Sardines

On Paris metro maps, the RER A cinches a thick red belt across the city.  The line connects the monotony of the western suburbs to the ecstasy of Disneyland.  Along the way is also La Defense, also know as the largest mass of concrete, steel, and glass in Europe.  


Paris boasts moves over a million people a day school on the train line.  That is to say, when it is moving.


Recently, as mentioned, France is at somewhat of a crossroads.  The country is watching its bank account plummet like Florida investment property and realizing maybe people are not dying fast enough.  There is a suggestion that maybe they will have to work a bit longer before punching in one last time.  


This notion is causing somewhat of a crisis.


Fifty years ago, there were 5 poor saps working for each retiree.  Presently the ratio is two to one.  In 1950, the life expectancy was around 67 (+/- male/female).  Now, it is 81.5 years young.  Looking back from the deep sleep, you had about 7 years after working. Now, you get 21.


However, what the system has in benefits, it may lack in fairness.  For example, if you are a laborer starting work at 16 you have 46 years of manual bliss before retirement.  If you start at 20, you still retire at 62, yielding 4 less years of work experience.


Regardless of which side you are on, though, if you do not like something, in France you have one answer.


Strike.


Thus the disgruntled among the French take their grievances to the street.  Voices shouting, windows smashed, cars burned, and thousands queued for their turn to picket the assembly.  Petrol stations run dry for lack of refueling.  Garbage collectors refuse to move refuse.  Police dodge stones and return fire with vitamin teargas.


So what does this have to do with the RER A?

Let’s say it can get a bit snug.