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Yes, well, I have always seen Germany as the prime mover in the euro-mess, and I agree with all your points on that. But, since the famous Franco-German axis has always been supposed to be the locomotive of EU policy, it's fair to say that France has singularly failed to maintain its place and to punch its weight. Whether that makes France equally to blame along with Germany seems to me a matter for quibbling.
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2015 at 07:14:29 AM EST
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And Piketty is aiming his text at a French audience so it makes sense to target French agency rather then German.

Sweden's finest (and perhaps only) collaborative, leftist e-newspaper Synapze.se
by A swedish kind of death on Mon Jan 5th, 2015 at 08:19:40 AM EST
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The problem is that dominant ideologies, such as austerity, have to be challenged publicly and effectively by high profile individuals, preferably by national leaders and preferably by ridicule. This has been needed since before 2008, though the specifics have changed. Imagine J.K. Galbraith or J. M. Keynes speaking through and for the President of France and other countries. If half or more of the electorate first laugh and then get angry things can change.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2015 at 11:39:02 AM EST
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And France has the best-developed satire media and is in the best position to provide the ridicule.
by rifek on Wed Jan 28th, 2015 at 12:35:29 PM EST
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Unfortunately, as we have seen recently, it doesn't export well.

It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II
by eurogreen on Thu Jan 29th, 2015 at 06:21:59 AM EST
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No, it really doesn't. Again, we find the French and British senses of humour to be closer than one would think.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu Jan 29th, 2015 at 08:32:25 AM EST
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