Rockwell on the French Riots

Lew Rockwell comments on the French labor riots. As usual, he punctures the issue with outstanding insight and clarity.

Imagine if jobs were available for everyone who wanted to work. What if "help wanted" signs were everywhere? What if skilled laborers could pick where they wanted to work, and unskilled laborers could gain skills in a large range of environments? Or imagine if French workers were in the position of deciding – as many young Americans are – whether to work for someone else's company or take the risk of starting their own.

If that were the case, I would venture a guess that there would be no energy behind any protests of a law that grants business more liberality in firing. And yet a huge range of laws prevent that from happening. It is not easy to start a business in France or hire people. The taxes, mandates, and wage controls are wickedly restrictive. In the name of human rights, France has managed to deny people their most basic right of contributing to society in a manner of their own choosing.

It's so hard to believe that this is the same nation that gave birth toFrederic Bastiat. He's probably turning in his grave.