What is the left's program to deal with unemployment and youth unemployment?
The Jospin government brought unemployment down from 12.6% to 8.6% in 4 years, and created an unprecedented number of jobs in the process (more jobs than had been created in the previous 25 years).
THE 35 hour played as role, as did the "emplois-jeunes" which wer 5-year fixed contracts in the social sector. The underlying mood of optimism and "can do" job creation made the rest possible. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
We've seen endless diaries and charts comparing republican v. democrat periods in terms of economic growth, job creation, income inequality, etc. Are similar data available for EU countries? tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker
Here's a good description of what Jospin did:
A bit of neoliberal reform:
On the one hand, it took a series of steps to enhance the operation of market mechanisms by means-testing more social benefits, allowing those who take jobs to receive some benefits, and allowing many firms to layoff workers or merge with foreign enterprises to survive international competition.
A bit of social democracy:
On the other hand, the government continued or embarked on a variety of schemes to create jobs, adding several hundred thousand workers in the public sector, subsidizing almost two million low-wage jobs in the private sector, and legislating a thirty-five hour week designed to encourage firms to hire more employees. . . . levels of public spending have soared and, at about 53 percent of GDP, public spending is now higher in France than in all other nations in the European Union except Sweden and Denmark.
Sounds like the same kind of thing we have been saying about the UK or the US recently.
Optimism, sure, but another boost from activist fiscal and monetary policy will go a long way toward making that optimism a reality.
I found myself writing a longer reply, and thought I would maybe post these few questions before posting my longer thinking on the matter.
As to France, the big difficulty is that I'd need to write stuff in French in addition to doing it in English and I just don't have the energy in me right now. I know I should do it.
It may sound a but strange, but I'm not very good at pushing myself forward. I have no problem speaking up in public and expressing myself forcefully, but I have trouble going towards people and talking to them.
We need to do more to promote ET in public outlets (write LTEs), push the site on other sites and the like, but I'm sort of counting on the rest of the community to do it. I'll provide - hopefully compelling - content. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Take heart, at Yearly Kos you'll learn what you need. tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker
In short, I think you have a very important voice to contribute to a very important fight. I believe the "Anglo model" vs "European model" debate has significant ramifications for the world population for generations to come.
You present your arguments intelligently, systematically, and with passion. Your personal concern for these matters is evident in your writing, as well as your ongoing effort to bring into being Eurotrib.
I believe this is an opportunity to further the voice of non-violent dissent. While BBC posts the photos of the billy-club waving riot geared police as representative of the current activity in France, the numbers of 100,000 demonstrators and 300 violent protestors doesn't justify the lens only being focused on the burning bookstore.
There is a greater argument taking place and I believe you have a very important voice to contribute to it.
I have heard you interviewed in English. Your tone is calm and rational. You are thoughtful and articulate. In the interview I heard you make every effort to take in the interviewers questions, even if your response was in contradiction to their assumptions -it was during the Paris suburb car burning riots.
It is somewhat ironic that you find the effort of writing in your own language a barrier.
I believe if you were to write LTEs in French, conduct interviews in French, find speaking engagements in French, pass out flyers written in French, or just go speak your mind on the streets you would find many people on this site supportive and welcoming to such an endeavor -even if it meant fewer posts on ET & Kos. If I remember correctly, last year you wrote more posts on DK than there are days in the year. I can only speak for myself, so this is an assumption.
I would propose, even though the majority of these efforts were to be in your mother tongue, such efforts would offer the ET & DK community an opportunity to watch the process of intellectual Internet centric argumentation move into the realm of political discourse and social action.
I would go further and propose, that such an effort would only enhance the quality of the ET & DK content. Speaking personally, it would be my hope that such efforts would contribute to motivating other contributors and lurkers, to face their own personal hurdles and enter into the discourse with the tools they have at the current moment and the passion of their beliefs.
You say "I have trouble going towards people and talking to them."...so be it. Speaking only for myself, I have found humility a helpful tool for overcoming such challenges -but again, I can speak only for myself & I am not one to be giving lectures on overcoming personal challenges.
I am not of the school of thought that the blogshpere is the center of political discourse. The blogsphere has become a major player, one of which I am greatly appreciative of, but French people have taken to the streets not because the Internet offers them the most effective forum for communicating their vision of their country.
I have thoughts on the need to grow the site, but I should get back to work. I was hoping to get a post up myself today.
Again, please do not feel obligated to respond.
Bon Courage!
This morning's poll results show 68% of the French are against the CPE (up from 55% a week ago), and 63% support the students.
The "reactionary" spin you outline may work outside France, but it doesn't seem to take hold at all within.
