[olezip]

Maurice Taylor - chief executive of Titan International - had already incensed the French once this week by saying the country's “so-called” workers put in “three hours a day” with the rest spent eating and talking.

Industry minister Arnaud Montebourg hit back in a written response in which he told Mr Taylor his comments were “extremist and insulting” and displayed “a perfect ignorance of what our country is about”.

We notice that the industry minister avoided addressing the charge that the country's "workers" put in three hours a day with the rest spent eating and talking. Perhaps it is true. Perhaps it is partially true and a goal of the unions.

We would like to hear more about the validity of that charge, instead of being told comments are extremist and insulting. To what extent are Taylor's comments true, and what does the French minister plan to do about it? We know that the French are practicing "from each according to his ability" and "to each according to his need." How does that socialist philosophy address the low productivity?

[Caipirabob]

Industry minister Arnaud Montebourg hit back in a written response in which he told Mr Taylor his comments were “extremist and insulting” and displayed “a perfect ignorance of what our country is about”.

"Stinky pits and all, baby!"