Through the Broken Window

If you've been watching the news, you know that many French are outraged (to the point of rioting) over a law that would allow employers to fire young workers without a reason. This law will remove many young people from the job protection laws that "protect" other workers.

And let me tell you. I wish America's youth were that politically active! After all, it doesn't matter who you vote for (or protest for?), as long as you vote! Vote or Die, remember? Rock The Vote!

Anyways, seriously, I think I'm preaching to the choir when I say that this response reveals some disturbing philosophical and economic assumptions being made by these protestors. It seems they must be viewing employment as an obligation of the employer to the employee, instead of as a mutually beneficial agreement between both parties. Perhaps, this attitude is a result of misunderstanding market activity as struggle between laborers and capitalists. Would protestors demand similar "protections for employers" in the form of anti-quitting laws?

Either way, this protest is essentially about demanding a form of institutionalized prejudice. Jim Crowe for the 21st century. Such a double standard would not only hurt employers, but it would hurt laborers in the long run as these laws only serve as a barrier to realizing the dynamic benefits of a free market system.

Let's hope de Villepin sticks to his guns.