In the last post I listed five things Americans can learn from the French. This post lists five things Americans can teach the French.
Integrate your immigrants into society. These people have much to offer an aging workforce. Shuffling them into ugly suburbs called banlieues with little opportunity is counterproductive, given the violence that’s occurred in the last two years. America has had its own anti-immigrant demagoguery, but our better instincts have prevailed – so far.
Put reflective fog lines on the sides of roads, especially in rural areas. Some of the roads in the Gorges du Verdon area had no shoulders, just a sheer drop to the valley below.
Quit smoking. The percentage of persons over 15 years old who smoke in France is 27.6%, whereas it’s 17.2% in the US. (Stats courtesy of the World Health Organization) Smoking is now prohibited inside French restaurants, which means that sidewalk cafés are clogged with smokers.
Lose the crappy iced tea. This was my biggest rant from last year, and remains so.
Have fresh milk in the grocery stores. It was a surprise last year to find that all of the milk available in markets was shelf-stable. And this in a country famous for its other dairy products.
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