[PEN-L:1902] Re: French movement situation

[D Shniad <shniad@xxxxxx>]

Dear A.S.,

For myself and countless contacts that I have on the left and in the
labour movement, the struggle in France -- for all its imperfections and
inability to address the fundamental contradictions of capitalism -- is
very exciting and worthy of support.

It does not follow that everyone who takes this position supports in
detail the positions of the railway workers or any other particular
organization.  Rather, it is a matter of supporting what folks see as the
drawing of a line in the sand by French labour against the neo-liberal
machinations of the the French government.

Sid

PS -- There's an old union song entitled "Which Side Are You On?"  I
guess that folks who see developments in France in a positive context are
lining up with those who are resisting the imposition of the neo-liberal
programme.  If (some, many, most?) Penners don't see it that way, why not
say so?

> > On Mon, 11 Dec 1995, D Shniad
wrote: >
> > Personally, Bill, I can't stand the tension any longer -- are you in
> > favour of or opposed to the strike in France?
> >
> > Sid Shniad
> >
> Is Sid serious? I can't believe that one would ask such a question. There
> are many issues involved in the current French strikes. They range from
> the railway workers who are demanding that they should retire-with full
> benefits at 50(yes at 50) to low-paid workers who oppose addtional taxes
> on their income- to students who deep-down are against any kind of
> educational reforms while the current system's failure is a common knowledge.
> How could take a position and be in "favor" or "opposed" to such a wide
> range of issues. Please explain!
>
>
> A. S. Fatemi
> Professor and Chairman
> Department of Economics
> The American University of Paris
> 31 ave Bosquet
> 75007 Paris
>
> Tel:	(33) 1 40 62 06 40
> Fax:	(33) 1 47 05 33 49
>
>
>
>