Francois vs Francois - Why the French Should Hope Hollande Sees the Light, and How Socialist Nostrums Always Fail - Granite Grok

Francois vs Francois – Why the French Should Hope Hollande Sees the Light, and How Socialist Nostrums Always Fail

Francois Mitterand who abandoned Socialism after two years
Somber Socialist who Recognized Reality When it Hit Him - Mitterand
“Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it” Steve’s article on the similarity between the socialist policies of NH Democrats, and the quack nostrums currently being prescribed for France under Francois Hollande reminded me of 30 years ago, when another Francois – Mitterand – came to office in 1981 on a Socialist platform, even invited Communists into his cabinet, and embarked on a program which drove France’s economy into the ground, including such old standbys as:

Nationalization of businesses, a 10% increase of the SMIC (minimum wage), a 39 hour work week, 5 weeks vacation per year, a ‘solidarity’ tax on wealth, an increase in social benefits, and the extension of workers’ rights. The objective was to boost economic demand and thus economic activity (Keynesianism). However, unemployment continued to grow and the franc was devalued three times.
The errors of Socialism stood in stark contrast to the dramatic recovery across the English Channel, where Margaret Thatcher was slashing government and privatizing government owned corporations. Now the surprise – Mitterand may have been socialist, but he did not hate his country – when reality bit him, he reversed course (1983), and the economy recovered, toute-suite! (as they say in France)

Francois Hollande Socialist leader of France
Grinning Socialist Idiot - Hollande
They say there’s one born every minute, and if they mean “fool”, I give you exhibit A, the grinning idiot, Hollande. More to the point, Socialism seems to be reborn every generation, no doubt helped along by the infestation of Communists in our schools, and every time the Socialists think that they can make it harder to work productively, and easier to live off the government, while actually growing the economy. Didn’t work in 1981/2, and it isn’t working in 2012, either – just check out the program of Francois Hollande:
Hire 60,000 more teachers in a country of 65mm, Tax income above EUR 1 million at 75%, Reduce consumer utility bills (magically), Lower retirement to 60 for those who have worked 41 years or more, Reduce payroll tax, and more…….then balance the budget by 2017! Hah! Good luck with that!
Commentators have said that this is no ordinary hole the French are digging, but it’s more like the “Hollande Tunnel”! French business commentators have invoked the ghost of Mitterand, and seem to be hoping that Hollande will learn the error of his ways and reverse course before too much damage is done – I don’t hold out too much hope that Hollande will see the light at the end of the tunnel, as it seems that neither the French citizens nor Monsieur Hollande studied their history before embarking on this Brave New Experiment.
Socialism cannot be refined, it cannot be made to work, even by smarter people, and especially not by this guy, or our current ruling elite. The only thing to do with Socialism of the eradicate it, pull it out by the roots, install extra constitutional safeguards, and teach History so well that no future generation is ever tempted to try it again!

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