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Originally Posted by BRISK
I've always thought it's funny that the well known phrase "laissez faire" is French, yet the concept of laissez faire isn't very popular in France.
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No it is very much alive in France.
But it kind of works like this....
Example 1:
You go to the Maire office to get a "Certificate de Hebergement."
(Piece of goverment paper that states where you live so you can put your name on a mail box, open a bank account, etc.)They give you a ton of forums to fill out and demand an E.D.F. Facture
(electricty bill) or lease.
But you Electricy is included and you don't have a lease.
Therfore, the person looks at you and shrugs.
IE: You are screwed. If you can't fill out the form and the person behind the counter isn't going to help you. They have no solution or suggestions and Nobody cares.
Example 2:
You go to a bank, stand in line for 45 mins. because there is only 1 teller.
Finally you get to the teller and ask to open an account.
Teller looks at you strange, tells you thats not her department and you have to make an appointment.
Then you wait 2 weeks, meet the person for the account. He tells you that you don't have all the paperwork he desires. Go someplace else and come back.
(Certifcate de herbergement?)
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You are constantly going around in circles, waiting in lines and no one really gives a shit about being fast or efficient. But if you voice your displeasure at this, the French worker will BITCH YOU OUT! "C'est France! It is the way we do things!"
And if you are an employer and demand your workers to "Get the lead out." You get told, "I will quit!" or "It is time for a strike!" or "You can not fire me because it is Interdit by law!"
(Yes sacking a person is a bitch in France. Regardless of how much of a fuck up they are.)
All of this has led me to conduct my business dealings, not with the true Frenchmen but with foriegners. The Africans, Middle Easterners, etc will work and jump real high for the right price.
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