France General Discussion II: Living under Marxism

[ingemann]

Yeah, French media are all out on this. Actually, it's been numerous years since most of the Party's federations were not using the hammer and sickle on any of their activist material.  And Emmanuel Dang Tran is only secretary of one of Paris' 20 sections, one of the most reactionary ones.

But I find it a pity. The hammer and sickle is an international recognition symbol, plus a historical landmark. Oh well, no big deal.

The Swastika was ancient symbol widely used before WW2, but that doesn't really matter anymore.

[ingemann]

I thought it was quite clear, it would make a difference for the people who work there, and that  matters. Obviously I don't expect it to make a difference in my own life.

The only problem here is that the State's means are scarce. There days, they are more scarce than ever. And wasting them on actions that, even if they do some good, change absolutely nothing to the situation of 64,999,950 french people, is terrible policy and a good part of the reason why France is so screwed.

Bravo

EDIT: There are example of industries which the states should save, but they are the ones we need for society can run its infrastructure. It's not the state job to run business with a loss unless they serve a larger societal purpose. Keeping a few hundred job are not one of them.

[ingemann]

Well it's a symbol because for once someone tried to do something. Everyone else is just watching, and when someone wants to try something he is not allowed to do so by those who are not doing anything. If it had worked it could have been a example for other factories, if it had failed well at least something would have been tried.

Maybe this factory could have been saved with public money, even nationalized for a few years, and sold back to private investors in a few years. Everyone did it with the banks, even more economically liberal countries like the Netherlands or Ireland, so why can't we do it with companies that actually make useful stuff?

Because the banks was viable as soon as we got out of worst part of the financial crisis and they could be sold in pierces, while most of the failing factories suffer from the fact, that they simply can't compete with foreign factories, and that's not something which change just because the state take them over a few years.

[ingemann]

So because we cannot compete with foreign countries we should get rid of everything? And if one day there are economic sanctions against China, Russia or others we are only left with bankers, advertisers, artists or IT guys to feed us and make cars and planes?

Seeing as other European countries can build cars and planes, often even with higher wages, and doesn't need to nationalise them and operate them with a loss, maybe you could do some of the things they do.