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Historically, ideologically France and the US are like brothers, maybe with a different mother, in any case rivals but underlying that rivalry is long-term cooperation. Because controversy sells, the press likes to emphasize the rivalry and tends to remain silent about the underlying cooperation. Chances are that democratic ideology around the world - for better and for worse - would not have survived the embryonic stage and would be in mortal danger even today if it were not for the United States and France.
The new president seems competent. It remains to be seen whether he can implement reforms that would make French enterprises - both government and private sector - more competitive in the global economy and that would create conditions for the growth of medium-sized and start-up companies. Where is the European Bill Gates, for example? How can one develop if high taxation kills off new potential enterprises at birth?
Anyway, most likely, like his predecessors, despite any claims and rhetoric, he will steer a middle course in the hopes of political survival among a population that really does not want change.
And who can blame them? For those who already "have", the quality of life is good, and in Europe probably best in France, so why change? But sometimes the environment forces change, and this is the dilemma that Europe has been grappling with over the past fifteen years or so, with varying degrees of success, though certainly less volatile than the US, reflecting the differences between the two systems.
I could swear I saw a thread on this already somewhere else here.
Most people I know speak very highly of France. I think you'd find that many Americans are intelligent enough to separate the actions of the French government from the French people. Just as I think most French people are intelligent enough to separate the actions of the US government from the American people.
I think you will always get some people who've never left their hometown in the Midwest and hold various grudges against France and the French people. But those people are typically xenophobic, if it's not the French they distrust then it's someone else, and are really best ignored. In my experience, this is the same in any country.
Mr. Sarkozy seems to be extremely active and much more involved in French policies than Chirac was. Personally I liked how he spearheaded getting those nurses out of Libya before they were all killed. I am not particularly fond of the hard-line towards Iran, but mostly because I am worried that Bush & Co. are pushing a little too hard in order to try and put a positive spin on his legacy before he leaves office. IMHO, I'd like to see diplomacy and engagement with Iran have a little bit more time to work. Blair just left 10 Downing, the last thing the world needs is another Bush enabler.
I am curious though to see how Sarkozy can reform and reinvigorate the French economy over the next couple of years. Also interesting will be to see the state of French banlieues over time, as most of the opposition to Sarkozy can from those areas. Will they get better? Or worse?
Chirac had lots of ideas but then folded like a house of cards every time someone took to the streets in protest. I suspect Sarkozy is tougher. We'll see.
I've visited France only once but I had a nice time while there. My wife and I are more of "food tourist" types and so eating real French cuisine was a dream come true.
I would like to know Americans opinion about the France??
And me I you will say of what we think of you!
It's just by curiosity!
++!
p.s: I would like to know...: You think what of our new President?
I've visited France many times and I have always enjoyed France and the French.
I've never had any problems with the French at all; I do speak French however.
I think Sarkozy is what France needs after decades of entrenched socialism that has led to high unemployment rates and growing youth disaffection. I have faith that the French can sort themselves out, though; they always do.
Cool! if you speak French, you will be able to make my traducteur!lol... you employ times of the words that I seized not too much....
For the cities... It's as everywhere... what generates violence it's the education lack, instruction lack... they were contained in a worship of violence...
"A population that really does not want change.", by bale002
"...and in Europe probably best in France, so why change?", by bale 002
I disagree with you, why ?...
Ok, in France there is a very good standard of living, we have the chance to have a very good system of health etc...
But, there is much inequality between the various social classes!,(as everywhere...)
The people who have large wages have more privileges than the people who don't have much of wages in France...the life increases but not the wages, therefore the capacity to buy decreases...
My understanding is that the French health system is already the best in the world, and life expectancy is the highest, maybe equaled only by Japan (though the US is only fractionally behind).
True, the disparity (inequality) of incomes has been increasing in the countries of early industrialization since the latest round of globalization (i.e. since the 1990s), but, still, historically not only are income gaps the smallest in most European countries (one measure of this is the "Gini coefficient"), you have the social safety nets to protect those with middle and low incomes (unlike the US where 46 million middle income people - that's around three-quarters the population of France - have NO health insurance).
What kind of change do you want?
You want less disparity of income? How do you achieve that? Through government transfers or through more competition?
A system dominated by government transfers usually winds up in stifling income growth, so relatively less to be distributed over time.
If Pres. Sarkozy introduces competition-inducing reforms and lowers taxes, then those income gaps that do exist may only increase.
It seems to me that the majority of the French want to preserve the social safety net - of course it's not perfect, but much better than in most countries - and not introduce more competition into the economy.
Is this a wrong assumption?
At any rate, these are difficult questions and I have the impression that the people themselves are confused as to exactly what they want and how to realistically go about achieving it.
How do the politicians resolve these dilemmas? What realistic changes are the people willing to accept?
we see America as a country which preaches the puritanism, very believing...especially in the south of the United States... I suppose that had changed since time.
There are things which make me smile once (and it was the last!lol) I had looked at "7 to the house ", a girl had done something of evil and like she listened to marilyn manson, one said that fault to M.M if the girl had done that!!lol
It's a remark which shocked me...! It's to decrease by the million people who listens to this music, and it's also a way of preaching the belief...? not?It's a series or all the family is honest, goes to the mess every Sunday, I think that the realizer wanted to make an idealistic series of what should be Americ... you are ok or not?? reality this not that..
To conclude, I think that tele American models one can too reality... your opinions please?!
Total transition in a few months I go to New York...youhouahou!lolIs the life very expensive in New York or not??
So yes... I seek a charitable heart to lend a roof to a poor small Frenchwoman for 2 weeks!... bah what?!lol...
we see America as a country which preaches the puritanism, very believing...especially in the south of the United States... I suppose that had changed since time.
There are things which make me smile once (and it was the last!lol) I had looked at "7 to the house ", a girl had done something of evil and like she listened to marilyn manson, one said that fault to M.M if the girl had done that!!lol
It's a remark which shocked me...! It's to decrease by the million people who listens to this music, and it's also a way of preaching the belief...? not?It's a series or all the family is honest, goes to the mess every Sunday, I think that the realizer wanted to make an idealistic series of what should be Americ... you are ok or not?? reality this not that..
To conclude, I think that tele American models one can too reality... your opinions please?!
Total transition in a few months I go to New York...youhouahou!lolIs the life very expensive in New York or not??
So yes... I seek a charitable heart to lend a roof to a poor small Frenchwoman for 2 weeks!... bah what?!lol...
Salut Audrey,
Have you ever been to America before? I think a big difference in the way Americans and the French see each other is what image they are exposed to.
The French media are forever telling its people how bad the Americans are leading one to believe that they must have some psychological problems of their own. Just watch the obsession Guingnols, etc have with us. At the same time, American made films and television shows present a bizarre view of America. The result is that the French (and most Europeans) know a caricature of America, but think they truly understand us - when they don't.
In the American media, France is either ignored or when it is depicted, it is usually an extreme view: unfair ridicule or love for its art and food. Americans don't get much of a view of France but at the same time, they do not have the false impression that understand her.
The key is to get beyond the image given to you by the media and to go experience it for yourself (with an open mind). I've spent many months in France over the years and always had a good experience. I hope you can have the same happy times in my country.
I have not a bad opinion of the United States, ij not, I would not go in a few months! Also you ace say "caricature" , but caricature it's not the reflection of exaggerated reality??
I'm agree with you when you say that the media influence...since alaways... The westerners don't see you like idiots, but more like influencable people...
" I hope you can have the same happy times in my country" by Xpat
---) Thank you very much!
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