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France May Scrap Holiday to Finance Care
Franceâs government is considering whether to scrap a national holiday and use workersâ taxes from that day to finance better care for the elderly - the main victims of a heat wave estimated to have killed thousands. The idea - radical in a country where leisure time is sacrosanct - provoked an immediate clash of opinions. Oh, goody, a french clash! Iâll make popcorn. Franceâs center-right government, assailed by criticism that it reacted too slowly to this monthâs deadly heat wave, is scrambling for solutions to improve care for the elderly and patch up flaws in a health system that struggled with a deluge of heat-stricken victims. Funny, I thought that the European health care system was the envy of the world? Under the scheme, taxes gathered from an extra work day each year would finance improved care for the elderly. Kind of like how the cigarette tax was supposed to only be used to take care those people who got sick smoking. But choosing which holiday is not an easy task. Transport Secretary Dominique Bussereau said he opposed abolishing May 8, the end of World War II in Europe, or Armistice Day on Nov. 11, when fighting stopped in World War I, or Christmas. "Definitely not May 8, because it left quite a few memories; not December 25 because I want Christmas presents," he said. Secretary of State for Handicapped People Marie-Therese Boisseau, suggested that a religious holiday in May should go, but that could raise opposition from churches. Scrapping a national holiday would likely go against the grain of many in France. And the idea of eliminating any day off touches a nerve. Labor laws passed by the previous Socialist government restricted the working week for many to 35 hours. Which is why France is sooo productive. Alain Bocquet, head of the Communist group at the French parliament was up in arms. "Thereâs no question of touching holidays!" he said. "Thereâs no question of erasing May 8 and the memory of victory over Nazi barbarity and fascism!" "Itâs the last memory of victory we have." Posted by: Steve 2003-08-27 |
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