Cheat-Seeking Missles

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

France To Pay Rich Women For Kids

Concerned about a shrinking middle/upper class, as more educated, better employed French women have fewer babies, the planning-crazed French government is about to pay up to $1,250 a month to women who have a third baby -- with more money going to wealthier, better educated women!

The London Daily Telegraph reports:
Given France's egalitarian ideals, the notion of creating perks to attract professional mothers did not go down well with the socialist opposition.

Although class or racial issues have been sidestepped, there is a suspicion on the left that the ruling center-right regards the existing system as favoring those with little work ethic who live on handouts.
Is it really all about counterbalancing France's ballooning Muslim population? You betcha. Back to the article:
Demographic trends in Muslim and non-Muslim communities are rarely mentioned in public debate. France has the largest Muslim community in Europe, estimated at up to 10 percent of its 60 million population.

"France is facing the problem that dare not speak its name," columnist Barbara Amiel wrote in 2004 for the London Telegraph.

"Though French law prohibits the census from any reference to ethnic background or religion, many demographers estimate that as much as 20 [to] 30 percent of the population under 25 is now Muslim. ...

"Given current birthrates, it is not impossible that in 25 years France will have a Muslim majority. The consequences are dynamic: Is it possible that secular France might become an Islamic state?" Ms. Amiel wrote.
Perhaps they should also change their census law, so they get a clear picture, instead of rough estimates, of what's going on in their country.