I've lived there, and there are definiate pluses and minuses.
All higher level education is free, including medical school. The work week is 35 hrs. instead of 40 and every full time worker is entitled to at least 4 wks of paid vacation.
Some blame these worker friendly laws for the stagnant economy, certainly their unemployment levels are unacceptably high. IMO that's largely due to the fact that it's almost impossible to fire people. Lot's of red tape and a rigid hierachy add to the problem.
Of course, health care is guarenteed and heavily subsidized by the government.
IMHO France could use a little shaking up, but not so much that it becomes an "every man for himself" State, like the US.
Yes Education is free, but look at the quality...
THe unemployment rate is high because you cannot afford to hire people, as per fees the french government takes to fund their sub par educations system
as for the Health care system.
It also is abysmal, it takes in almost 6 times the ammount of money that it needs, and is the only country that does not allow organs to be harvested when the individual died of natural causes, even unrelated, as a result killing almost 1,000 people a year.
A Private System in France, given the formally self sufficiant attitude of frenchmen, it clearly a smarter choice.
As for Phone unloking, their argument is that it helps/protects the consumer from business. NEWS FLASH, the consumer works for business, and is being hurt there, then as a result companies have to charge higher rates, that the consumers cannot pay. Companies go out of business, people loose jobs, and then to stary the process all over again, seeing as though these people now need to rely on Gov't services, then tax business more. Its one infinite loop.
Wake up to consumerism, the Gov't will make more money with lower taxes, because more money changes hands and is there for taxed, as a result, companies will lower their prices instead, fighting for the customer, CREATING BETTER PRODUCTS
