U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’ • Hacker News Board

Re: U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

#121

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Feb 22, 2013, 1:30 AM UTC

cpleppert wrote: post #83

hollerith wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, but that is partly or wholly because French unemployment is higher than it is in the US with the result that the less productive workers do not have jobs and consequently are not included in the statistic. If we use a different statistic, namely, GDP per capita, France is significantly lower than the US.

GDP per capita doesn't track unemployment either. France isn't 'significantly' lower than the US either it is about where Germany is and Britain is far behind them both.

[deleted]

Re: U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

#122

Post by brousky » Fri, Feb 22, 2013, 2:33 AM UTC

oelmekki wrote: post #117

jacquesm wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All he succeeded in communicating is that he thinks in stereotypes and is a jerk. Why do you think this letter is now on public display? Workers in France work for three hours, eat for two and talk for another three? Really? Producing in France is only expensive because of the labour costs? Or is there maybe also that pesky environmental controls issue?

French here. What I'm mostly concerned here is that the guy is basically saying : "we will produce tires in China for cheap and then sell them to you, because we can". Europe has very low restrictions on imports, because it tries to implement free market as purely as possible. Many voices in France say we must be more aggressive on importation taxes, and that even US has a more protected market than us. After all, no…

> Saying French workers work 3 hours a day is totally stupid. Normal work day is 8 hours for private sector, and 7 hours for public sector (but most public sector workers work 8 hours and then take a day off to compensate over worked days)

He didn't say workers came to the factory for 3 hours then left. What he said was that out of the 7 hours of a work day, 1 is lost in breaks and lunch, 3 are spent chatting instead of working and there's only 3 ours of actual work being done.

If you read the comments on the article the vast majority actually support what that CEO says and disapprove the actions of the CGT.

Re: U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

#123

Post by brousky » Fri, Feb 22, 2013, 2:37 AM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #72

fnordfnordfnord wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you prefer that the guy puts on a fake smile and pretends to not be an ass? I wouldn't.

False Dichotomy. Hello dear French Person, We have taken your offer under consideration and have decided we are not interested. Experience has taught us that we can produce cheaper in Asia which is why we are not going to set up a manufacturing base in Europe. best regards, x No fake smile, not an ass.

I think he felt it necessary to explain in greater details why buying this distressed factory made no sense. If you can read the comments (http://commentaires.lesechos.fr/commentaires.php?id=02025770...) the vast majority said they're very happy to see someone bluntly tell the government what the majority of French people understood a long time ago but can't say publicly because it's taboo to talk about business, productivity and how the big unions are costing more jobs then they're saving.

Re: U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

#124

Post by brousky » Fri, Feb 22, 2013, 2:45 AM UTC

stfu wrote: post #38

Is there somewhere already a translation of the French response? http://www.lesechos.fr/economie-politique/france/actu/020257...

The original response in English is below the French translation on this page: http://www.lesechos.fr/economie-politique/france/document/02...

Re: U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

#125

Post by brousky » Fri, Feb 22, 2013, 2:48 AM UTC

fruzz wrote: post #69

I find it somewhat odd that he rails against workers earning too much, when what they earn is but a fraction of his own salary. I doubt they work any less harder than him either.

> I doubt they work any less harder than him either.

Actually, his main gripe is that after visiting the factory, he realized workers only do 3 hours of actual work in a typical 7-hour day. When he brought that up to union reps, they bluntly replied that "it's the French way".