PRESTOPUNDIT

France in descent:

A shameless anti-American France is understandable in the context of a once great country now crippled by deficits, debts and unemployment. With low growth rates France is in rapid decline. From 1990 to 2000, among the EU countries, the French standard of living dropped from third-place to 12th. In 1980, an Irish citizen had 40 percent of the purchasing power of a Frenchman. That figure is now 125 percent.

Incapable of making any policy other than raising taxes, increasing public spending, enacting more social laws, creating more welfare and fostering more irresponsibility, current politicians and elites are to blame for the French decline, and they know it. Just like failed politicians in the Third World, French politicians know they must divert attention onto scapegoats.

Pop quiz -- what the big difference between Ireland and France?