Taylor Lynne Trentwood
Examiner: Denver’s Life Coach
Strikes in France over losing retirement at 60!
While Americans at looking at an increase in the age to retire for full social security, so too are many European nations. Greece has to deal with riots, public demonstrations and criminal activity that killed three bank employees when it altered its entitlements. Reality is hitting home not only in our country but around the entire world. People are not readily adjusting to the necessity. Just as in Greece, public demonstrations are gaining ground.
France is facing the identical outrage as was seen in Greece by its own citizens because they might be asked to wait until age 62 to retire! Benefits once given are not easily withdrawn. Current retirment in France is granted with the 60th birthday. This leave approximately 20 plus years of being supported by fellow countrymen. Economists have repeatedly stated that this plan is untenable. Sarkozy agrees.
On Tuesday a national protest and strike that will shut down many French industries is scheduled. The protest is against Nicolas Sarkozy’s rational statement that unless changes are made that France by 2020 will be financially endangered to a crushing degree. He is attempting to prevent a national collapse.
Union led, the strike is planned to hit telecommunications, Rail lines, and even Air France says it will be affected . Millions of fellow French citizens will be inconvenienced and a great deal of commerce will be shut down. This is over a full retirement at age 62!
There are lessons here for all. Talking reality to a citizenry who have become accustomed to unaffordable benefits is to take on not a paper tiger but a roaring lion.
In Denver, some people do retire at age 62 due to health issues or the decision to put free time ahead of income. They do so however with a full understanding that they are not going to receive a full retirement income. Most people surveyed in the high tech areas will wait until 67 to retire.
Although the French officials have spoken loudly and clearly the people reject the reasoning. Although these differences also occur in the USA, we do not have national shut downs in protest.
The ideas of the benefits in France, which are full retirement at age 60, seem luxurious by our standards. However, Sarkozy will have his hands full on Tuesday when the country will be largely crippled by union led strikes.
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