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France's "Generous" Welfare State Implodes

Many conservatives are blaming Islam for the riots in France. This explanation from a newspaper report today, in my view, comes much closer to the mark:

So far, though, there has been no religious dimension given to the riots. Those taking part have spoken more of protesting the misery of their lives in the fringe towns, where unemployment of over 20% is the norm.

The riots appear to be an entirely logical byproduct of the growth of the French welfare/regulatory state.

The government of France fosters a culture that belittles hard work and entrepreneurship, packs people into defacto segregated public housing, destroys potential jobs through labor market regulations, and then "maintains" members of this underclass as wards of the state.

Why should anyone be surprised when this leads to idleness, alientation, resentment, desperation, and, finally, riots?

Posted on Saturday, November 5, 2005 at 8:05 PM | Comments (1) | Return

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