Follow the French

Ok... this is just too good to be true. This is the reason God made the French. There is a simplicity to their mindset, but not their minds, that allows complicated infrastructures and bulking tax laws while at the same time having concise perfectly worded answers to oppositions and conflicts.

Enter Executives that treat their workers like crap.
In the USA, we've taken pain-staking measures to prevent mistreatment by forming Unions, laws prohibiting overworking, minimum wages, workers compensation and the such. Decades of political battles and lengthy discussion have coalesced into a representable image of fair and equal blue collar policy.

Now the French... ahhhh, the simple life. They strike, protest, and take the Exec hostage until they agree to listen. Done. The most recent case is the French 3M Executive whom is currently being held hostage to negotiate better serverance packages.

I'm writing because this is both a mild shock and fast acceptance. I had no idea the French have been doing this on several occasions in the past, and at the same time I could completely visualize the entire event carried out by the French. Car-parts company Exec last year, Sony Exec 2 weeks ago, the 3M Exec yesterday.... I think Americans should take notes and that AIG Execs should really watch their backs. I worry that the Americans though, would take it too far and people WOULD get hurt, like what happened in India.

Sony Exec Released
3M Exec Held Hostage


The best part is the Police have decided not to interfere. FANTASTIC! For me, I can understand the front that it is a dangerous situation with broad impacts that the police do not want to make worse by going into the buildings armed. But really what I think is going on is that the Execs are overpaid, are never injured, and the French working population doesn't put up with ANY shit whatsoever without a fight. And the Police agree! So, until someone gets hurt, they're staying the hell out of it.

God how I miss France sometimes.