Word: frenchness
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During the opening months of his presidency, Nicolas Sarkozy earned lavish praise and applause for his active engagement and seeming omnipresence on the international stage. But now hunkered down to face a series of daunting challenges at home, the French President is steeling himself for several stressful months of grappling with economic malaise, social conflict and an increasingly chilly relationship with France's voters...
...Since the nation returned to work from summer vacations last month, scarcely a day has passed without additional gloomy economic news undermining the can-do confidence Sarkozy had sought to instill in the French public. In September, it was announced that the nation's slowly shrinking unemployment rate had reversed course and increased slightly during the previous month to nearly 8.1%. Later, word came that the year-end economic growth the government had hoped might reach 2.5% was set to increase only 1.8%, in part due to French businesses continuing to create few new jobs...
...French then learned the nation's health care system would finish 2007 over $19 billion in the red - 30% more than initially expected - and would run at least another $11.2 billion over a budget Sarkozy is seeking to pass for 2008. The budget itself is highly controversial: despite eliminating nearly 23,000 civil service jobs, it would still run a 2.3% deficit (worth nearly $59 billion) due in large part to nearly $20 billion in income tax cuts that critics say mostly benefit the wealthy. Like its 2007 predecessor, the 2008 budget is also built upon estimated...
...government has offered no clear plans of how it will ensure riches are spent wisely. The promise of wealth has already sparked a property boom in Phnom Penh, a possible early sign of inflation. In the future, no doubt, Cambodia's capital will boast even more classy French bistros. But it just might have more beggars...
Next, the “ethnic” foods in the dining hall must be done away with, as they force our students to interact with lesser countries neglecting their own great heritage. French pastries should be replaced with Boston cream cake, Thai spiced chicken with Memphis spiced chicken, and skim milk with whole milk, all in an effort to cut down on un-American influences...