|
Just a few months ago, the (by European standards) conservative French government reiterated its commitment to keep its troops in Afghanistan. Then there was an election, and the Socialist candidate won. Do you suppose elections matter?
The new Socialist government proposes tax increases on the wealthy and increased government spending for a new round of quasi-Keynesian stimulus, rather than any cuts in government which are derided as "austerity" (as if forcing French taxpayers to make more sacrifices so those living off the government can keep going on their merry way is anti-austerity). Yet somehow, defense spending is the one type of government spending left-wing governments don't like, except when the spending is on politically connected defense industries, and then politicians on all sides of the aisle are in favor. In France, this is made worse because the government is a major equity owner of much of French defense industry. So if you are going to cut defense, it's not Dassault and EADS that will take the big hit, but current operations and personnel budgets.
Absent the specifically French touches like the major government ownership stakes in defense contractors, does any of this sound familiar?
|