I do this with fear and trepidation because I am the LAST person in the world who should try to attack the subject of politics. I know there is so much that I do not understand about how things work here in France, or the reason why things are the way that they are, etc.... but .... well, I guess you could say we have more of a 'front row seat' than most Americans. Please take all that I say with a grain of salt because we are still very much learners here.
But, I do have to preface my comments by saying that we had a family over for a visit a couple of weeks ago, and we intentionally asked their thoughts about the strikes so that we could better understand what is happening in this country. Between our conversation with this couple, and other conversations Mark has had with friends of his, plus general reading that we have done on the subject, we think we have a better understanding of why these strikes are happening.
So, why are the French striking repeatedly? Is it really over just raising the retirement age by a mere 2 years? Would this small change really cause an entire nation to be all 'up-in-arms angry' against their government? Especially when most countries have a higher retirement age?
Well, the answers to these questions are complicated.
First of all, it helps to understand French history a little bit. If you have spent any time in Paris, you have probably witnessed the incredible Louvre Museum (which used to be the king's residence), the incredible gardens in front of the Louvre, the grand avenue the Champs Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe. This "grand alley way" is really something to behold. Then, if you have made it out to Versailles, the palace of the kings which is just 15 minutes outside of Paris with gardens that were once the size of the city of Paris with quite the posh castle, then you have seen the incredible grandeur created by the kings of France.
As I go to visit these places, I often wonder, "If I were King or Queen, and I had all the money of the world, would I be able to create anything remotely like this?" Honestly, it is all so enormous and so truly over-the-top opulent, that I am certain I could not think of anything so huge and magnificent even if I tried.
But, it is really important to keep in mind that the grandeur of Paris came about because the kings of France taxed the common people so heavily to pay for all their opulence. This is why the revolution of 1789 happened. The kings had imprisoned innocent men who were trying to reform France and the common people attacked the prison - dismantling it brick by brick by hand - in total disgust. And, this is why a large group of women who couldn't afford to buy bread for their children stormed the castle of Versailles, extracting the king and queen and putting them to the guillotine. They had simply had enough! Can you imagine how bad things must have gotten for them to be this mad?!?!?
(Artist's rendition of the women storming the castle of Versailles.)
(Artist's rendition of the guillotine where nearly 3000 people - mostly ruling officials - lost their lives in Paris.)
It's history like this that helps to put things in perspective. These people are very sensitive to their kings/queens or their governing officials taking advantage of them. I'll say that again - very sensitive to the abuses of kings or governments which rule over them.
And, according to a friend of Mark's, the French government has been completely turned over many times. According to the book "Sixty Million Frenchman Can't be Wrong", between 1871 and 1940 France went through 120 governments. It has happened a number of times that the people of France have been so unhappy with the governing officials that they have completely overthrown the government and just started over. Mark's friend explained that in the mind of every Frenchman, there is the thought that perhaps this will be the end of this government. Apparently nobody considers this government a 'forever' arrangement.
Another thing to realize is that the way the French people show their disapproval is by striking. The way we Americans show disapproval (generally speaking) is by how we vote. Voting is our big chance to give our opinion.
So, I'll try to explain how these things affect the striking in France. In the case of this most recent decision about changing the age of retirement, the people were never given the opportunity to vote about it. Their strikes were their only way of showing their disapproval, and obviously they do not like this change.
In addition, the issue is really a lot bigger than just the age of retirement. It's sort of like a bill in our congress that has lots of other things attached to it. Apparently, this reform has a number of other troubling changes attached to it. For instance, this new reform will change the amount of everybody's retirement payout.
Before this current reform, the government would look at your salary when you retire and figure your pension based on your salary at the time of your retirement. With this new reform, the government will now look at your salary for the last 20 years of your working life and take an average which will then determine your payout. You can see the huge difference and why it would make the people very upset.
Yet, their taxes continue to rise. The cost of things (and everything we buy is taxed by the government to help pay for the government programs) continues to rise, but salaries are not rising fast enough to accommodate the rise in taxes and cost of living.
Also, it's important to know that France is socialist through and through. This has been the choice of the people here. They believe in socialism. They also really believe that every person should be given the opportunity to have a good life. They believe in it so much, that they are willing to allow the government to tax them to ensure that the government makes it possible for everyone to have a good life.
When a French person sees a homeless person or a beggar on the street, they are not happy and they are thinking "my government is failing" because they have, in their minds, done their part by paying their taxes, but the government is not doing it's job in providing a good life for every person in France.
In addition, they have trusted the government to take their money (in taxes) and use it to provide a good life when you retire. This change in retirement pay-out and age, is very reminiscent of the abuses of kings and other governments who have ruled France. Everybody is feeling like they bought into a dream that is being taken away from them. And, if they concede on this change, there will be another change, and another, and another....all while the governing officials live the 'good life' on their taxes.
Which makes everybody think perhaps it's time to overthrow this government.
But, at the same time, everybody knows that the country of France does not have the money to pay pensions to everybody who will retire in France in the near future. (Those baby boomers are a big cause of the problem.) They know the system is broken and the money is running out. But, the solution is not an easy one for anybody to figure out.
So, I don't know if this helps, but it is a glimpse into the mindset of the people here. They are striking because it is their way to express their disapproval. And, it is for a bigger reason than just 'we don't want to work for 2 extra years' as I am guessing it has been understood by many in the world.
The vote has taken place and the reform has been passed by the French government. Evidently, it wasn't even a close vote. Which means the strikes will most likely continue.
I should say that we have never witnessed the strikes in person. All the demonstrations have been in places that are not near our home. But, we have been affected by the strikes in two very real ways.
One, our kids' teachers have been part of the strikes, and there have now been 5 days when our kids have not had school because their teachers are striking.
Also, our metro (the train) has not run as normal during the days of the strikes. This has been an irritation, but honestly it is not impossible to deal with. Although, I was on a train like the one pictured below. Let me tell you, there was a lot of body odor on that ride!
Other than that, we would have to go out of our way to see the demonstrations and be a part of the real action. If this continues, maybe we will - or maybe not. :-)
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