Nurses released a few days ago, France helping Libya with nuclear power today...

[HoreTore]

I read this in the paper today, in the paper format, so I don't have any links...

Anyway, it was a rather small article, informing that Sarkoszy has decided to help Lybia by building nuclear reactors.

Is this just a coincidence, does the release of the nurses have anything to do with it?

[Ser Clegane]

I highly doubt that this is coincidence...

Some reactions to it

[Tristuskhan]

Oh, and our dear president also sold military planes to Lybia during his trip... with special discount I suppose.

[Ice]

I was just starting to like the guy too, sigh...

[Tristuskhan]

You were starting to like the guy???? Why the hell?

[Don Corleone]

I'm not condoning it, but I strongly suspect that had it been Chirac or Royale who had made this deal, we wouldn't have heard one word about it in the papers. And that's no coincidence either.

[Ice]

You were starting to like the guy???? Why the hell?

1. Revitalizes France's economy
2 Better relations with the United States

Believe it or not, I do care about how our country's allies are doing.

[Tristuskhan]

1. Revitalizes France's economy

Still to be done, nothing proved yet.... All he did for the moment is:

1 take 25 million euros to encourage the unemployed to work in bad conditions
2 make a 13 BILLION euros gift to the richest part of the population

Better relations with the US? How? Are you convinced by mellow words with no acts behind?

Don Corleone, I understand your point but... just imagine the fuss all over the US press if Chirac had done such thing. About Royal, uh, who cares, it's sci-fi!

[Ice]

1 take 25 million euros to encourage the unemployed to work in bad conditions
!

Do tell more?

2 make a 13 BILLION euros gift to the richest part of the population

You mean, giving them money, by letting them keep their own money?

Don't they still take a tax hit of around 50%?

Better relations with the US? How? Are you convinced by mellow words with no acts behind?

He's new. I'll give him time, but I was impressed by his initial rhetoric.

[Fragony]

You were starting to like the guy???? Why the hell?

Well I like him because he isn't that coldblooded Royal and calls things what they are, instead of trying to mobilise it for electoral purposes. Sarkozy is the best thing that happened to france in a long, long time. And what is that with giving to the rich, under Royal it would have been stealing from the rich and giving it to their own in true leftist fashion.

[HoreTore]

Well I like him because he isn't that coldblooded b*tch Royal and calls things what they are, instead of trying to mobilise it for electoral purposes. Sarkozy is the best thing that happened to france in a long, long time. And what is that with giving to the rich, under Royal it would have been stealing from the rich and giving it to their own in true leftist fashion.

Yes, Robin Hood has always been remembered as a true villain...

[Fragony]

Yes, Robin Hood has always been remembered as a true villain...

The poor get nothing mia muca, lefties want a government as big as they can make it, not really a political movement, more of a parasitical old'boys network that ends up screwing the rich and the poor.

[Tristuskhan]

Well I like him because he isn't that coldblooded Royal and calls things what they are, instead of trying to mobilise it for electoral purposes.

First thing, calling Royal a is a lot stinky, Frag. I don't like her also, but she does not deserve you words.

Second, it seems that you do not know Sarko: he said he won't come back on the EU constitution's referendum result. He did. He said the first aim should be lessening the debt: he does 13 billion tax cut for the rich and increases debt. I'm a bit fed up with arguing about his honnesty, he was part of the government for the last five years and clearly worked AGAINST it and mobilised everything for electoral purposes (successfully). He betrayed his best supporters (Devedjian, Lelouche...) to enlist the worst of the socialist party in his team. You were not in France those last ten years, were you? All his career was about lie and deception. Harvesting the efforts lawyers and diplomats did for ten years to release the nurses and selling nuclear tech and fighters to the gentleman Khadafi is, what a good move, sure I should love him for that.

About tax cut: it's a bit shocking to see the upper classes' taxes go down to 39% (it's supposed to be 50%, but reality is a bit different) when my own are as high as 30%, having an average income (20000 euros a year if you want to know). Those who will benefit from that tax cut seldom worked to get their fortune, they inherited it or played on stock exchange.

I'd REALLY like the future to prove me wrong, you know.

[Ice]

Yes, Robin Hood has always been remembered as a true villain...

Yeah, that's a fair comparison for obvious reasons.

[Tribesman]

About tax cut: it's a bit shocking to see the upper classes' taxes go down to 39% (it's supposed to be 50%, but reality is a bit different) when my own are as high as 30%, having an average income (20000 euros a year if you want to know). Those who will benefit from that tax cut seldom worked to get their fortune, they inherited it or played on stock exchange.

The only high earners that pay high income tax rates are those that are too stupid to pay a good accountant or those that try and lie about their income

[Papewaio]

About tax cut: it's a bit shocking to see the upper classes' taxes go down to 39% (it's supposed to be 50%, but reality is a bit different) when my own are as high as 30%, having an average income (20000 euros a year if you want to know). Those who will benefit from that tax cut seldom worked to get their fortune, they inherited it or played on stock exchange.

Sorry but I don't think you even understand the game... someone who is paying INCOME tax is in the rat race, they might be payed more because of supply vs demand in the job market... Doctors get payed less if there are more doctors in the market... of course they have professional colleges to limit supply er to keep skill levels up to par.

But a rich person (supposedly one who has inherited or made money from investment) is going to be paying Capital gains tax (which is generally far less then income tax)... and will have ways to minimise that tax... particularly as a business pays expenses and then tax on what is left over while a normal person will pay tax and then expenses.

My father who has his own farm (business) and as a highly skilled wage earner ($90+ per hour)... although he earns 3x in his income what I do, his business allows him to pay half my tax... I payed $27k in taxes last year.

[Ice]

.
I payed $27k in taxes last year.

Tell me about it. My family had to pay 41k in taxes (I used my parents' tax form when I filing for student aid). My dad got a bonus which was taxed at 40%+. Its ridiculous.

[Meneldil]

1. Revitalizes France's economy
2 Better relations with the United States

Believe it or not, I do care about how our country's allies are doing.

I'm a bit late, but

1 is quite unlikely IMO.
2 is *really* unlikely IMO. As I said in another topic, frenchmen dislike the US, and americans dislike France. It's been that way for a long time - mostly for silly reasons -, and I doubt it will somehow get better just because either France or the US get a new president. I'd go as far as saying that US-hatred is rooted in the french culture (though from reading various US forums, anti-french hate is just as common amongst US folks).

As for the topic, it was Sarkozy's first step to appear as a great worldwide leader. It didn't last long at least. Saying "We haven't granted anything to Lybia" right before anouncing France will help Khadafi(sp) with his nuclear program isn't the best way to sound serious.

[Don Corleone]

I'm a bit late, but

1 is quite unlikely IMO.
2 is *really* unlikely IMO. As I said in another topic, frenchmen dislike the US, and americans dislike France. It's been that way for a long time - mostly for silly reasons -, and I doubt it will somehow get better just because either France or the US get a new president. I'd go as far as saying that US-hatred is rooted in the french culture (though from reading various US forums, anti-french hate is just as common amongst US folks).

As for the topic, it was Sarkozy's first step to appear as a great worldwide leader. It didn't last long at least. Saying "We haven't granted anything to Lybia" right before anouncing France will help Khadafi(sp) with his nuclear program isn't the best way to sound serious.

I think there are some Frenchmen who dislike the US and some Americans who dislike France. But I think you're painting with a pretty broad brush. I find plenty of examples of Americans in every day life that are avowed Francophiles. I have enough faith in your countrymen to believe that as a population, you're no more shallow and petty than we are. Perhaps the "All dislike all" is wishful thinking on your part?

[Papewaio]

Tell me about it. My family had to pay 41k in taxes (I used my parents' tax form when I filing for student aid). My dad got a bonus which was taxed at 40%+. Its ridiculous.

My OT is taxed at just over 50%... its because of HECS (uni loan) which adds in 8% to my tax. ... not that I earn anymore then my work mates who don't have a degree...