December 04, 2005
Ignore it and it will disappear
EU Rota brings the news not all are ready to listen to. Just yesterday, I almost fell off my chair when I was told by a French man that the situation in the United States was no better than in France.
Yeah right.
American businesses added 215,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate held steady at 5 percent, the Labor Department reported. That is more than the 150,000 jobs needed to keep pace with population growth. The latest figures, which showed growth in every major sector of the economy, should assuage concerns about the previous two months when there was virtually no growth.Posted by Carine at December 4, 2005 05:18 PM
He maybe wasn't talking about unemployment ?
Posted by: Stéphane at December 5, 2005 12:40 AMM. Stéphane,
Ah, keenly observed, though Carine would be in a position to know.
Perhaps this Frenchman was talking about racism or the warehousing of 8% of the nation in ghettos.
No? What about comparable integration of immigrant communities? Or perhaps the alienation of a whole minority generation? Do you think he was talking about labor unrest? Bigotry? Police brutality? Government corruption? Health care?
Just what items in his calculus did this franchouille think comparable between our nations? As France relies entirely on an American baseline to take her own measure, yours is no trivial question.
Regards,
DGB
Damian :
I do agree with you on these topics, and I'm far to think that everything is good in France (very far). But I still think that there's good things in France that we can't find in the US, and also good things in the US that we can't find in France.
I do see it in England ('cause I'm in England fo the moment) that there are great things in the British society that we don't find in France, and "vice versa"...
Posted by: Stéphane at December 6, 2005 03:20 AMM.Stéphane,
Your response is a fair statement. And though our job is to view France with a critical eye, we do recognize her many charms. Geopolitical Machiavelism, a superregal political class, repressive socialism, recreational labor unrest, and economic Ponzi schemes are not among the charms.
After Britain, pay us a visit here in America, where things are not perfect, but we do not pretend them to be.
Joyeux Noël,
DGB
stephanie,
I give you Chambord, Grand Marnier and Pernod, as far as better things in France. But, until I see a real sea change, I shall do without.
But, in the spirit of the season, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! And, May God Bless US, Everyone!
Posted by: interventor at December 7, 2005 01:31 PMMy name is Stéphane, not Stéphanie... I am a boy... :)
You forgot to mention cheese !! I do really miss my good old cheese here...
Merry Cheesy Christmas !
Posted by: Stéphane at December 8, 2005 03:43 AM"I am a Boy.....:)"
*snicker, snicker*
I guess someone hasn't learned the many negative connotations that can be associated with that phrase....:0
Posted by: Bohemian at December 9, 2005 11:11 PMStephane,
Sorry, I should proof read better. I'll give you the cheeses as well. In fact, the EU is destroying the cheese tradition with their over regulation.
Posted by: interventor at December 10, 2005 02:52 AMStephene,
They have no cheese in England?
My understanding, due to the Wallace & Grommit films, is that England has a plethora of cheese. And not just cheddar. Try something new, eh?
Then report back. You can be our Journalist de Fromage!
Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noel!
(Psst, Damian, let's get Steph one of those cheese girl calendars for Christmas.)
Valerie :
Appart from different kind of cheddar I didn't find other cheese (I will look further), I don't mind because cheddar is quite good, and the problem is that french cheese is expensive.
Posted by: Stéphane at December 15, 2005 02:38 AM
