Reading your synopsis on the difficulties facing President Sarkozy presents some deja-vu for me (I lived/worked/thrived through the Thatcher years). The problems facing France are certainly serious and challenging. A 'yes-man' (or yes-woman) is not what working people in France need or want. Perhaps the problem lies in M.Sarkozy having adopted too much of Blair's persona and methods. If a patient is in need of life-threatening surgery the surgeon will best reasure the patient if he/she is calm, professional, experienced and above all has a track record of success. It is not a huge demand to ask some workers to work 41 instead of 40 years. Most of us in/from UK have worked 50+. It is also not a huge demand to ask for 2-3 days notice of planned strikes. So the quid-pro-quo here is perhaps that both sides need to examine their conscience and desires. Then acknowledge that something urgently needs to be done which may, at first, have a bad taste but which, on reflection, is good for the country as a whole. Reason, balance and good sense must prevail, not confrontation. I read someone said last month something like: "If Sarkozy thinks he can mimic Thatcher here in France then we will destroy him". He should examine more closely what Mrs Thatcher achieved. Love or hate her manner, way of speaking or voice, it is impossible to take away her accomplishments. Blair inherited the result and has (with Mr Brown's help) squandered it. Blair is thus no example to follow. Think on this: In UK there are over 1200 'quangos' (Quasi Non-Government organisations). Their annual cost is over £100 billion! In other words these unelected public-sector groups have probably spent over a £trillion since 1997. And Mr Brown calls that prudent fiscal management!
France in general and Mr Sarkozy in particular can take what was the best of Thatcherism - but give it another name! Then present it carefully and sincerely. There is a way - there has to be - but it will take all the statesmanlike skills of President Sarkozy to pull it off. If he fails then France can drift back to good old dead-head socialism and watch whilst the rest of the world powers ahead. Not a good or pleasant prospect. We all thought Blair had truly discovered the middle way. How wrong we were!
Comments (1)
Thatcher? M.Sarkozy is no Thatcher!!
Reading your synopsis on the difficulties facing President Sarkozy presents some deja-vu for me (I lived/worked/thrived through the Thatcher years). The problems facing France are certainly serious and challenging. A 'yes-man' (or yes-woman) is not what working people in France need or want. Perhaps the problem lies in M.Sarkozy having adopted too much of Blair's persona and methods. If a patient is in need of life-threatening surgery the surgeon will best reasure the patient if he/she is calm, professional, experienced and above all has a track record of success. It is not a huge demand to ask some workers to work 41 instead of 40 years. Most of us in/from UK have worked 50+. It is also not a huge demand to ask for 2-3 days notice of planned strikes. So the quid-pro-quo here is perhaps that both sides need to examine their conscience and desires. Then acknowledge that something urgently needs to be done which may, at first, have a bad taste but which, on reflection, is good for the country as a whole. Reason, balance and good sense must prevail, not confrontation. I read someone said last month something like: "If Sarkozy thinks he can mimic Thatcher here in France then we will destroy him". He should examine more closely what Mrs Thatcher achieved. Love or hate her manner, way of speaking or voice, it is impossible to take away her accomplishments. Blair inherited the result and has (with Mr Brown's help) squandered it. Blair is thus no example to follow. Think on this: In UK there are over 1200 'quangos' (Quasi Non-Government organisations). Their annual cost is over £100 billion! In other words these unelected public-sector groups have probably spent over a £trillion since 1997. And Mr Brown calls that prudent fiscal management!
France in general and Mr Sarkozy in particular can take what was the best of Thatcherism - but give it another name! Then present it carefully and sincerely. There is a way - there has to be - but it will take all the statesmanlike skills of President Sarkozy to pull it off. If he fails then France can drift back to good old dead-head socialism and watch whilst the rest of the world powers ahead. Not a good or pleasant prospect. We all thought Blair had truly discovered the middle way. How wrong we were!