I seem to recall a fair number of European countries did, and suffered from it even more than the US, no? If so, it's a good wedge to force the current in power countries out of power.

Hollande made promises which were contradicted as unsustainable by his own Minister of budgetary affairs almost as soon as he took office.

But that's life and it happens.

I think my cat has got more of a clue than Hollande who has shown himself to be a waste of space full of vacant promises.

I agree with you on Hollande's ineptitude. The people were hungry for someone to act like a real socialist. Instead, they got Hollande.

But I should point out that when the oligarchy get very, very rich and destroy a half decent economy, they go on spending sprees of propaganda and paid political actors. People are on the edge and the oligarchy has almost all the wealth. That's why it seems that during hard times people vote-in conservatives. It seems that way but what is actually happening is the rich start agitating the populace with well funded right wing organizations. The conservative uber rich, who just got richer, have tons of money to buy up media, politicians and pseudo-grass root organizations. The people are fed all this RW propaganda through media and fake populists groups. Since liberals tend to be poorer, there is less liberal push back to this propaganda. So, large groups of people believe it. A small mass of over-fed excessively wealthy people are a danger to a stable society.

The uber rich oligarchs funded Hitler, Mussolini and Pinochet, to name just a few RW despots. They do have a tendency to buy up psychopaths that go on murder sprees.

Socialists policies did not cause the flawed capitalistic system to collapse.

Socialists policies have the economic facts on their side.

I guess there are uninformed citizens in all countries.

I wonder if their media is filled with lies, omissions, and misrepresentations like the media in the U.S. ???

Will a Socialist country ever truly have a chance on this planet ?

It seems countries all over the planet continue to ignore history and the same battles rage on.

The planet is ruled by psychopaths whose only interests are power, control, and money.

and it sounded like the economy isn't doing well in France. I know several that are trying to stay in the US long term, and another one that eventually went back to Europe - but to Germany instead. These are well educated and skilled young people - engineers mostly. I also got the impression it's especially tough if you're entrepreneurial and want to start a business.

Here's an article on the problem: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/23/business/international/some-french-entrepreneurs-say-au-revoir.html?_r=0

However, I should note that none of them were thrilled by vacation policy or impressed by the healthcare system in the US.

-Laelth

are ruled by right wing extremists? Fear is also used by media in France to make money.

Senators are appointed by local governments. The Socialists only control it narrowly anyhow, because the number of seats isn't weighted for population, which gives it a natural rural bias.

That's never a good sign. UMP is Sarkozy's party, National Front is Marine Le Pen's (far right).

Beyond that, I have nothing to add.