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Originally Posted by sarramkrop

First of all you have to explain which governments are not pro-capitalism in France or not, second it would be interesting how you'd explain what you've written above in more detail.

well i am not sure if i meant pro-capitalism or pro-free enterprise. maybe i just meant pro-free enterprise. i was slapping words together late at night with the tv on and a book in my hand.

but anyway, let's see if i can clarify:

and it seems to me that while the all of postwar the french economy was characterized by dirigisme, at some point that stopped working, and the socialists (miterrand as president, jospin as prime minister), rather than realizing the world was going elsewhere dug themselves in the losing position of subsidizing state industries and maintaining a huge regulatory apparatus that made it very difficult for startups in the post-industrial era. i suppose in the case of france, the gaullistes have been for dirigisme as well, and hence the problem.

but really it's time to end it because, while france had the concorde and they had minitel before everyone else had the internet, silicon valley flourished in the u.s.-- why?

maybe this article will help clarify a little-- i'm no expert in the french economy, i just read newspapers and magazines

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...3/b3997064.htm

and while syrfox might be pissed that the government wants people to work more, i think it's not a bad idea considering that until recently it was asking them to work LESS-- and who in their right mind would do that? it's just wrong and unrealistic to expect that life will consist mainly of leisure... even in the utopia that is star trek, the fuckers have to do their jobs!

anyway, read that article and maybe that explains why young ambitious frenchies go to work in london instead of contributing to their own economy.