Socialist candidate in France unveils far-left platform

International Herald Tribune ^ | February 11, 2007 | Katrin Bennhold

[Cincinna]

Ségolène Royal, the presidential candidate of the Socialist Party, on Sunday unveiled a long-awaited, 100-proposal platform, veering sharply to the left on economic policy while also stressing discipline and traditional values.

Ten weeks before elections, Royal is hoping to reverse a slide in popularity that has seen her lose ground to her main challenger, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy.

In a two-hour speech to about 10,000 supporters north of Paris, she pledged to raise pensions, increase the minimum wage to €1,500, or about $2,000, a month and guaranteed a job or further training to every youth within six months of graduating. She also said randomly selected citizens' juries would watch over government policy and that juvenile delinquents could be placed in educational camps run by the military.

[Cincinna]

Wearing a bright red suit, showing her true colors, Royal unveiled a long, boring laundry list, a la the "110 Point Program" of Francois Mitterand in 1989.

Nothing new, same old Socialist rhetoric.

"randomly selected citizens' juries would watch over government policy and that juvenile delinquents could be placed in educational camps run by the military."

Sounds like "dictatorship of the proletartiat", with an emphasis on "Dictatorship", to me.

[Dahoser]

Oh, my bad. I thought this was about Her Heinous taking a trip over to France.

[Gene Eric]

What about the requirement for 1 wet nurse per every 12 employees.

[Richard_ Saunders_2000]

She also said she would pursue a "solid partnership" with the United States, but accused Washington of sometimes being carried away by its size and power.

So size really DOES matter, right?

[nctexan]

Here's your assignment class: Match the face to the quote... Yea, it's a tough one!

[SomeoneNeedsToSayIt]

A Democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of Government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that Democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy, always to be followed by a Dictatorship.
[Alexander Fraser Tytler]

[hosepipe]

Democracy causes socialism..

[Bon mots]

Democracy causes socialism..

Joseph Schumpeter always said that it would lead us there...

[Doctor Raoul]

Sunday marked the end of the two- month "listening phase

Must be a commie thing, I wouldn't understand...

[Doctor Raoul]

Communism is ugly.

[Cincinna]

Sego is embarking on a "listening tour" of France.

This is another woman who must be stopped.

Her defeat would also be a strong message to the US.

[nctexan]

"Communism is ugly."

You are right... I read the article and saw 'socialist'... I thought, no way.... She's been channeling 'Uncle Joe'.

[Cincinna]

VOTE FOR YOUR CHOICE OF RED QUEEN HERE!

[indianrightwinger]

Democracy causes ends in socialism..

[GunRunner]

In a two-hour speech to about 10,000 supporters north of Paris...on Sunday unveiled a long-awaited, 100-proposal platform.

Two hours? 100 new government proposals? This reminds me of Castro.

God how I fear socialists.