French students protest while rest of world moves ahead

As a French ex-patriot and unabashed "frog" I am always curious as the mentality of the French populus. The latest attempt by the government to tacklet the staggering double digit umemployment figure would appear to make sense. Allow those that hire freshly minted college graduates to dismiss employees with out reason during their first two years of employment. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060316/ap_on_re_eu/france_job_protests

Of course this has created mass protests of students who have taken this opportunity to decend into the streets to protest. Claims of becoming "disposable" and being at the mercy of employers are being heard through out Paris and France. I believe that they are wrong, the students and protestors, not the governement. As far as I see it, in today's modern industrial society we are all "employees at will" we are free to come and go as we please. We don't like the job, we can leave, we can find another job, we can grin and bear it. Granted, we all need money to pay bills, rent, mortgages, etc, but we should all approach work understanding that jobs are means to achieve goals and not the goal itself. But also that jobs are too be earned and not granted. What the French protestors are missing is that companies do not fire those that are producing and are contributing members of an organization. If a freshly minted student finds a job he or she will be promoted and not fired if they are producing. However if they cannot produce than it is better for them in the long run and the firm in the short run to terminate that employement. That person, while on the short term may find it difficult, will land on their feet and learn from the experience. The firm will be able to give another qualified candidate a chance, continueing the development of a skilled work force.

I hope that the government stands strong and keeps this iniative in place. The French protestors may think they are protecting their interests, but with growing globalization and competition if they are not ready to compete for jobs at home how can they do so on the global stage.

Bush and India

Not sure Bush has made a "wise" choice agreeing to share nuclear technology with India. Maybe he should have held off looking to hypocritical as he tries to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions.