French Strike Over Plans to Raise Retirement Age (to 62)

[Elmore Furth]

Source: ABC News

Boisterous crowds of protesters filled Marseille's port and wide Paris avenues, as unions staged nearly 200 marches in several cities over a broad reform to the money-losing pension system, part of efforts around Europe to cut back on growing public debts.

"Sarkozy, Don't Touch our Pensions!" read one banner at the Paris march, near a cardboard coffin marked: "Here lies Roger. He's 60, and he died before getting his retirement.

France has one of Europe's lowest retirement ages, allowing workers to retire at 60 in most sectors. The government says the reform to the money-losing pension system is an "obligation," given France's burgeoning deficit and its aging population.

The French pension reform pales in comparison with more drastic changes elsewhere in Europe. Germany, for example, plans to gradually raise its retirement age from 65 to 67, starting in 2012.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=10999515

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Dang, 62 is OLD!

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Tell me just one more time about how the US is the BEST country in the world....

I heard on the radio that some of the pensions are up to 75% of their working salary.
AND they have had universal health care for their entire lives.

[pattmarty]

7. Yep, if this is the "best" I surely wouldn't' want to be in fucking second place.........

......much last place. We are so fucked.

[RKP5637]

13. And there are so damn many Americans that just don't seem to get it... They

are so damn ignorant it's a wonder they remember to breath. But they'll do it again, vote in the R's and anyone else who can take them to yet a new low.

I get so fed up, I sometimes wonder if I even care anymore. Some of my friends have said the majority of the citizens in this place won't wake up until we have completely and fully collapsed. And like in the failed corps. I worked for, the wealthy won't suffer one bit. But some of the poorest Americans somehow think those on the take are their friends and that the RW religious nuts are going to give them salvation.

This is one crazy fucken place. If I weren't so damn old I would be on my way out of here.

[pattmarty]

14. I'm 63 and feel pretty much the same way. If I was somewhat younger.........

........and economically have what I do today, I would consider Spain. My wife and I think about it occasionally, but at this stage it's doubtful.

[w4rma]

2. The wealthiest there are trying to suck more money out of the system. (nt)

[RKP5637]

3. In the NEW World, work hard and hope to die early! n/t

[pattmarty]

4. Fuck!!!! Bring all the French strikers here. Hell, we'll pay them to..........

..........strike for us since we're too busy/stupid/disinterested to do it for ourselves.:sarcasm:

[Enthusiast]

8. It's all of that French Revolution, Bastille Day

and guillotine stuff that keep the PTB in line. We could use a little of that guillotine stuff.

[Omaha Steve]

5. K&R!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. American workers, this is how it's done.

K&R

[BrklynLiberal]

9. Bingo!!! Nothing even close to this could happen ghere in the US..even when cuts are more drastic,

and taken from benefits that are far lower.

[RKP5637]

16. Americans are asleep at the wheel as usual, and god forbid something might

interrupt their favorite TV program. I know people so damn lazy they won't even bother to send petitions or anything to congress. They feel someone else is already doing it for their fat asses. As we used to say at work, it's hard to soar like an eagle when you're flying along with a bunch of turkeys.

One would think by now enough would see the mess this place is in and start to get just a little smarts about what is occurring in this place still loosely called a country, but apparently not. I guess we have to hit rock bottom in USA, Inc.

It's a good thing Bush can't run again, some in this country are such damn fools they would vote him right back in again.

[liberation]

11. The sad part is that it was American labor who first got organized

Heck, most of the social safety net and organized labor in the EU was inspired by achievements by American labor and programs from FDR's presidency.

We should be ever so ashamed of ourselves to have let it come down to this. People fought hard to get where we are, and modern American generations are simply pissing all that hard work and sacrifice away.

[lovuian]

12. Yep

all workers in America need to have a National Strike day

just to coordinate and be ready

for the Worldwide Strike

[JackRiddler]

10. If you wonder why the French have all these benefits, THIS is why.

[dflprincess]

15. I'm just going to crawl into a corner and cry for a while

Even if Social Security doesn't get gutted I can't see anyway I'll be able to retire before I'm 70.

[RKP5637]

18. You'll be lucky to have a job 'till 70. In the corps. I worked in they started

clearing house at age 50! What an absolute joke our age discrimination laws are... I was old and was lucky when this started, but many of my friends in their early 50's are still looking for work.

One is flipping hamburgers and feels lucky. He was well over $100k, has several degrees and a very hard worker. He now makes about minimum wage.

This country has become absolutely ridiculous. People are in the way, the country could function better without millions of people, it only cares about money. USA, Inc.

[dflprincess]

20. I've had that happen once

I was laid off at 51 & it took me 8 months to find a new job (this is 6 years ago). I was lucky that time & actually found a better job. I have nightmares about being laid off again especially the way the economy is now. The problem is, if I had to take a job that paid less, my eventual SS payment would drop and I'd wind up working some kind of job past age 70 just to get by.

[RKP5637]

21. I'm a little older. It's amazing what our job situation has become over the years. When

we were young, you really had to screw up to lose your job, now it's just a daily routine. Good luck! I hope your current job lasts as long as you want it too. Thanks for your reply.

[conspirator]

17. I say it's time to storm the fucking Bastille again, and worldwide n/t

[NHLrocks]

19. I dont see too much wrong with that.

[Darth_Kitten]

22. People retire way too early..........

if people are living to be 90 and beyond, I would think you have to work a "few" more years to have a decent retirement.

[Nihil]

24. That's a hell of a big "if" there.

> if people are living to be 90 and beyond

People *born today* have (on paper) a good chance of getting to 90
(i.e., if everything stays the same as it is today, not allowing for
the projected problems, etc.).

People in their 40s/50s/60s today haven't got quite that sunny a projection.

The galling thing is that it is the workers today who are paying for the
pensions of the politicians who are deciding to make them work longer
but the latter will be able to retire on their all-expenses-paid cushions
whereas the former will just die in harness.

:mad:

[krabigirl]

23. Hmmm..the retirement age used to be 65, Mitterand brought it down to 60..they don't have the money.

They just don't. Sorry, I think 62 is just fine, considering they used to have to wait until 65.