For over a century, Frenchman have been engrained with the belief that the state is their provider. This message has not been lost on recent settlers in France, though we are at a lost to explain why anyone would voluntarily settle in France. Nonetheless, the French state has created this entitlement culture over a period of decades, as a result the primacy of the state is unquestioned and when individuals encounter setbacks in their lives, it is the state that must accept responsibility, not the individual. Increasingly, however, France has found it difficult to live up to its entitlement promises. The French economy is in a shambles and unemployment is astronomical.

The French social model, championed by Jacques Chirac has superior to the Anglo-American model is a failure. France has succeeded only in creating a subject class of people so dependent upon the government that it is surprising they don’t call the Prime Minister when it is time to relieve themselves. The French economic and social order has stifled innovation, what else can account for the fact that no substantive innovation or breakthrough has emerged from France in centuries? As the French government has consistently failed its people, while destroying their work ethic, it is no surprise that Frenchmen in the Paris suburbs have taken to the streets. For a week now, Frenchmen in the suburbs NE of Paris have been rioting, torching buildings and now firing at police and fire crews. Rioting, however, is nothing new for the French people. For years it has been the standard method for the French populace to exact concessions from their government. Given the success of the practice in the past, its no surprise that today’s French are employing the same lawless tactics. Bare in mind that the French psyche is engrained with two philosophies: entitlement and appeasement. For this reason the French government will take on an even greater paternalistic role, while rewarding the rioters with numerous concessions. In the end there can be but one result: maintenance of the status quo. Unemployment will remain unchanged, the disaffected will continue to be so and the French state will exalt itself as a father figure, while ordinary citizens absolve themselves of any degree of personal responsibility.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4401670.stm