General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: So, Trump, the "laughingstock," is on his way here to Europe. Here's my take on what is going on: [View all]DFW
(54,437 posts)Under France's system of deifying "les fonctionnaires," their top ones can grab all they'll ever need legally. It's a greedy one indeed who needs to stoop to corruption to augment his or her income. When you're living in the Elysée palace and have no personal expenses, and get a fat lifetime pension afterward, you can reduce your salary 99% as présdent of France, and still live like King Louis. It's not like Hollande went to live in some 50 m² apartment in the Vème.
Raising taxes is not socialism. State control of the means of production is socialism. Mitterand tried it to some degree, nationalizing several enterprises. He backed off quickly after the disaster that ensued. Any government can confiscate wealth. Just ask the people of Venezuela or Romania. It's what they do with it that matters, and so far the answer hasn't been satisfactory to the people of many nations that have lived under it.