| Submit your comments on this article |
| Europe |
| France May Scrap Holiday to Finance Care |
| 2003-08-27 |
| France’s government is considering whether to scrap a national holiday and use workers’ 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! I’ll make popcorn. France’s center-right government, assailed by criticism that it reacted too slowly to this month’s 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. "There’s no question of touching holidays!" he said. "There’s no question of erasing May 8 and the memory of victory over Nazi barbarity and fascism!" "It’s the last memory of victory we have." |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #11 Doesn't it also strike anyone as interesting that France is so strapped for cash that they have to do this at all? Obviously, the French have a very weak work ethic, but it's also obvious now how the lack of productivity and business development is destroying their economy. Consider this too: when a company is failing they ask people to work fewer hours because they can't afford to pay them. When a country is failing they ask to people to work MORE hours so they can get more taxes... |
| Posted by: R. McLeod 2003-8-28 3:25:19 AM |
| #10 Ummm...France lost the Franco-Prussian War, Charles. I don't think Phrwance has actually won a major military action since Napoleon retreated from Russia. |
| Posted by: Watcher 2003-8-27 9:03:14 PM |
| #9 The Franco-Prussian War??? Check your history books, please. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-8-27 8:45:52 PM |
| #8 After reading this article it is my opinion that France is dead, but it won't lie down. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-8-27 3:40:41 PM |
| #7 "It’s the last memory of victory we have." The last victory they had was in the Franco-Prussian war. We won the rest FOR them. |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-8-27 2:45:49 PM |
| #6 "The idea - radical in a country where leisure time is sacrosanct - provoked an immediate clash of opinions . . . whereupon both sides immediately threw up their hands in surrender." |
| Posted by: Tibor 2003-8-27 2:42:24 PM |
| #5 "Secretary of State for Handicapped People"? Lehrer was right. Satire is dead. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2003-8-27 2:33:08 PM |
| #4 I've heard it said that the Tour de France cost 2% of the GNP |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-8-27 2:20:16 PM |
| #3 Today on Moaning Edition (tm) there was a report about how all Frogs get five weeks' vacation, and that the government has been paying up to about $1,000 per person who's too poor to afford travelling. Paid vacations, from the government. What a country, huh? |
| Posted by: growler 2003-8-27 2:17:24 PM |
| #2 Cancel Bastille day. France died long ago. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-8-27 1:17:14 PM |
| #1 Why not just outsource care of the elderly to the madrassah's? |
| Posted by: mjh 2003-8-27 1:15:04 PM |