In the movie "Les 400 Coups", a youngster played by Jean-Pierre Léaud is disowned by his parents and thrown into the state juvenile system for his crimes. "Les 400 Coups" literally translates as the 400 Blows. Today saw the leaking of a document prepared by Jacques Attali, a former advisor to Francois Mitterand, with 314 ways to "unleash economic growth" in France. Sounds good doesn't it?
To Bernard Fixot, the editor of this review who hoped that it would be launched in book form before being pre-empted on a news website, the leak was considered "Theft, concealment and forgery". Especially when it was to be launched amid great fanfare, and make some money for the (hard copy) publishers. That doesn't relate to the content though.
Mitterand once described Attali, the author of said report thus:
“I don’t need a computer; I’ve got Attali.”
The words of a past advisor to a socialist president wouldn't encourage great confidence in the majority of sitting MPs. However, he has come up with some good ideas to modernise France out of its (well earned) reputation for being a nanny state, and failing to make improvements in areas such as the public sector since the second world war. Despite the good idea, there is no 'mode d'emploi' (user guide) to go with the suggestions. The implementation is thus left up to the current Government, whose Prime Minister is now outpolling the President in terms of popularity.
Oh yes, and even the author has a bearish outlook on the state of the French economy:
“France remains very largely a society of connivance and privileges”, Mr Attali says, in a leaked draft of the report.
Some of the key suggestions include:
- Each child should have mastered French, English, the three Rs, Information Technology and the ability to work in groups by the time they complete their first year of high school.
- 10 centres of excellence for higher learning and research to be established around the country, as well as having the means for France to become a leader in fields to matter in the future.
- Link together towns and suburbs known as 'Ecopolis', integrating green and communications technology.
- Very high speed Internet for all, whether at work or at home.
- Reduction of old departements administrative set-up into more regional structures, and urban councils.
- Freeing up retail business to trade on their own terms. It is illegal to affix the word "Soldes" (sale) unless in the government mandated period. This is crazy.
- Freeing up quotas on taxis, hairdressers, vets and lawyers. A bit of competition would only benefit consumers wouldn't it?
Less bureaucrats, more flexible workforce, less waste. The suggestions also seem to rebalance the immense tax burden that is place on those in the private sector who subsidise the benefits, conditions and retirement of those who work in the public; a polarising gripe considering how large the layers of bureaucracy make the French public service. There will be a summer of discontent and riots if this plan is implemented too viciously, and the French will be up to their old tricks in taking to the streets.
Sarkozy is still acting on the strength of the mandate he garnered in his own election, and that of his parliamentary colleagues. He is acting, because he can see the fabric of the nation fraying under the weight of its generosity, built up over the post-war generations.
The final word goes to Marine Le Pen of the National Front (remember her father Jean-Marie?) tagging Mr Attali as Attila (boom boom):
"because this is a precise and organised plan for ensuring the death of the French nation as we know it”.
You know what, she's absolutely right. The French nation as it is cannot continue to survive: it must follow the Darwinian philosophy of evolving or dying.
Update: Sarkozy's Parliamentary Majority is 314. Coincidence?
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