Life in France

I have lived all my life in the US with many visits to Mexico visiting relatives.
I knew very little about socialism, besides that it sounds like a good idea "Everyone being equal" Now that I live in France I can see how it really doesnt work. We are not all created equal. We all have to work for what we have. Things here all go back to the Revolution.
This is what I have learned so far....

You have 3 months from date of hire to decide whether you want to keep employee, after that it is virtually impossible to fire. You have to do 6 months of paperwork then go in front of a board which always side with the employee. They decide it you can fire them.
If you do fire him you still have to pay his wadges until he finds another job. Which in most cases they dont look for another job just live as long as they can on a free paycheck.

If you are poor you can apply for a TV, Fridge, Car, Food, Clothes, House, and the government will give it to you. The governments thinks that if you have nothing you will steal so if they give it to you then you wont steal......... so who stole the GPS out of my car!

You have 7 weeks of holidays all must be paid for by employer.

The French love paperwork, you even need to give the local mayor paperwork if you want to change the color of your shutters.

The school system is excellent except if you have any kind of handicap, mental or physical. They dont know what to do with you. It has been hard enough for the teachers to understand that Tatiana came from a different schooling method.

In France when everything is running normally its great but if you have some sort of glitch
(phone line down, strike, road shut etc..) it is total chaos .

Things here are very formal. Meeting people through introduction at dinner parties.
You must establish friendship first before even discussing business or religion.

French have private and public room in their house. Public rooms are the salon and dining room all other rooms are private. You can never ask for a tour of their house. It is also considered bad manners to use the toilet. I have noticed that when French people come over they NEVER ask to use our bathroom. Most men will go outside to have a smoke and take a pee. I have not knowing been rude and have asked to use the toilet when I am at dinner parties .

The idea of capitalism is impossible here, with the amount of tax you have to pay and the fact that you cant fire people.

Now you know why when you fly on Air France you are treated so badly. They cant get fired. The employees dont take any kind of ownership or pride in their job. They dont even have to wear name tags. But they will sure strike if they dont get their way.

It seems to me socialism gives you a feeling entitlement and turns you into a two year old who has to have their way.

There are many French that dont believe in this system and were really hoping that Sarkozy would change things. I really hope he does.