French reforms

The French President is trying his best to raise the retirement age of his countrymen to 62. He wisely announced the final measures of his reform programme just before the French went on vacation so as to avoid the crippling strikes that usually make headlines all over the world whenever some reform measures are announced.

The social security system in France is rather lavish; something we can't even imagine in this country. Paid vacations, free medical care, heavily subsidised education even in liberal arts and unconventional subjects and nothing to say about unemployment benefits. All this makes me wonder: how on earth did France manage to scrape through the crisis that engulfed many of the countries of the EU? Germany's case can be understood easily. They are....well, Germans. Period. But France, that heaven of nihilists and anarchists? That I could not comprehend until I learnt about the attitude of the French to their work.

The people of France, whatever work they may do, consider it their moral duty to do it perfectly. A person who works need not bow to his master in this country. That is what makes France and the French truly great.

Will Sarkozy be able to 'reform' the social security system of his country? That is a question only the future can answer. The system was devised in a different era - a time when sub-prime crisis did not exist, when the trading in derivatives was far more sensible and when the country had enough surplus. To think that the system will be able to survive the evil world of today is to be naive. Whether the French will be able to understand the predicament of their President is the question that needs to be answered. Because reforms are never easy. And more so when it affects a majority of the population and bring them out of their comfort zone.