Macron’s Art of the Deal
by Roger Cohen, Sept. 21, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/21/opinion/columnists/macron-trump-paris-climate-iran.html?comments#permid=24154176
As usual, a very good piece by Mr. Cohen.
Just two brief points.
Embarrassingly, in describing Macron's efforts to try and modify the idiocy of Thump's nationalist/isolationist pronouncements (Climate Accord, and Iran deal), he sounds like a teacher in a special-ed class (Macron) trying to modify the irrational behavior of s slightly retarded young student without, in deference to the parents (the US population) being too direct or insulting.
As a related side note, when Cable TV describes the exchanges between Kim Yong Il and Trump, one never quite knows who is being quoted - they both sound identical in their 8th grader rantings.
On Macron's domestic priority of reforming labor laws and regulations, I am hoping he can do that without breaking the labor unions, because, although currently they are part, if not the primary reason for past failures, in the long run well functioning labor unions are vital to ensuring rising wages for employees.
Germany managed to reform its labor markets, but the labor unions still play a vital (and in most cases constructive) role in ensuring the rights and fair wages of workers - they are also at the forefront of confronting the misuses of "Leih-Arbeit" (contract workers), which was part of the German reforms.
The British, under Thatcher, had to emasculate the once overly powerful British unions, which got the British economy going but hurt workers in the long run. Hopefully Macron learns from these historical precedents.
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