There ought to be a law against it!

I love living in France, and mostly I like the French people I meet, specially the country ones (Parisiens seem to be another breed). But from time to time you stub your toe against the fact that there are major cultural differences and today I want to muse about two which have come to my notice in the past couple of days.
  They do love their rules and regulations! The English are no slouches when it comes to stupid laws but are left miles behind by the French. I came across a prime example yesterday in our local free magazine the Tournesol. Did you know that up to 2005 you needed a government licence to carry a white walking stick?!  Yes it was true, there was a government department responsible for issuing this vital document and, I suppose, monitoring the sanctions in force against those people wicked enough to carry one induement. You can imagine the Gendarme stopping the poor blind person and demanding sight of his permis to carry.  Absolute madness! Who the hell would carry one if he was not blind? Whatever advantage would he enjoy? Who was the maniac who thought you needed a law and the administration involved? Luckily the French have seen the light (sorry no pun intended) and have removed from official circles the need to issue these vital permits. But did they suppress the permit itself? Of course not, they just privatised the issue to associations dealing with blind persons, so the system rolls happily on. Just one more cross to bear for people whom fate has already punished enough.
     The other French particuliarité that has been in the news recently is the strikes on the SNCF following the tragic attack by a disturbed person on a ticket inspector. He  stabbed the official when it transpired he had no ticket and was promptly arrested and is now in custody. Did I say strike? Wash my mouth out with soap and water! This is not a strike, just the railway staff using their right to withdraw their labour if a clear and imminent danger to health or safety exists. As it is not a strike, there is no question of a minimum service or 48 hours notice being required or of any stoppage of pay.
  Where is this imminent danger? The nutter has been locked up and there is no more danger to staff than there ever was. Yet every train in France was off service yesterday and all the SNCF staff were enjoying a day`s paid holiday. The English had the reputation of being strike-happy a few years ago but at least they didn`t expect to get paid for it. No wonder there is a huge subsidy on the rail. I don`t want to minimise the injuries suffered by the unfortunate inspector, but this response was completely disproportionate.
   Well, having got these moans out of my system, I`m going to have some breakfast. At leat I don`t need a permit for that!

                    Bye for now!