Sarkozy "The American" ran on a campaign to change France. The deficit in France is about the same as in the US even without an expensive war. The initial small strikes were only the first play in a long match with each sides seeing how the other would react. Now it's the real thing, with trains and metros shut down and power shortages coming via other unions. Students are in the queue and I'm sure there are a few other groups waiting in the wings.
The issue is whether to bring the rail worker unions into the norm with the rest of the population. Currently many can retire at 50 or 55 whereas those outside of the union are typically thrown on the street at that age with little hope of ever finding employment to finish their working life. One key argument that the government workers make is that their jobs are boring and they accept lower pay and better retirement plans. Hmm, how about everyone else that makes somewhat more money (though not drastically more) but has less and less job security?
Sarkozy still enjoys high general approval numbers though people are starting to doubt his capabilities to implement the change he spoke about in the campaign. The next few weeks will either break him, much as it did to Chirac when faced with strikes, or make him much more powerful. It's hard to say if either outcome is good for the country, but we shall know more soon.
