Eminent Domain Stuff
New London Update (2/24/06)
Bad NLDC!
Coverage of the Rally at New London's City Hall (w/ pics)
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
The French Start Working?!
This is amazing:
I guess I've just lived in America long enough (i.e., my entire life) that this seems pretty childish. Do you know anyone (outside of ER docs) who work 35-hour weeks? I don't. Here in America we work hard and, when we do, we are rewarded by the Market. In France, apparently, you are prohibited from working more and getting ahead. Of course, you get all sorts of time off...but here's the problem:
And finally, my favorite quote from the whole article:
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Blow to France's 35-hour week lawGasp!! I can't believe it! You mean to tell me that some French workers have agree to work more than the lazy-arse 35 hours/week? Maybe there's hope for them yet...or maybe not quite yet:
French workers at a car components factory owned by Bosch on Monday dealt a blow to the country's law limiting the working week to 35 hours, as they unilaterally accepted demands from the private German automotive group to work longer for the same pay.
Only 2 per cent of Bosch's 820 workers refused to amend their contracts to allow themselves to work 36 hours. (emphasis added)So the big hubbub is a 1 hour increase? The significance of this is that it breaks down the absurd barrier of 35 hours/week.
I guess I've just lived in America long enough (i.e., my entire life) that this seems pretty childish. Do you know anyone (outside of ER docs) who work 35-hour weeks? I don't. Here in America we work hard and, when we do, we are rewarded by the Market. In France, apparently, you are prohibited from working more and getting ahead. Of course, you get all sorts of time off...but here's the problem:
Bosch's plan, which will cut costs by 12 per cent, will allow it to invest in a new diesel-injection system at Venissieux rather than the Czech Republic, where labour is 40 per cent cheaper. It will save 190 out of 300 jobs Bosch had planned to axe by 2008.If you don't cut costs, you get out competed. How unfair:
In Germany, moves to extend working hours could become unstoppable. Siemens had said it would otherwise shift production to Hungary - a threat that Nicolas Sarkozy, French finance minister, described as "a form of extortion that would be unthinkable over here". Other big companies seeking longer working hours in Germany include MAN, Linde, Bosch and Opel.Extortion? Are you kidding me? Try Free Market on for size you pompous arse!
And finally, my favorite quote from the whole article:
He [Chirac] also said companies that asked their workers to vote for longer working hours or risk seeing relocation to countries where labour costs are lower were putting France on a "slippery slope".Your piddling little, lazy country had better hope and pray that this is a "slippery slope", Mr. Chirac. You might just end up slipping into actual prosperity and freedom.
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