8 May 2011
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Welcome to the binational
The debate on the conditions of selection and training of young people in the centers of the French Football Federation is revealing of a French malaise.
The debate on the conditions of selection and training of young people in the centers of the French Football Federation is revealing of a French malaise.
On the eve of the thirtieth anniversary of the first presidential election won by a Socialist in France, followed by the first real political change, Socialist leaders are over the moon, seemingly assured of victory in the forthcoming presidential elections and the legislative election that will follow.
The publication of the program of the Socialist Party went almost unnoticed: no discordant voices on the left; and almost no controversy on the right, but some criticisms for the sake of it. Similarly, the program of the National Front has hardly raised any basic reaction; and when the right will publish its proposals, we can expect the same indifference.
What is the use of talking about the « roots » of a country, as does the President of the Republic and all the right-wing, if not to give, implicitly or explicitly, to those who are connected to them the property right on the country, or at least some ownership over others?
The previous perspective on tobacco has caused so many reactions, that I have found a few reasons to come back to this topic. First, nobody has called into question the frightening statistics that I have pointed out.
Lately, many things are happening in the world. In North Africa, Sub Saharan Africa, North America, South America, Russia, China, India. In fact, it would be quicker to talk about places where nothing happens: Europe, and they are only talking about small scandals and large debts there; in Brussels it is even worse: they are not talking about anything, there is not even a small scandal or some large debt.
The scandal of Mediator, at the heart of a knot of conflicting interests, is exemplary of a disturbing drift of our health care system. It has already had two positive effects by leading to better monitor a long list of medications with uncertain side effects and better control of relations between experts responsible for placing medicinal products on the market, and pharmaceutical companies that produce them.
When comparing the discussions on public debt in France with those taking place everywhere else in Europe, the United States or Japan, we can only be dismayed: here, on the left-wing like on the right-wing, the watchword is « Please do not talk about anything that is disturbing. And for that, let’s launch some nice little and unimportant debate. »
Looking at the way, 2011 begins, in Europe, we could easily be depressed: unemployment is rising everywhere, even in Germany, where it is hidden by subsidies and misleading statistics; an unprecedented crisis of confidence in institutions; a presidency of the Union entrusted, without any protest, to a government that openly violates freedom of the press and artists.
