Ontopic What would Americans think of the French Strike?

And you sir are an idiot. Unless you're tricked into working double the hours that I do (37.5/week) and are bitter because of it. What do you get for your 70 hour work week except an early grave?

Actually same life expectancy, and more productivity.
 
How is the pension thing there? We get barely fuck all on the state pension.

Also I've heard that the current cuts etc. by the government are loosely based on the political decisions Canada made in the early 90's which paid off really well. What's your opinion on us doing the same severe things?

our state pension is gonna suck very soon as our aging society retires, but I have a private pension plan as a government worker.
 
But if people didn't like the idea they could have gone on the street. Why accept that it goes up to 70? Why not put your foot down and say 'this isn't good enough for me, I want better so you can find another way to work it out kthx'.

You make out like sitting in cafes smoking cigars and drinking wine is a horrible way to live.

I did put my foot down. I voted for someone else in office. If there were more jobs, I would switch to a different company. As it is now, I am thankful I have work and will work as long and hard as my paycheck signers ask of me.
 
What I never got - they must have known with birth rates going up that this would happen in 60 years time etc. - why did nobody do anything about it? :confused:

Because the entire workforce of the country goes on strike when they do something about it.

See the OP for proof.
 
I'm pretty sure we have higher life expectancies. I could be wrong though if the data has recently changed.

All first world nations have average life expectancies within a couple years of each other, all within the margin of error and all easily accounted for by other factors long before work related stress can be taken into account.
 
We are having the same issues here in the states with SS. People are fighting tooth and nail to keep it but it was never supposed to be a retirement plan for people, certainly when it started in the 40's with a withdrawl age far older than the average life span. Now people are using it like a retirement plan, of course people are going to be upset when others say they can't have it. It's like an Indian giver, giving something to someone to then immediately take it back. The French, and most of Europe, have very light work loads and better benefits and asking someone to give parts of that up will be met with resistance. The fact the French are resisting as much as they are for as petty an increase as they have is about the most pathetic thing I have seen of that nation.
 
Because the entire workforce of the country goes on strike when they do something about it.

See the OP for proof.

It's not that the French never want things to change in a beneficial manner - when they strike it's that they expect their elected and publically paid politicians to come up with alternatives means to meet their ends. Far too many people forget that government is supposed to be working FOR the people.
 
We are having the same issues here in the states with SS. People are fighting tooth and nail to keep it but it was never supposed to be a retirement plan for people, certainly when it started in the 40's with a withdrawl age far older than the average life span. Now people are using it like a retirement plan, of course people are going to be upset when others say they can't have it. It's like an Indian giver, giving something to someone to then immediately take it back. The French, and most of Europe, have very light work loads and better benefits and asking someone to give parts of that up will be met with resistance. The fact the French are resisting as much as they are for as petty an increase as they have is about the most pathetic thing I have seen of that nation.

You call it petty but in many situations if you give a little they will take with the other hand. If you let them think they can take away this then what will they try and take next?
 
You call it petty but in many situations if you give a little they will take with the other hand. If you let them think they can take away this then what will they try and take next?

Only 6 bottles of wine to consume a day limitation. The horror.