Screwing the elderly out of their fans

May 28th 2007

Today was lundi de pentacote and I don’t know what that means or how to say it in English, something about Pentacost Monday whatever that is. Ok I’m admitting my ignorance here (something a French person would never do) but all that really counts is that it is a holiday. Well, was a holiday.

Several years ago while I was baking in the 30+ degree sun in the Carribbean, my friends & family were baking in the 35+ sun in Paris! And because there is no air conditioning (see Why the French don’t like Air Conditioning) thousands of people died, mostly old people. This actually resulted in a big economy for the goverment’s healthcare system but I won’t go there.

Since the government doesn’t have enough money to put air conditioning in hospitals and stuff, they came up with a brilliant idea: Take away the holiday and earmark all the money paid in salaries that day to go to the elderly. What’s this money do? I’m not really sure but everyone thinks it goes to buy the elderly fans and stuff.

Now if someone asked me to help the elderly I’d be happy to help out, but this law passed right from under us and they basically stole our holiday away! Now I don’t like things like that because it usually is the beginning of an avalanche and in the end they take away a lot more. I like my 7 weeks vacation very much thank you! I still don’t understand how, in a country known for protests, strikes, and rioting, this one got past.

But there is silent form of protest and it’s very subtle. In France we have 5 weeks paid vacation and then 2 weeks personal days called RTT (another subject, follow the tags and be patient). Now an RTT day isn’t paid, because in theory you were already paid. Sounds weird but if someone offered you 2 weeks extra vacation and kept your salary the same, you wouldn’t complain right?

Now here’s the kicker, if you use a day of your RTT for today, the former holiday now “a day of solidarity”, the government doesn’t get the money!!! Screwing the elderly to get back at the government? Yes, that’s exactly what’s going on! Our company forced us to do it (half the RTT are selected by the company and half by the employee), so I have an excuse!

So this morning we went to the shopping mall so my wife could drool over the pursues and I over the latest cell phones. We couldn’t even find a parking spot the place was so full (too bad I didn’t bring my camera, I keep saying I’m going to carry it all the time.. I guess I need a cell phone with a built-in camera). At lunch time we went to several restaurants both in and outside the mall and the lines were out of the restaurant. We ended up coming back home to eat.

So it seems people actually like screwing the elderly out of their fans! And what will the government think of next? I have a suggestion: Just deduct the price of a fan out of our checks.

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Comments

1 Comment so far

  1. samantha on May 29, 2007 10:13

    What I don’t understand is why all the Gov offices were shut yesterday. I mean, it was their idea, and that was the whole point wasn’t it? That people work one day “for free” and that money goes to the elderly fund. So why did they shut down? What kind of example does that set for everyone else? (Unless I’m missing something here…)

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