French Family Values WHY THE FRENCH ARE BETTER THAN WE ARE

The New York Times ^ | July 29, 2005 | PAUL KRUGMAN

[Cincinna]

Americans tend to believe that we do everything better than anyone else. That belief makes it hard for us to learn from others. For example, I've found that many people refuse to believe that Europe has anything to teach us about health care policy. After all, they say, how can Europeans be good at health care when their economies are such failures?

Now, there's no reason a country can't have both an excellent health care system and a troubled economy (or vice versa). But are European economies really doing that badly?

The answer is no. Americans are doing a lot of strutting these days, but a head-to-head comparison between the economies of the United States and Europe - France, in particular - shows that the big difference is in priorities, not performance. We're talking about two highly productive societies that have made a different tradeoff between work and family time. And there's a lot to be said for the French choice.

[Cronos]

Hey. I LIKE Jerry Lewis and yes, I do find him funny. Just because the Frenchies like him doesn't mean we have to knock him down.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

...what the hell is funny about Jerry Lewis?...If I might ask?

[Uncle Vlad]

Has Paul Krugman ever been right about anything?

[Joe Boucher]

france, home to unclean ladies and men who have no balls.

[muir_redwoods]

Anytime Enron-Advisor Krugman starts (continues) giving economic advice you are counselled to turn up the BS filter to maximum. This loon is nearly lethal when allowed near a keyboard. You are warned.

[libs_kma]

"You can not see even remotely similar rethorics from france. So.... come on.... let's se who hates who more?"

If you do not see "even remotely similar rethorics(?)" from france, then you need to start looking in a new place.

I've been there (for business, not by choice) and in France you would not have to look too far or too long to see "remotely similar rethorics".

[muir_redwoods]

"Krugman's moronic drivel makes Maureen Dowd drunken rants look reasonable and level-headed by comparison."

Dowd-mention? I'm sorry but I assume you know the rules. Where are the CZJ pictures?

[Cronos]

I dunno, I adored his little sketchs to music and his spindly legged run and his daft Errand-boy and other movies. I think he was funny, not quite a slapstick as the Three stooges (which I detest), not quite as sublime as Yes Minister (adored that and most Britcomedies) but still funny

[BipolarBob]

I will agree with you. France is a fair target here and there is bias in that regard. However they did bring it on themselves with very poor political decisions.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

funny?..not....Peter Sellers...funny...."Does your dog bite?...No....I thought you said your dog does not bite?...that is not my dog.

[TomB]

More drivel from your hero.

[moose2004]

The French national motto:

RETREAT!

[NHResident]

Krugman is verbalizing one of his hallucinatory experiences here. Bad as the English medical system is - in practice, France's system is much worse.

Speaking from practical experience, I can say that the level of medical service in France is horrible. General Practice doctors must follow government mandates on the kind and amount of analysis and treatment they can perform for any one visit. Anyone who can possible afford it uses 'private' medical facilities rather than the state ones.

[Tribune7]

On the list of things not to take seriously the New York Times and Paul Krugman might be one and two. They'd even be ahead of Baghdad Bob.

[randita]

American conservatives despise European welfare states like France. Yet many of them stress the importance of "family values." And whatever else you may say about French economic policies, they seem extremely supportive of the family as an institution. Senator Rick Santorum, are you reading this?

Santorum, like most conservatives, believes that values originate and emanate from a family, hence the term "family values". Krugman, like most liberals, believes that values originate and emanate from the government. Why don't they just term them "government values"?

[SunnySide]

"What is the use of "free" schools if they don't get you a job when you are done."

I was suprised to learn India is the country with the most colleges and look at their unemployment rate. I think it has to more do with their over population and not enough "paying" jobs(sweat shops and child labor) for master degrees and Ph.d's

[baystaterebel]

Thanks Paul!

Now tell me again how a country that had 2000 deaths during a heatwave a few years ago is better then us?

All I know is that at least here in the United States most people, even poor one have enough money and enough brain to have a fan.

[rwa265]

Never mentions the 12% unemployment rate in France.

It gives them more family time. (sarcasm off)

[aquila48]

So which society has made the better choice?

I don't want society to make my choices - I'll take care of that!!

And whatever else you may say about French economic policies, they seem extremely supportive of the family as an institution.

That's why 15000 of their elderly parents died during a heat wave a couple of years ago while the kids were vacationing.

I've come to the conclusion that Krugman is a moron.

[JudgemAll]

If we do things badly, we do them worde imiating the French: public school, feminism etc..

and good point there: What is the use of 7 weeks vacation if you have no money to use it?

Not to mention the stinginess and their glory of seeing others bleed to death of their savings or disease...this is the French healthcare for you. We are catching up with that very quickly, sadly.