Comments on: Wolfgang Munchau is a mensch

By: lorran

lorran — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 00:09:38 +0000

I don’t know in what other country it is acceptable for anyone to cross the borders illegally and DEMAND to be allowed to stay and/or work, or replace American Flags at any level of Society in America with another flag.
(especially after 9/11) It seems to me that Mexicans are in the process of a war without ever lifting a weapon… it is a shame that instead of fighting for the democracy and the society they would like in their country that they want to walk onto our land and MARCH IN OUR STREETS demand what we have without ever shedding a drop of blood… it is much easier to walk here when they know they won’t have to actually possibly give life or limb and demand what has already been ‘fought and paid for’ by American Men and Women. It is SHAMEFUL.
In what other country is this acceptable? What do you think the repercussions of that would be? Thousands of Americans walking into ANOTHER country demanding that they let us stay, DEMANDING that they provide for us, DEMANDING that let us work, or else what? If people come into this Nation illegally, THEY ARE ALREADY SHOWING DISREGARD FOR OUR LAWS FROM THE START, THEY ARE NOT ABOVE THEM ! There are an abundance of people that would just love for us to demilitirize our borders, IT WILL MAKE IT MUCH EASIER THESE ‘AMERICANS’ TO HELP ILLEGALS GET ACCROSS … and how are illegals supposedly paying taxes without Social Security Numbers or Tax ID numbers again?????they are already breaking laws and as an illegal what other laws will be broken in the name of ‘survival’ in our country. As it is My daughter and I cannot even walk down the street without being harassed, hissed at, AND followed by these ‘wonderful, hardworking people’ (Men?) …long before this has been a National topic I have been unfortunately saving every penny possible to get myself and my Daughter and my Grandson out of this state and as far north as possible… Just to be able to walk down the street in peace… will it take your family, The Presidents family ? not being able to walk down the street before people care that we would like to live here too, AND ACTUALLY HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO DO SO?… I also work in the Credit field at a bank and I see our system inundated with False Social Security numbers, false names, false information…this is not just an unusual occurrence, this is CONSTANT every day occurrence, and this has happened on a personal level when I took in a child as a her Legal Guardian, when it came time at 18 to get HER credit established , WHO is it that you think had been using her Social Security almost since the time it was issued to her in 1987??? and who do you think was responsible for having to clean up her social security and credit file??? This happy time was STOLEN by someone that wanted instant gratification, so they just take someone elses instead of waiting for their own. Then you have the short sited individuals that say ‘they only want our lowest paying jobs, is that too much?, how long will it be before it is demanded that we know both languages in order for US (ENGLISH SPEAKING AMERICANS) to get work here ??? then what jobs will be available to the AVERAGE ENGLISH (the national language by the way , does anyone remember?? ) SPEAKING CITIZEN???’-My friend it won’t always be those jobs, as the population of illegals grows in each city, who will be left to REPLACE THE AMERICAN FLAG WHEN IT IS TORN DOWN AND REPLACED WITH THEIRS??’ …. and even worse does the president think that terrorists only come in by planes- if we can’t even protect our borders from the ‘poorest and most downtrodden’ people (as they must be, that is why they must come here right?) then how can we trust that they are the only ones who will enter that way? The Mexican government and people lost this land in little thing called a WAR ) HISTORY LESSON ANYONE?? REMEMBER THE ALAMO? THIS CRY WAS A CRY FROM OUR DYING MEN! THUS we have the border, did they forget that they can’t just TRESPASS AND DEMAND? Did the leaders of America forget that we fought for this land (with Mexico) that WE may live here LEGALLY? AND THEY FOUGHT TO NOT BE A PART OF THE USA ? Why don’t they rise up IN THEIR COUNTRY and demand to join the United States Union??? MARCH IN THEIR OWN STREETS? Needless to say that I disagree with Amnesty of Illegals.. what precedence does this set for other countries? Just come in droves to America and cross the borders because nobody cares and demand from a Nation that has shed it’s blood for freedom to provide for them…some say we are all immigrants, the immigrants of that day came here LEGALLY , IT MAKES A MOCKERY OF ANYONE WHO HAS WAITED THEIR TURN! this is not that day NOW AN ESTABLISHED COUNTRY WITH CITIZENS AND BORDERS we are not just some ‘free for all’ at the mercy of anyone who demands to be here!!!! and demands to raise their flag on OUR SOIL…AND THREATENS us by SAYING THEY WILL BRING US TO OUR KNEES BECAUSE WE NEED THEM SO BADLY BY BOYCOTTING AMERICANS (most the people that hear of this boycott, say that is what we are asking them to do, illegals are welcome to boycott our schools, our hospitals). we may actually have less than SIXTY STUDENTS PER CLASS WHAT A SHAME…WHEN THEY SEE THAT WE DON’T COP TO THEIR BULLYING , WHAT THREAT NEXT? These people aren’t asking us to help them THEY ARE DEMANDING THAT WE GIVE THEM WHAT EVER THEY WANT AND NOW. WHY SHOULD AMERICANS BE SO afraid of breaking the laws when they march down our streets and flaunt the fact that THEY THINK they ARE ABOVE IT !? WHO DOES BUSH SERVE? I assure you a Two thousand dollar fine (paid to the government, I MIGHT ADD) is not sufficient trade for going whole days sometimes without hearing anyone speaking my own language or not being able to walk down my street as a Proud UNHARRASSED Citizen of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! OUR BORDERS FIRST MR. BUSH. (oh, I forgot he has a ‘list’ of people who will and can harm us, HE’S GOT IT ALL TAKEN CARE OF).
yes, I served in the Military, as did my Father. ( I AM NOT OPPOSED TO LEGAL IMMIGRATION

By: EwING

EwING — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 02:43:43 +0000

You’re somewhat oblivious of the fundamental difference between the English-beveridgian system and the French social model, equidistant of the bismarckian-based model and beveridgian-based model -but that’s another story -: the fact that non-wage labor costs are considered as “indirect salary”.

By: Jackmormon

Jackmormon — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:32:52 +0000

Thanks, Emmanuel, for running the numbers on what must have seemed like a casual drive-by request. From what I understand, from the people involved, mind you, so I don’t claim to have unbiased information, there are four kinds of intermittents: 1) those employed by large companies that prefer to use the intermittent statute as shield for provisional contract, 2) those making a good deal of money who pay into the intermittent bourse because striking out in a different statute would be financially insane, 3) those genuinely making ends meet off-and-on as the status was designed, 4) those using the status to earn a decent living by working hard enough to getthe monthly payout to support them during other projects. Categories 1 and 2 support categories 3 and 4, but the monies are all controlled by the intermittent bourse in the unemployment office. Anyways, as you say, a smallish number given the larger social problem.

By: Emmanuel

Emmanuel — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 12:44:33 +0000

Edward : 1. I think we all more or less agree on what a much better French labor market would look like : a merging of the differents contracts, less protection against dismissals but much more active employment policies (the idea being that individuals, not specific jobs, must be protected). That alone wouldn’t push the structural rate down a level close to full employment (say 5-6%). But it would be a good start.

2. In this regard the CPE is economically and politically flawed : it reinforces rather than diminish the fragmented job market; Villepin’s method to pass the law was so inept that it makes further job market reforms less likely; and it is probably runs counter to EU and international law. No, it was a midly bad idea to begin with, and the way it was forced down the throat of the trade unions, the businesses, the parlementary majority and the general public made it a lot worse. I think it is possible to do better than that.

By the way : two (not exactly heterodox) French labor economists have done an estimate of the likely economics effets of the CPE and the CNE. Results : 70 000 net job creation (good) but a slight loss of welfare and a decreased labor participation rate (bad). Net effect : probably a wash.
http://www.lesechos.fr/info/medias/200072146.pdf

Jackmormon : I don’t seem to find more recent figures but in late 2001 there were 120 000 intermittents du spectacle, half of which were unemployed at any given point of time. So out of approximately 2.5 millions unemployed, you have 60 000 unemployed intermittents, meaning close to 2,5% of all unemployed. Not negligible, but not that huge either. Doing the maths, one can find that if the rate of unemployment were the same among than among the general population (12 000 unemployed instead of 60 000), the headline rate would be 0.2 point lower.

Finnsense : you’re right, of course. Now, since you’re here, I have a question : how come that the unemployment is so high (latest figure available : 8.1%) in Finland compared to other Nordic countries? We always hear about the wonders of the Nokia-driven, IT-enhanced Finnish economy but the rate of unemployment seems to contradict the positive spin. What gives?

By: Oliver

Oliver — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 12:37:01 +0000

The trouble was that a large percentage of the minority who didn’t have jobs spent much or most of their time continually out of work. That inflicted much social misery on a minority as well as economic waste

True, but the majority doeesn’t care. It cared in the 1930es because the situation was a temporary emergency and the joblessness widespread.

It doesn’t work that way if the misery is concentrated geographically and among members of a subculture .
Secondly, you cannot assume that the proposed remedy has lower social costs. The conflict in France is intergenerational and the solution will have to be to borne by complacent people in their 40es and 50es.

can only function with an average unemployment rate among the under 25s of 20% to 25%

Before you make that claim, estimate what youth unemployment would be elsewhere if the age group were as large.

By: Bob B

Bob B — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 04:55:38 +0000

But Oliver, even in the terrible depression of the 1930s, the majority always had jobs. The trouble was that a large percentage of the minority who didn’t have jobs spent much or most of their time continually out of work. That inflicted much social misery on a minority as well as economic waste. There is something seriously sick with the French economy if it – unlike most other EU economies – can only function with an average unemployment rate among the under 25s of 20% to 25%.

By: Oliver

Oliver — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 03:11:08 +0000

However, would not the CPE in all theoretical sense incite employers to hire more young people? I mean, it is better to have job with little or no “protection” than no job at all; right?

It also incites to fire before the job becomes permanent. That’s even worse than a limited contract.
Although unemployment is high, the majority is employed. They have no interest in this law.

By: Bob B

Bob B — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 01:20:04 +0000

Claus – Many thanks for that helpful link. Not all may agree but IMO it is very useful in an international debate on an important issue such as this to have links posted to serious journalism and research. In the last resort, mass demonstrations on the street may flex political muscles or display opposition to policies but the demonstrations do not really help to resolve challenging technical issues.

Predictably, this Saturday’s edition of The Economist has a special report on France – behind a subscription barrier, sadly. The report seems to me to do a good job of surveying the politics of the situation but it does little to illuminate the economics issues – Claus’ link above is much better at that. What The Economist does include is a bar chart showing responses to international polling across a select group of countries on the question of whether respondents approve/disapprove of capitalism. The chart showed the Chinese to be the most enthusiastic about capitalism and the French the least. The thing is that – correctly or otherwise – the French Communist Party had the reputation across Europe of being the most Stalinist in western Europe and probably in much of eastern Europe as well. Alien observers like myself have never managed to figure out why.

By: claus vistesen

claus vistesen — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 22:31:48 +0000

Munchau has some points well made;

1. The fact that he point to the very clear and just objections voiced by student associations that it is unfair to burden them (the young) with all the problems of France’s labour market.

However, would not the CPE in all theoretical sense incite employers to hire more young people? I mean, it is better to have job with little or no “protection” than no job at all; right?

2. That the reform needs of France’s society go well beyond the CPE and CNE. This is the most important here but I just don’t see why this argument justifies the scrapping of the CPE. I mean who says French reforms will stop and end with this one. Furthermore I can only with Edward here … reforms of the magnitude needed in France cannot be done in one single legislative process.

Ohh yes and this one by Bob is also interesting …

“The Nordic countries – and for the purposes of Sapir’s taxonomy, the Netherlands is classed as a Nordic – have managed to combine social protection with market flexibility and achieve successfully performing economies. We need to notice that and learn accordingly.”

Ahh yes … the wonders of flexicurity. I have a feeling we are going to hear more of that here at AFOE in the very near future .

Read this if you want to know more

http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-153417-16&type=News

By: Oliver

Oliver — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 17:53:32 +0000

In the course of the 1980s, average real earnings increased by less than 1% a year in the Netherlands. That was a truly remarkable achievement and it is impossible to believe the larger economies in Europe were remotely capable of emulating that.

Some make quite different claims about emulating that:

http://www.boeckler.de/pdf/pm_ta_2005_06_13.pdf

(The authors seem to be affiliated with a trade union.)