Aux Armes, Citoyens Anglos Toothlesses, the French aren't taking it lying down.

Mark Weisbrot, the Guardian: By taking
to the streets to defend their pension
rights from regressive cuts,the French
are fighting for all our benefits*

George Monbiot comments in the Guardian: For the Conservatives, this is not a financial crisis but a long-awaited opportunity: In a classic example of 'disaster capitalism', the cuts are being used to reshape the economy in the interests of business – and to trash the public sector.

At least the French aren't falling for it. Mon dieu,  they're not going gently into the good night of eternal Newstart as the retirement horizon recedes forever into the distance. While Lily-livered Labor does nothing to prosecute age discrimination.

By gum, by DH's toothless old gum (we lost universal dental care in 1996 under Howard, and never got it back, remember?) we Aussies have become a nation of whipped and toothless curs by comparison.

The Marseillaise still says it all (freely translated by DH):

Que veut cette horde d'esclaves,	What does this horde of toadies,
De traîtres, de rois conjurés ?	Of traitors and spinned up political pretenders want?
Pour qui ces ignobles entraves,	For whom are these ignoble shackles,
Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? (bis)	These long-prepared fetters? (repeat)
Français, pour nous, ah ! quel outrage	Ordinary Aussies, that's who, ah! what outrage
Quels transports il doit exciter !	What fury it should arouse!
C'est nous qu'on ose méditer	It is we whom they dare plan
De rendre à l'antique esclavage !	To return to ancient slavery!



* Photograph: Pascal Guyot/AFP/Getty Images. From Sarkozy Should Resign by Mark Weisbrot, The Guardian