This week, tout le monde is watching France. The final round of the presidential elections are being held next Sunday. For those previously unaware, the competition is between Ségolène Royal (Socialist, left) and Nicolas Sarkozy (UMP, center-right).

For me, Royal's speeches are too idealistic, abstract and rhetorical, but after viewing the American 2004 elections I've come to learn that this is not a problem in politics. My other critique is that she has publicly denounced anime. What was she thinking? On the other hand, she wants to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption.

Sarkozy is anti-immigration and wants to reduce the separation of church and state in France. In fact, he wants to "kick the scum" out of the suburbs. Those in opposition to "Sarko" claim he's not too different from Hitler. I've heard some say they would prefer Le Pen, the candidate from the extreme right, to be elected instead of Sarkozy simply because he is at least honest in his opinions. Many feel that Sarkozy has a particularly manipulative platform and that he's selling an image of being closer to the center than he really is.

I would like to point out the genius of the two-tiered electoral process (especially from the American liberal's point of view). All of the candidates run for the first election and the top two candidates move on to the second round. In the past couple of elections, we have seen the liberal vote split between two (or more!) candidates. This has let Bush win even though he has never been in the favor of the majority.

I also believe that the result of this election will have a significant effect on the American elections in 2008.

First of all, I would like to think that the Republican party doesn't stand a chance. If for some reason it does, I find the idea of both Sarkozy and our conservative party being in power greatly disturbing.

If Royal is elected, it would decrease Hillary's chances. Sure, we would recognize the possibility of having a woman president. But there is simply no way that the world would let two of the most powerful countries have female leaders at the same time. Then again, I don't think Hillary has much of a chance in the States.

As always, I am rooting for Obama. I wish he had one more term to prepare his debut. He's still quite young and is relatively unknown, even among the liberals. The timing is not the best, but he doesn't seem to have any other choice.

The result I would like to see? Royal in France, Obama in the States.
The problem with this result? On a more superficial level, this solution is just too liberal. The baby-boomers would be in fits!


Anyway, one morning one of the metro stations had these posters covering the normal advertisements. Every passerby stopped to read them. It was very impressive. After thinking about the elections, graffiti, and the role of the subversive act within contemporary society during the past three weeks, it was a delight to cross paths with these. On the other hand, I don't fully understand their messages. Some help?

They say such things as:
Productivism + Consumerism = All becomes painful.

Transfer your owner. (Change your boss?) Before he does not change you (and work less to gain less).

Fear the ones, the others.

Consuming sheep... Unhappy, exploited worker. To be human liberates you, changes you. Live!

...and then there's a sloth and snail.