Goodbye to a French way of life?

Shel_B said:
We here in the US are not the only ones feeling the effects of inflation and the war in Ukrain.

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2023/03/business/french-bakeries-cnnphotos/
Click to expand...
Shel,

Thanks for posting this article. It shows how critical energy independence AND COMPETITION/ UNRETSTRAINT TRADE is to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

From the article:

"In Millery, a small town in southeastern France, Élodie Chavret runs a bakery to make a living for herself and her two daughters. The 39-year-old is also a part-time firefighter but, she says, this is not the work that scares her.

Her fear? Not being able to pay the bakery’s electricity bill at the end of the month.

The bill skyrocketed from €900 ($978) in December to €7,500 ($8,146) in January as Chavret renewed her contract. With a government subsidy, her bill would drop to €4,500 ($4,888) per month. That’s still an “unmanageable” increase, she said."
 
simple_gifts said:
Didn't say it was. Generations in many places raised to expect to 'have it all' on a planet which cannot supply it
Click to expand...

Life of the party response. Not sure what "have it all" actually means but earth suer has provided it and will continue to do so. Despite 50 + years of the UN stating we are all gonna be dead within a decade as well as Al Gore and John Kerry telling us the same while laying down a carbon footprint that contradicts their comments.
 
The average American cannot even fathom the French work life balance.

“Let me tell you that French people are not ready to pay €3 a baguette,” Chavret said. - pretty much the price we've paid for years.


At the same time - the price increase spiral must be checked somehow.
The current tools in the box - cant get the filter off.

The US's only tool to prevent things things from becoming more expensive - is to make them more expensive.
 
GON said:
Her fear? Not being able to pay the bakery’s electricity bill at the end of the month.

The bill skyrocketed from €900 ($978) in December to €7,500 ($8,146) in January as Chavret renewed her contract. With a government subsidy, her bill would drop to €4,500 ($4,888) per month. That’s still an “unmanageable” increase, she said."
Click to expand...

Id bet her rate per KWH is less than ours in California.

Energy is expensive - it's a global reality. Especially if you are picky about who and from what source you get it.
 
Let’s fact check a bit. The story implies electricity went up a factor of 8 before subsidies. The US collar and Euro are with in 9% of each other. Here is a plot of French electricity. Yes, there was a 8 times bump but it already came back down a lot. The plot indicates 218 Euro per Megawatt hr which is 196 USD per megawatt hr or 0.196 per kWhr. It’s currently much cheaper than California.

985939D7-7194-4389-A533-D35D71C4E929.png
 
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simple_gifts said:
"American BITOG'rs concerned about the French way of life"; sounds like an article in The Onion IMHO.

It is a problem in many places.
Click to expand...
Concern isn't the right word and misses the mark a bit - right direction though.

I struggle with finding a single word to describe it, but two work fine - observe amusingly.
 
I've long maintained that "the modern world" wasn't crafted for widespread fulfillment.

My personal feeling includes our haughty 'specializations' (aka careers/narrow education) doesn't feed our souls, spirits....whatever.
Mortgages and 7 year car loans must feel like prisons to some.

This leaves most people angry and, again, I believe "the modern world" parallels The Industrial Revolution. aka, Fit in or Die....just don't complain. You didn't do anything wrong...the other guy / group / citizens did.

This leaves everyone free to grouse about anything that comes to mind. Add in how stupid many of us are and how a "savoir mentality"
opens the door to loud mouthed despots, and you get nations full of people pulling in opposite directions. And everyone knows what they're talking about all the time.

Twisting in rage in your easy chair while watching the "news" (what a laugh) is the only exercise many get.

TV and keeping up with the Jones's and seeing the big boys getting away with big crimes and regular people able to buy their way out of social trouble they get into (DWI's, the carjacking mentioned in another post.....) makes us indeed want it all and insults us too.

Seriously, how many here have endured dealing with Sesame Street stupes or Bevis and Butthead caliber fools.
This monkey puss procreates and votes.
 
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