These are the changes that LePen would make if elected president of France [NYT]

NYT, from Le Pen's web site ^ | April 23, 2002 | NYT, from Le Pen's web site

[summer]

These are the changes that Jean-Marie Le Pen would seek to make if elected president of France, according to his campaign web site, www.lepen.tv :

o Outlaw abortion and end official recognition of same-sex unions.

o Develop programs to increase the birth rate and pay benefits to women who stay at home with their children.

o End legal immigration.

o Deport illegal immigrants and eliminate dual nationality.

o Give French citizens priority for all jobs and public housing; create a separate medical benefits system for foreigners working in France, so that French tax money would not be used for foreigners' care.

o Allow only French citizens to teach in French schools.

o Reinstitute morality classes; require student participation in patriotic events and holidays.

o Outlaw the wearing of yarmulkes and Muslim headscarves in schools.

o Create 200,000 new prison beds.

o Expand and give new rights to the police force.

[glaseatr]

his idea to pay women to STAY HOME and raise kids is what LIBERALS in this country have proposed...

Excuse me ??? but liberals don't want ANY parent to stay home to raise kids. And the liberals I know have little desire to raise the children they have, hence the run around have sex, do drugs, and then find themselves behind bars blaming everyone but themselves.

[PsyOp]

All Le Pen needs to do is claim he's really German and that he has declared war against France. Chirac will then surrender the presidency without a fight and offer to go into exile.

[PianoMan]

And why outlaw yarmulkes? To be "even handed" or something? Or is it just not French enough?

Perhaps they should replaced with berets? ;)

[OldFriend]

All the socialists will hold their nose and vote for SLEAZE....er Chirac!

[HP8753]

But........Would he BAN white flags????? ;-)

[My2Cents]

LOL.... "Chirac." That's French for "RINO," apparently.

[Salman]

The reason is that the French insist that their schools make every effort to make students into Frenchmen. There is traditionally no bi-lingualism and no accomodation is made for children's religious instruction except in Alsace for some reason. Only in Alsace is time set aside for children to receive religious instruction from the relevant local cleric. Yarmulkes and head scarves are un-French in this view.

Bilingualism isn't really an issue. French Jews speak French, not Yiddish. French Muslims (from former French colonies) also speak French.

I think the insistance on bare heads goes over the line. What about Christians who cover their heads? Or are those extinct in France?

[DoughtyOne]

As much as I may quarel with the French, they have every right to remain French. More power to them with that regard. And perhaps a nationalist will help prevent them from some past mistakes.

[Eva]

Fascism and socialism are very closely related. The main difference seems to be the use of nationalism instead of the workers' rebellion as the catalyst. Why do they refer to LePen as a Fascist?

[DoughtyOne]

I agree with that. Teach the kids good solid history that allows them to make the right choices when they get older. None of the youth brown shirts needed.

[summer]

See post #89.

[OldFriend]

Chirac has a corruption scandal which is the real reason he won't debate with LePen.

[Bogey78O]

This is how David Duke and Hitler rose to power. Their competition was corrupt and weak so they answered a calling. They had good ideas but they had bad persoanl views.

[summer]

I know what you mean. The reasons why someone becomes popular are often as interesting as the person himself. Chirac's alleged corruption, and the weakness of the other candidates, along with the very defined platform of Le Pen, all make for a fascinating look at current events. And the comparisons to other times in history are inevitable.

[swampfox98]

Can he run for President here? I'll vote for him.

[summer]

Hey, this thread is almost entirely full of people who would like to vote for his platform!

[headsonpikes]

Children of the 20th Century, all.

[Bogey78O]

I think Hitler said himself his popularity wasn't so much a result of his inate abilities but because of the shortcomings of his opponents.

[Edmund Burke]

Perhaps he will get the Parliament to abolish itself, sort of like the Reichstag did after the fire.