Comments on: Nicolas Sarkozy

By: Brendan Halfweeg

Brendan Halfweeg — Tue, 08 May 2007 06:39:46 +0000

There were a lot less cars firebombed than I thought at the news of Sarkozy’s election. I suppose that is a good thing.

I’m not looking forward to all the truck driver and air trafic controller strikes this summer though.

By: Brendan Halfweeg

Brendan Halfweeg — Tue, 08 May 2007 06:37:22 +0000

The EU has been very good at taking UK taxpayer’s money and spending them in Portugal and Malta on bright shiny roads. Eastern European members would be hard pressed not to ask for the same infrastructure benefits from the benevolent taxpayers of Old Blighty (which includes me at the moment).

By: terje (say tay-a)

terje (say tay-a) — Tue, 08 May 2007 05:47:49 +0000

I’m not sure it will pan out well but I think there is a good chance that it will. Centralism can be a menace and all federalist systems seem to struggle with getting the balance correct. Thus far I think the EU has done a reasonable job and delivered many benefits. I’m optimistic that it will continue to do so via federalist competition. Of course it could go terribly wrong but that’s not my assessment.

By: Tim R

Tim R — Tue, 08 May 2007 05:09:32 +0000

I must admit I’m glad that the angry Ms Royal didn’t get in. She was quite alarming. What’s with the 35 hour week BS? Sarkozy has also backed down on abolishing this!

You really seem to love the EU Terje. The EU trading conditions are definitely an improvment in many countries but but how can you be confident it will pan out well in the future? I know there were some discussions on this a few months ago. But I read an article just today warning of potential dangers. For example, currently the EU has a common external tariff policy against non-members.
See http://www.mises.org/story/2536

Apologies for going off topic a bit, but this is my general line of thinking and it also applies to the recent postings on the ALP and categorization of libertarians:
My current thinking is, any step away from left/socialist politics is a good thing except for maybe in the US where the level of atheism (

By: terje (say tay-a)

terje (say tay-a) — Mon, 07 May 2007 22:33:54 +0000

It is hard to be a protectionist within the EU. The destiny of France is now tied up with the destiny of the EU. The French can argue for the EU to limit it’s external trade however the internal free trade of the EU will transform France. A lot of socialist tears will flow but the forces of trade unleashed within the EU will dismantle much of the French socialist dream. They will try to construct a new socialist paradise via the powers of Brussels, however those powers will remain weak and there will be no concensus for such a deal. There will be no EU minimum wage, no EU income tax, no EU army. In fact the EU itself may not even survive but in the interum it will ferment great change in the great nations of Europe.

By: Fleeced

Fleeced — Mon, 07 May 2007 21:23:04 +0000

I feel sorry for the French… even their right-wingers are socialist. It’s all relative, I guess. The carbon tax (ie, tariff) on imports are a worry – it seems that Sarkozy is a protectionist.

By: terje (say tay-a)

terje (say tay-a) — Mon, 07 May 2007 12:35:20 +0000

Damn that Jason Soon fellow. He always makes it to to the press quicker than me. Unfair competition I say. Maybe if we force Jason to only work 35 hours per week then the rest of us can keep up.

By: John Humphreys

John Humphreys — Mon, 07 May 2007 12:31:07 +0000

Sorry Terje. I hope you don't mind but added a little bit to your post. Sarkozy doesn't look like a reformer, but at least he should cause less trouble that the alternative (the angry Ms Royal). Of interest, this article has Sarkozy advocating a carbon tax on non-Kyoto countries.