justice is the Suprme Court Of the European Union. Two separate legal entities which those opposed to the EU choose to confuse.
Jane you have a quite realistic view on it. Yes he hasn't opened the Pandoras-box yet. Well, he went to Mali and started a war without having the support and supply capabilities in place causing a lot of trouble in Germany because of asking for participation, Then Fabius want to help the very same whabbi sponsored Salafists in Syria the armé de terré is fighting in Astan unsuccessfully for over 12 years, still, Hollande limits himself to vague measures.
A year ago I thourght the issue of Britain’s relationship with the European Union, especially if that relationship changes through a renegotiation or through Britain leaving, is calling the whole EU project into question. Now with this turmoil about a referendum before 2017 all is boiling down to a point where Merkel can come to terms with Britain. Like they did in monitoring the biggest excesses of banksters. Germans don't like to postpone such decisive issues into the next governmental round because it is leaving far too much space to maneuver for over 4 years to exactly this sort of "cherry-picking" in a stealth mode which allegedly the EU is trying to avoid.
Cards have to be on the table. Right now, I'm afraid, the “Out” camp would easily sail to victory in France, UK, Germany and many other net paying member-states. Ironically people would not really suffer, rather the opposite, it would be more democratically if self-determination is being returned to the respective national governments. Businesses would suffer for a while, but better a tough end than terror without end.
It really is only common sense Carol, but die-hard expectations for hand-outs from cradle to grave will get us nowhere.
Fortunately for us, both our daughters have married enterprising and hard-working husbands, one English and the other Austrian.
Agree, agree, agree Jane. I think you have summed up the situation very neatly. There are people in all countries that seem to think that money grows on trees. I had a surreal argument recently with a relative, a strong unionist, who seemed to think the government have a bank full of their money...not ours....that they dont want to spend on the working man. That together with friends who wink every time they talk about taxes...ie. they dont pay them...I could explode sometimes. I really do get pe*d off paying all my taxes and knowing so many around me think they are clever avoiding taxes...but they still expect their kids to be educated free and their doctor and hospital to treat them. I think teaching politics and economics from the start may help future generations avoid this confusion.
There is a lot of growing up to do that Europe hasnt even started to acknowledge yet. I feel for the younger generations who are going to have to clear up our mess.