Froggies getting a dose of reality

[OwlHoot]

When the socialists won the last French election I remember saying (along with lots of others no doubt) they would find out the hard way that a country gets the leaders it deserves. Seems like the truth is dawning on them now.

French and British national moods a world apart

It has not been a great week to be French. Unemployment has just hit three million, growth for next year is estimated at barely above zero, and the popularity of President Hollande has plummeted.

:::

Every week sees a new announcement of large-scale lay-offs. Just this week the last blast-furnace in Lorraine - once the crucible of the French steel industry - has closed.

Taxes are going up, and no matter what the socialist government says, it is not just the rich who will be affected.

:::

Business-creators are furious because the new rules mean that people who build up an enterprise from scratch will lose more than 60% to the government when they try to sell it on. More and more of the brightest and the best are thinking of moving abroad.

:::

As he points out though, we in the UK are little better off really. If there's optimism here then maybe people have their heads in the clouds.

[centurian]

Not just the socialists there, but also those over here, who gleefully claimed that the election of Hollande amounted to a cancellation of austerity.

Did it tulip. Firstly, he only proposed slightly less austerity over a slightly longer period. But now they are finding out that the much cherished 75% tax band claimed to pay for it - barely raises anything - and that assumes that they all stump up the cash and don't up sticks.

There also seems to be an assumption that just because austerity isn't working - that non-austerity, must therefore, automatically work.

[cojak]

As he points out though, we in the UK are little better off really. If there's optimism here then maybe people have their heads in the clouds.

I just think that everyone's got peed off with being miserable and doubly peed off with the general crappiness of it all at the moment. And trebly peed off at the hand-wringing and wailing of those telling us we should be miserable about it all.

Well sod em all. It doesn't cost anything to smile and there's Halloween and Bonfire Night and Christmas to look forward to.

And of course there's the general satisfaction of not being French...

[mudskipper]

CUK Christmas Parteee?

[Doggy Styles]

When the socialists won the last French election I remember saying (along with lots of others no doubt) they would find out the hard way that a country gets the leaders it deserves. Seems like the truth is dawning on them now.

French and British national moods a world apart

As he points out though, we in the UK are little better off really. If there's optimism here then maybe people have their heads in the clouds.

Feck the French. Every new generation has to learn all over again what it means to elect socialists.

I'm optimistic about the UK, without my head in the clouds.

[nomadd]

Feck the French. Every new generation has to learn all over again what it means to elect socialists.

I'm optimistic about the UK, without my head in the clouds.

+1

What the fook did the French expect? You refuse to speak English, you're finished.*

* Except if you are a Bob.

[sasguru]

.

I'm optimistic about the UK, without my head in the clouds.

+1. Things ain't as bad as they seem. And I think there's a glimmer of common sense in some government circles.

[Robinho]

Shock horror Socialism doesn't work.

[escapeUK]

Shock horror Socialism doesn't work.

With all our parties being socialist what are we supposed to do.

[doomage]

As he points out though, we in the UK are little better off really. If there's optimism here then maybe people have their heads in the clouds.

It doesn't cost anything to smile and there's Halloween and Bonfire Night and Christmas to look forward to.

And of course there's the general satisfaction of not being French...

CUK Christmas Parteee?

Feck the French. Every new generation has to learn all over again what it means to elect socialists.

I'm optimistic about the UK, without my head in the clouds.

+1. Things ain't as bad as they seem. And I think there's a glimmer of common sense in some government circles.

What a nice positive thread. In CUK general of all places!

I've heard it said, false hope is better than no hope at all. At any rate, sun is shining today, it's all good.