Commuters Walloped by Strikes in France, London

AP via CNBC ^ | September 7, 2010

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Public transit ground to a halt across France and on the London Tube on Tuesday, with tourists and commuters bearing the brunt of a wave of discontent over government austerity measures.

French unions challenged unpopular President Nicolas Sarkozy with a major nationwide strike over plans to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62, shutting down trains, planes, buses, subways, post offices and schools.

[Paladin2]

Rail workers, not doing the job they don’t want others to do.

[Boogieman]

Sounds like a perfect excuse to declare a National Emergency and use those powers to ban unions from vital inudstries.

[C210N]

I’m a bit lost in geography. Is France, London anywhere nearby Paris, England? (or Paris, Britain)

[Maine Mariner]

Another reason to be against high speed rail and publicly funded mass transit. The workers will be unionized and will strike at will. We as individuals will have our freedom of movement greatly restricted.

Of course the liberal elites will still have their luxury
automobliles to ride in.

[equalitybeforethelaw]

I am sure that the whole of France is served by this good collective transport system so they will rally around higher ticket prices or better yet force their neighbors to pay higher taxes so those that use the train are not forced to pay higher prices. This is all so good and sustainable, no?

[Midtowngirl]

Coming to a city near you.

This is what happens when you try to reign in spending and reform bloated social programs.

The unions are bankrupting cities, states and the entire country. They will destroy us.

[dfwgator]

Strikes in France? In a related story, the sun rose in the East today.

[jmacusa]

Geography is a subject that hasn’t been taught in schools for probably thirty years now. Seriously. Ask your average school kid at any age from 6 to 16 where say, Norway is and they’ll look at you as if you’ve just stepped out of a space ship.

[C210N]

where say, Norway is and they’ll look at you as if you’ve just stepped out of a space ship...

Hmmmm... its either in Maine or Michigan. Or, perhaps Iowa or even Wisconsin.

Was in Lillihammer about 2 winters ago, great place!

[jmacusa]

:-) Bet the kids know where Hollywood is though.

[Cincinna]

*** FRENCH POLITICS AND CULTURE PING LIST *** FREEPMAIL ME IF YOU WANT TO JOIN ***

Crowds reported at 1.2-2.5 million people demonstrated in the streets of France today bringing the country to a standstill. The protest, led by Communist unions CGT and CDFT oppose Sarko's plan to raise the retirement age to 62. The signs read "No to a Republic of fric (slang for money) flics (police) and bosses. Throw Sarkozy out"

FROM PARIS MATCHl 1,12 million - 2,5 million in the streets of Paris against reforms "No to a Republic of fric (slang for money) flics (police) and bosses. Throw Sarkozy out"

[SunkenCiv]

The protest, led by Communist unions CGT and CDFT oppose Sarko's plan to raise the retirement age to 62.

Thanks Cincinna.