Posted on 10/03/2010 8:40:58 PM PDT by Lorianne
Millions of protesters demonstrated across France on Saturday, waving trade union flags and demanding that the government drops plans to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.
It was the third day of protests in a month.
Unions scheduled the protest for a Saturday instead of a weekday to draw families, youths and private-sector employees who don't show up during the week.
In response, thousands of students marched among the unions and thousands of parents carried children on their shoulders.
The government claims that the pension system will collapse without drastic reform and insists people need to work longer because they are living longer.
But the unions, with the support of the majority of French people, see retirement at 60 as a firmly entrenched right.
The CFDT union estimated that 2.9 million protested, on a par with the last demonstration on September 23.
"There are more and more people who are against this injustice and want to send a strong message to the government that this is the last opportunity to change this draft reform and to make it more fair," said CFDT head Francois Chereque.
Paris protesters marched past the site of the former Bastille prison, with many young people among them.
"Young people are sick of seeing social benefits disappear," said Thomas Roller, an 18-year-old high school student who marched in Paris.
"France is becoming a country where it's every man for himself and we don't want that."
Two protests in September each drew up to 3 million, according to the organisers.
Dockers have been blocking the port in the southern city of Marseille and 39 ships carrying oil, chemicals and other products were queueing for entry.
Conservative French MPs have already pushed the pension reform through the lower house of parliament.
The Senate takes the measure up on Tuesday and protesters are planning to gather there as the debate gets under way.
Another national day of protest is planned for October 12.
The government's aim is to make the pension system break even by lifting the minimum retirement age to 62, although people would have to wait until 67 if they want full pension benefits, up from age 65 at present.
Just wait till the money is all gone.
They should come to america and become cops or firemen. they get to retire at 40.
Unreal. While our two systems can’t be compared exactly, the idea that retiring at 62 is considered a RIGHT worthy of protesting is astonishing. My Mom is 72 and still working full time. While she could and I think, should retire, it’s hard to understand the French mentality. People live much longer now and healthcare costs have skyrocketed-Just how do these people think money is created?
Many soldiers do too, although their lives in service are often harder.
The germans make it and ship it to france in box cars. lol
“Let them eat cake!”
I could be wrong, but I don’t think soldiers get 100% pay and benefits.
In a perfect world, anyone waving trade union flags would be shot down, or at least tear-gassed or firehosed. Of course, in a perfect world, there would be no trade unions.
They say the French are naughty
They say the French are bad
They all declare that over there
The French are going mad.
They have a reputation of being very gay
I just got back from Paris, and I just want to say:
When they go parley-vee and parley-vou,
This for me, zat for you,
Fifty million Frenchmen can't be wrong.
When they go Ohh la la la la la la la
On the bully boulevard
Fifty million Frenchmen can't be wrong.
... but as we all know, fifty million frenchmen CAN be wrong!
Ummm... Your question is moot if Social Security contributions were invested and earnings reinvested and compounded in a very conservative mutual fund over a 40 year period of time.
Instead, the government has stolen Americans' contributions to the Social Security (mis)trust fund.
BTW, it used to be called Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA), now its a Payroll Tax, which, in essence it is a TAX since the government has stolen your "contributions."
>> demanding that the government drops plans to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.
Ignorant narcissists.
It’s going to be fun watching France collapse. :)
Guess again. :-(
That’s just it. All the money IS gone and they have to cut somewhere...
Eurpoids exasperate me. They can look inside the empty barrel themselves and scream all they want but if the money is not there, THE. MONEY. IS. NOT. THERE!!!
What do the Frenchies expect the government to do? Raise taxes again? That will go down great! Print more dough? Opps, can’t do that, it’s all Euro now and the mighty French Franc is a historical curiosity. Attempt to mug Switzerland? That would be fun to watch.
It would be more amusing if the United States was not being led blindfolded down this same path by the Obamanites.
In one sense theyr right.
In another theyr wrong.
Why doesn’t that magazine take it all the way and call itself “Lucifer” or “Satan”.
Worst name for a paper I’ve ever seen.
Why doesn’t that magazine take it all the way and call itself “Lucifer” or “Satan”.
Worst name for a paper I’ve ever seen.
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