Thursday, January 26, 2012

Difficult times...


France is not exactly doing too well at the moment (highest unemployment rate since 1999, a 2012 yearly budget short of 81,7 billion €, terrible perspectives...). It's very unlikely that President Sarkozy will be reelected in May, when we're going to have new elections. Who will be in his shoes in May? It's hard to tell for sure, but most likely François Hollande, the former head of the Socialist party. The extreme right or left parties may also play a large role as people don't know who to turn to to escape this very grey times that we're going through...

11 comments:

  1. That's an interesting photo -- makes one think.

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  2. Once again, you are keeping us up to the moment. I was shocked to read yesterday that Sarkozy was overheard saying he was done in politics. Wow. These are difficult times, to be sure. So much we experience depends simply on the moment we happen to be born and the place we happen to live. The future can look scary, but I try to remember that we are very, very lucky compared to most. And, we are all as strong and resilient as our fathers and mothers before us.

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  3. Certainly this picture makes one stop and think and it does not matter where you live either. Difficult times are affecting people on many different levels. Even the colors seem to be telling a story in their own way. Perhaps something as simple as a smile can brighten somebody's day.

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  4. I was surprised to hear about copper thefts in France. They have been doing that in the US for some time. I even had someone approach me inside a store for money last week. I actually fear what is to come sometimes. Cuts in all social services are making some people desperate. Politically, some blame Obama for the mess in US, but he inherited it from Bush. I just hope the republicans don't get back in the White House.

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  5. I SO agree with all of you ladies !!!

    Eric, only you can make a grey wall with some trashy posters interesting with your caption.

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  6. With all those difficult times, I hope my hostel rates will not go up too much when I visit Paris this year...
    To be 'poor' and visiting Paris on a shoestring!
    The difficulties one must endure for the beauty of Paris :)

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  7. I like what Anne said, the lack of color in the picture makes it seem even more bleak. The mood was set. What is fascinating, though, is your comment. It perfectly resonated with the picture. You are sort of a little essayist, which is really a lost art as well.

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  8. I think it is so interesting how everyone blames the one in office before for the problems that are here now, no matter which party! It is true that there are few doing well economically, but I think that it is a part of the cycle of business, just like the cycle of life. There are periods of growth, followed by a period of slowing and recuperation, a plateau of sorts. Why do we think that growth will continue to happen indefinitely without some sort of correction? Anyone who has lost weight can tell you that it is impossible. Your body needs time to readjust to a new normal, just like everything else. We're in the readjustment phase and no one wants it to be our "new normal".

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  9. Things are tough all over. I do complain about my job sometimes, but I'm still so grateful I have it!

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  10. It is naive to think that the Bush administration's policies has no bearing on the problems we face today.

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