France plans extra work day a year to help elderly

[NNN0LHI]

I like this idea.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L06580947.htm

PARIS, Nov 6 (Reuters) - France said on Thursday it will ask people to work an extra day each year to finance improved health care for the elderly and handicapped.

The move follows the deaths of thousands of old people this summer in a heatwave.

"Last summer was a murderous summer. It showed that we have a duty to take action to help elderly people," Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin told a news conference.

Raffarin said companies and unions will be asked to choose which public holiday or other non-work day they will give up. The extra day is likely to be worked from 2005.

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[Atman]

1. "Bush plans on extra work day a year to help Halliburton"

eom

[Benhurst]

2. LOL!

Thanks for a good laugh to start the day. :D

[yellowcanine]

3. But only the "Lucky Duckies" have to work it.

Only those "Lucky Duckies" (as determined by the Wall Street Journal) who earn so little they don't pay taxes (except SS and Medicare payroll taxes of course) will have to work the extra day.

[Paschall]

4. This plan provides only a fraction of the funds needed...

...to hire extra geriatric health care providers and finance other services sought for the elderly.

And, does this sound familiar? "Francois Hollande, leader of the opposition Socialist Party, said the extra funds were roughly equivalent to the government's planned reduction in income tax in 2004."

Only 50% of the French--the wealthiest--pay income tax. As in Empire Shrub, they get a tax break, but even the poorest paid workers will be giving up a holiday.

Nonetheless, opinion polls show the French are overwhelmingly in favor of an extraordinary national effort to help the elderly and prevent another disaster like last summer's.