There was an amusing little exchange on CNN yesterday that I wonder whether people caught. The anchor (I’m not recalling his name) was speaking with CNN’s reporter in Paris about the decision by the French government to rescind the change in labor laws that had generated widespread protests.

Almost beside himself, the anchor said something like, “Who is in control in France? It seems like the president is not in control, it seems like the prime minister is not in control, it seems like the people in the streets are running the country!”

To which I said, amen. The on-going analysis in the media about the change in French law was awful. The entire spin went something like this: the government is simply trying to change laws in order to compete in the global economy and these pesky young people don’t seem to want to get with the program and enter into the 21st Century of the glory of the free market.

Haven’t these folks connected the changes in government in South America to recently went down in France? People are rejecting the neo-liberal model and its tool of so-called “free trade.” They understand, particularly young people, that the American model for the economy leads to lower wages and a very tough life for most workers.

Now, if only we can get the French model here–meaning, the French model for mass protests against the war, the lack of health care and abusive corporate power.