This is a good reason for never giving in to communism/socialism/progressivism/democrats. It's next to impossible to wean people from their beloved welfare state.
Absolument!
I am very scornful of most French politicians (Sarkozy, the obvious exception) but, truth be told, they are in a completely impossible position. Villepin is going to lose this fight and severely damage, if not end, his political career by trying to do the right thing. (Couldn't happen to a nicer chap /sarcasm)
And given the propensity of the French to take their politics to the streets, the country will never change without passing through a period of severe upheaval. They are not on version five for no reason at all.
(This may be a preview of what is to come in the U.S. when, finally, the promises of big government can not be kept.)