kill yourself

A factory union striking for better pay makes sense. The strike sets up an environment so that management (who is determining wages, benefits, work practices, etc.) can't make money. It puts pressure on the people who need to be pressured.

This strike, however, is about pension reform which has to do with legislators. Management and the people buying gas have nothing to do with their beef. Legislators have the "little people" buy gas for them and are not affected.

Plus, assuming Sarkozy's idea to push the age of retirement up by two years doesn't pass now, when voters are choosing new lawmakers in the future do you think they'll be more or less likely to vote for the benefit of this union? Punitive tactics usually have a way of making people less inclined to go with you.

It seems like a better approach would be to pressure the lawmakers and pledge the unions to not voting for anyone who supports this pension measure as there's much less "collateral damage." That's why this episode doesn't make sense to me. Well... that or I'm not French so I have no idea as to how French people think.

Fortunately, the French are able to understand that strikes involve more than merely creating inconvenience. Check this: when I lived in France, and there was a strike, the people discussed.... wait for it...

The causes of the workers' discontentment! And they, by and large, agreed with the workers. You know why? Because most of them were workers too. Holy fuck!

Oh... and you know how you "pressure the lawmakers"? By mobilizing the people who elect them.

You've been in America too long if this chain of causation completely escapes you.

Some people will feel hostility toward the union workers for causing them to wait for gas, and will become less sympathetic to their woes.

Some people will feel hostility toward legislators for pissing off the union workers and causing them to wait for gas.

Some people will just feel directionless rage, kick their dogs when they get home, and attach themselves to the narrative of whatever charismatic TV personality makes them feel best about themselves.

Neither of you have evidence as to which direction the majority of Frenchies will lean, so you're both just spouting useless internet opinions.

Furthermore, you've both demonstrated yourselves to be nonconstructive members of society, so I'm afraid that both of you need to kill yourselves.

Polls in France have found support at about 70% in favour of strikers. Lets look at a poll commissioned by a conservative source who have every reason to downplay support for the strikes: "A BVA poll for the financial paper Les Echos yesterday found 59% of French people wanted the strikes to continue after the forthcoming senate vote on the pensions bill. Sixty-eight percent had a negative view of the government's economic policy while 62% want no more reforms before the end of Sarkozy's presidency." Source Guardian UK.

Thank you, svraz. There is no need for you to kill yourself for the time being.

Thanks, svraz. That's the element that I was missing. Like I alluded to above, actions evaluated outside of their own culture can be confusing.

You do realize that svraz typing out the number "70%" is not evidence, right? It's just a (correct) opinion with a number attached to it. Just like mine was a (correct) opinion based on my time living in France.

People who equate numbers with evidence are fucking retarded.

French workers are awesome. 100% of POE TV users agree.

We'll still stand in line for gas without getting the 4 day work week.

Haha, yeah. That was my first thought.