Could you enlighten me as to what it achieved over here, as compared to say France, and just why do you think it was wrong?

Er, I can't remember x 2

Just wondered as I can't remember it achieving anything at all here, they wouldn't even take the twopence they had just stuck on fuel duty.

In France however they removed road tax from cars.

Direct action only works if the government listens to the people, something ours in any colour doesn't

"I'm afraid the average Frenchie thinks of themselves a tad too highly - they somehow feel they deserve a lot more than the rest of us. I'm afraid arrogance is no substitute for dignity."

I've lived here (France) for eight years. Many of the Brits I've met here fall into this description. I can think of only one French person I've met who I would class as arrogant. Bit unfair to accuse much of the French nation on what one reads/hears in the media and limited personal experience.

The difference between the French and the British when it comes to striking, is this :- When the French strike, the French government makes noises along the lines of "We won't give in to these people". Then sometime later....They do. When the British strike/protest, the British government push through "legislation" to ban/outlaw the reason given for the strike/protest.

Example:- Back in 2000 the French lorry drivers blockaded fuel depots and the French government capitulated. A week or so later, British lorry drivers blockaded fuel depots and the British government passed a bill in parliament, outlawing it. And they say Great Britain is a democracy

I live here too and are married to one by the way. I don't find French (family and friends) more arrogant than my Danish or Australian family and friends. What I do find here in France is a certain amount of ignorance (generale interest in none french matters) similar to the Americans, the Brits, Aussies and so on. That is not arrogance in my book. I'm happy that way, imagine if we were all the same Borring.
To put some one down is to make your self better.

Steve, I can well imagine that the average British ex-pat puts the average native to complete shame in the arrogance stakes... Us Brits do that really well, 'specially when it's not in our own country.

I'm not really tarring all the French with the same brush, only trying to point out that their way of striking harks back to 70's Britain in its bolshieness and with an added sprinkling of thuggery added on. Chuck another sheep on t'roadside barbie?

Some sections of our industry carry 'power' beyond their entitlement. It would be quite easy for the power-generation industry, for example, to bring us to our knees if they wished, whereas all the media industry would manage is to deprive us of the 'Sun'. Should those with the 'power' therefore be allowed to wield it as they wish?

Anyways, the original point is that the French are demonstrating - and in some cases rioting - over an unreasonable matter. They simply cannot expect the state to pay for their retirements when the wine-soaked cronies live well into their 80's and beyond. It's unsustainable. They want - and are brutally fighting for - something they have no reasonable entitlement to. The Germans must be looking across the border with barely disguised contempt - and wishing they'd done a proper job 70 years ago.

2CViking, "To put some one down is to make your self better."

And your point is...?

I think we're getting into dodgy territory here. Too much stereotyping. Just my opinion...

I know, Smiffy -all my comments are 'sweeping' and to be taken with a pinch of salt. I think there's a general truth behind the French behaviour, tho',; they doth protest too much. And too aggressively.