When Sarah Palin is President, we won’t have protests like that—she’ll send out her stormtroopers to shoot’em down, and tell us she’s “protecting freedom”.

Well, America, you are not only ignorant of what contributes to your well being; you’re also too lazy to do anything about it other than elect people who you believe to be as “smart” as you are! The jokes on you! Don’t think for a minute that Palin, et al gives a rat’s behind what happens to your bigoted, greedy selves! They’re out to get what everyone from St. Ronnie on haven’t managed to steal yet.

@Jim Yell

You may be confusing neoliberal economic policy with “liberal” politics.
Neoliberalism is widely considered to have replaced Keynesian economics as
the policy of choice in many western nations. It is characterized by a belief in
the efficiency of markets to correct themselves (rather than gov’t regulation),
privatization of publicly owned resources, and the expansion of “borderless”
trade, or what is often called globalization.

It’s this last item that has caused much of the problem in France. Once trade
barriers are lifted, as they were in France when they joined the European Union,
the market will immediately chase the lowest wages for labor and the highest
prices for goods. This leads to a short term economic boom—that’s the
moment neolibs always raise their arms in victory.

Unfortunately, the boom is usually followed by a slow motion bust for the more
economically advanced countries, because eventually the market will level off at
the lowest labor wage and the lowest price for goods. Under pressure of
competing with countries like Poland, where manufacturers pay little to no
social fees for labor, France is faced with the possibility of losing its
manufacturing base. To forestall this, neolibs like Sarko are demanding that
French workers give up their hard earned benefits in order to be competitive
with countries that are not much better in their treatment of workers than
England was during the industrial revolution.

The overall result of neoliberalism is great for multinational corporations, who
get to choose the cheapest places to make their goods (China. India), yet can
bring those goods back to higher valued markets to sell without the hindrance
of tariffs. The loser in neoliberalism is the labor force in the higher market, like
France or the United States. They must accept the new lower standards, or face
the hollowing out of the manufacturing base. A multinational corporation needs
a middle class to purchase its goods. But it doesn’t care which middle class it
is. It’s a win-win if you’re a multinational corporation—or getting your re-
election campaign financed by one.

Chicago in London and now Chicago in Paris,I believe the crux of the article is ‘la jeunesse dans les rues’ which can be interpreted as :The youth is not being sufficiently brainwashed by the MSM and the
corporate swindlers ,therefore the threat to the Neocrooks must be reassessed in order to maintain their hegemony and pass through the planned reforms.

Sarko un veritable marionette

All Americans have to do to effect change is—-NOTHING.  A general strike!!  Stay home!!

But our “ruggedly individualistic” populace, rugged milquetoasts, really, would rather French kiss the asses of their bosses to keep their rightfully earned wage slavery than rock any boat.

rico, suave

I think for a while there, they also had 30 hr work weeks.

the GOVERNMENT gave, and the GOVERNMENT hath taken away; blessed be the name of the GOVERNMENT.

Americans have too much fear mixed with apathy to protest anymore. Millions are
still stunned by the broken promises made by Obama. Constant pointless wars
have also created a morbid guilt complex that has affected almost all common
Americans. Mission accomplished by the corporate monsters. Obama’s declaration
that “no one is above the law” is a complete lie. This man will now be a total lame
duck. Goodbye Social Security after the election.

I’d be protesting too if I were French. Can you image having to work until you were 60, and with only five weeks’ paid vacation a year!! What an outrage!

Interesting that there are no evidences of cops tasering people, no clouds of teargas, no horses, dogs or “sound blasters”.  Looks like the French government is not afraid of differences of opinions and might even be paying some attention to the opposition. What is it there that isn’t here?  Joie de vivre?  Esprit de corps? Liberte? Egalite? Un soupson de common sense, perhaps?
  How come Americans take themselves so gawdawful seriously?

1789, 1848, 1871, 1968…once again the French people show the world that it takes ACTION to confront thugs like Sarko and his oligarch buddies. As for kerryrose’s comment, it’s sad but here in America we have little historical memory and everyone is brainwahed and raised into worshipping men in suits with deep pockets, we have a decaying culture where oligarchs are to be admired, not questioned.

Why don’t Americans protest when we get screwed?  Why are we so complacent?

I think the the majority of us have…’?’ (what is that syndrome called when someone who is kidnapped identifies with the kidnapper?)