 Poster: A snowHead
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Julian T - to elaborate on your points - deGaulle claimed that there could be no european federation for 50 years, bacause EU decision making ( a la francaise  has to be unaminous. He disagreed with the schedule of integaration set out in the Treaty of Rome and in particular to majoritry voting which would change Europe into a federation. So in 1965 France refused to sit at the table and vote, and it took 10 years for things to move forward.
In December 1991 the 12 states of the EEC signed the Treaty of Maastricht creating the EU. the treaty called for econonic integration. At the moment the EU member states have different opinions about the direction that europe will take. Will europe be a minimalist free state, a federation, a multi-shaped co-oeration of sovereign states? The British favour a free state, the Germans prefer a federation and the French support a consortium of states. The new union may end up combining all three models.
In 1992 the French nearly rejected the common currency scheme by referendum and I understand that they intend, like us, to hold a referendum on the constitition. Franch is a very centralised society deriving from the french revolution which means that all dissent must be quelled, the Mayor of Paris is from another Department ( area of the country ) and vice versa. Local government powers are limited, although this is slowly changing. Power is always in a few hands., For example the Mayor of a city, is most probbaly a deputy in the National Assembly, as well as many other things we would call " quangos " in the UK. Also the power of the judiciary is surservient to the politicians ( who in effect can direct how an investigatioin is persued ). In the anglo saxon world there is a clear distinction between the Executive ( The President or head of state ); the legislature and the judiciary. In France this distinction is not clear as all power is in the hand of the people through their politicians so in effect power is concentrated in fewer hands.
What relevance has all this to the subject at hand - well, the politicans act in the " common good " ( interet general ) so the power of any french-based court to challange, for example, this new regultation on sking is severly tempered. The common good is usually the good of the majority ( not the minority ) as the republic requires all citizens to assimilate whether they are from Paris or Guadaloupe. Anglo saxon law on the other hand is based on precedent and not codified under the Code Civil.
In France the State is the founding principal of society. They do not believe that private profits will trickle down to the rest of society and " raise all boats ". They will stifle competition to uphold that principal.
Just finished " 60 ml frenchman can't be wrong " . I disagree! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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laundryman, Enjoy it while it lasts! There is definitely some food for thought there, but I shan't get involved in this thread, where other's comments verging on the Francophobic are diverting attention from the original focus. This is supposed to be a thread about specific legislation and its effect on independent ski schools in the resorts. We should try to get to the bottom of this rather than go off on exchanges about a country so many UK-based armchair critics appear to know very little about.
So if anyone wants to join in, I've started a new topic over in Après....
Francophobia
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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PG - I resent your patronising attititude, if it is my last post you are referrring to!. It is not in the least francophobic. If we wish to understand how this legislation has come about this I see no problem in looking into the french system. If it gives a better understanding then good. I do not have to agree with it personally. This is my right. It is also your right to hold a contrary view. As a matter of explaining something threads sometime go off on a tangent, but revert to the main subject matter. The argument is about systems and not peoples and please do not try to tarnish me with the term francophobic 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Fine hibernia, I wasn't referring to your post, although I thought you were mistaken on most points. But if it's to be handbags at dawn, I'll be over in Apres.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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PG - With respect that is a matter of opinion. The title of this thread is " French Government acts against independant schools ". My postings will be here on the subject matter at issue and not elsewhere. Thank you.
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Hey take it easy chaps. 
I think one of the points was this post has gone off topic a little. We now have a Francophobia thread over in the Après Zone for pure pro/anti French (or anyone else) comments, and we can keep this one going over the merits or otherwise of not allowing small ski schools use trainee ski instructors.
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Pete Horn - we are talking about the merits or otherwise of not allowing small schools use trainee ski instruction. In order to get a proper understanding of the matter it is necessary to look behind the system, how business is done in France.
We are not producing this thread for the benefit of the french tourist board. I have no business connection or anything to sell or promote. The french govt, after all have promulgated this change. It is not francophobic to examine and explore how such decisions arise, which to anglo saxon eyes are difficuly to comprehend.
I would hope that in the spirit of this board's initial setting up that it is wise and big enough to " roll with the punches ".
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| PG wrote: |
Yes, that would be truly disastrous. Just imagine - trains that run on time. A health system that was voted no 1 in the world by the WHO in 2001, with no waiting lists. A country which still has a manufacturing base. Higher productivity. Roads without traffic jams. Motorways without roadworks. A fantastic climate, beautiful mountains, Provence just a couple of hours down the road. French cuisine, Vacqueras on tap at 60p a litre... French women;-) |
Sounds wonderful, I must move there.
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| hibernia wrote: |
In 1992 the French nearly rejected the common currency scheme by referendum and I understand that they intend, like us, to hold a referendum on the constitition. |
What is amusing is that they may reject the constitution for almost the opposite reasons to the Brits. Some French, maybe a majority, see the consitution as some kind of globalist, capatalist anglo-saxon plot to export their jobs to Eastern Europe or China. If I understand it correctly the Brits see the consititution as some kind of Socialist plot to shackle their businesses in red-tape and extra costs leading to French style unemployment.
Going back to the ski instructors, it is not beyond the current British government to enact legislation that targets small businesses at the expense of big business. An example would be the IR35 tax legislation that says that independent consultants should be treated as employees for purposes of tax. This legislation is applied to 'service companies' of less than 20 shareholders. The scheme was cooked up by Price Waterhouse and Andersens who were being undercut by these consultants and sold to New Labour. Independent consultants fought the law to the high court but although the judges said it was unfair it was up to the government of the day to decide whatever tax regime it chose.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| davidof wrote: |
| The scheme was cooked up by Price Waterhouse and Andersens |
At least the latter got their come-uppance for cooking up schemes for Enron!
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