Shock of shocks, Salon is on the side of protesting youth. After all, they might have to learn an actual skill that was honestly in demand and then, horror, actually perform that skill, tedious though it may be, for years on end. However, the line that got me the most was:
Many French see the manifestations as a key battle to preserve an essential element of their economic culture and a fight for the soul of the European Union, pitting their sacrosanct labor stability against a more ruthless economic Anglo-Saxon model.
Yeah, more than 10% unemployment in general, 23% for the young, a stagnant, possibly shrinking economy, but hey, at least it's not Anglo-Saxon. Yeah, less than 5% general unemployment, a growing economy, these would be bad things. As for "labor stability," am I wrong, or are there major protests by various worker groups in France two or three times a year, ongoing, for the last 30 years or so? That's stability? I guess I'll take our "unstable" system over theirs.
1 comment:
Interesting that they see that stability in a job is the only thing that is important. And that Americans don't understand that. The part they are missing is that it's better to have an economy that supports job evolution and new oppurtunity rather than stagnation.
If a company knew it could hire workers and be rid of those that are lazy or incompetent, they would hire more. That would ensure that they could get value for their investment in the worker. workers don't spontaneously know a job. They need to learn the company methods and how to work in them. The investment in the salary must justify a profit. If the company is forced to keep those that are not profitable, then they are stuck with a losing proposition.
Let's not mention that the students and unions seem to believe that the young workers should get higher salaries irrespective of their value.
Granted and I have both had recent periods of unemployment. We also found work in economies that at their worst haven't reached the stagnation seen in France. We also have experience in benefitting from employers who award those that are the most profitable for them. I don't see there being any incentive for such a system in France. Why pay those of value more when you have to pay the incompetents the same?
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