French Family Values

t r u t h o u t - Paul Krugman | French Family Values

Originally appeared on the New York Times Op-Ed page on July 29, 2005. In itself, an interesting comparison. And it throws in a good measure of Republican-baiting to boot.

What hurts though is that the actual productivity of the French workforce, measured in terms of GDP per hour worked, is higher than in the US. Ouch. I am a part of the latter workforce.

Salient points raised in the article include the fact that the European workforce in general has the flexibility to barter extra time off for lesser pay. AFAIK (as far as I know) that is not even an option here in the States. I am not advocating a general reduction in work hours. But what I am advocating is an optional package that lets the employee take more time off if necassary especially when it concerns their family.

Oh sure, you can point to "vacation without pay" concept and say that it is essentially the same as the European one. But if you ever had to do that, good luck to your reputation in the workplace. And oh, try doing that every year and see what happens.

But considering the emphasis on the individual in our society here, as opposed to the family, is this ever going to be a feasible solution. Little wonder therefore, that it was the allegedly left-wing socio-liberal New York Times that cared to write this article.

I can't wait to see what baloney rhetoric will spew from the gutter-mouth of Ann Coulter and her fellow right-wing cronies.