Eric's Beijing Diary

Well, Sarkozy is in in France. You would be surprised how many seemingly intelligent professionals I have met in this country who try to insist that what is happening today in China is a modification of Marxism. In response to such nonsense, I often say that France is more socialist than China. Now I may have to change that. Sarkozy's election is one more nail in the coffin of institutional socialism. It actually took me quite by surprise. I have not had this much interest in France for a long time. It just seemed to be so irrelevant. Perhaps my interest is peaked, in part, because China has so much interest in France. French is the most frequently required "third language" for English majors. And the restaurants are fond of playing French music. But I really think my interest is due more to the fundamental change that Sarkozy's election represents. History may tell us that Socialism in France was a casualty of the European Union. It is just too easy, now, for energetic, working professionals to move to another part of Europe to escape the burdens of socialism. And a lesson to Hillary Clinton from history: Women politicians who go after the women's vote do not get the women's vote. Women who campaign for the needs of all citizens get the votes of all citizens, and the women's vote thrown in for good measure.