Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: midnight Target on March 14, 2003, 10:56:37 AM

Title: French lower the flag....
Post by: midnight Target on March 14, 2003, 10:56:37 AM: On their hotel chain.

http://money.cnn.com/2003/03/13/news/companies/sofitel/

Now I haven't participated in the French bashing, but would Hilton do this?
Title: French lower the flag....
Post by: hawk220 on March 14, 2003, 11:04:19 AM: I'm sure it would be just a matter of time before some redneck high on media patriotism would climb up and rip them down and set fire to it, or do something equally as ridiculous. Frankly, I'm surprised it hasn't happened. How soon till someone pulls all the French authors' books out of a library and has a bonfire, or a mob storms a boutique and burns French fashions in the steet. Think it couldn't get that bad? Think again.
Title: French lower the flag....
Post by: Hangtime on March 14, 2003, 04:30:20 PM: Quote
Think it couldn't get that bad? Think again.

that would make my day.
Title: French lower the flag....
Post by: Mini D on March 14, 2003, 05:22:04 PM: Ah.. a classic french response.

Its not like the flag might affect buisness. Nah. Its the inherant violence in America that has them worried... THATS why they pulled it down.

:rolleyes:

MiniD
Title: French lower the flag....
Post by: Animal on March 14, 2003, 05:25:51 PM: pathetic wussies.
Title: French lower the flag....
Post by: Krusher on March 14, 2003, 06:01:39 PM: interesting trade stats

France is the ninth-largest trading partner of the United States, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission. Total U.S. exports to France last year totaled $19 billion, while total U.S. imports from France totaled $28 billion in 2002.

just a quick google search shows a trade deficit with Germany also. 62 billion in imports vs 26 in exports

41 billion in imports vs 40 exports with the UK

5.5 billion in imports vs 5 billion in exports with Spain

total trade in 2002 with Western Europe is 246 billion in imports vs 157 billion in exports.

I am not an economist, but it looks like we buy much more European goods than we export. While I am not convinced a boycott of German and French goods is a good Idea, it sure looks like it would hurt Europe more than the US

BTW it strikes me as odd that I have read how America practices such UNFAIR trade policies (like tarrifs on Steel and wood) when I read the actual trade totals for 2002.
Title: French lower the flag....
Post by: Hangtime on March 14, 2003, 07:02:46 PM: i'm no economics expert.. but it would seem to me that we are way behind the curve on tarrifs. high time we retaliated with a duplicate set of trade tarrifs on french and german goods.

tit for tat. besides panache, there not a freakin thing made in germany or france we couldn't do without or build better.

invest in american jobs. buy american.
Title: French lower the flag....
Post by: OIO on March 14, 2003, 07:24:55 PM: Well, I do find it unnerving to say the least when someone is ashamed or afraid or unwilling to display their national flag over their bussinesses/assets.

I mean, thats like wiping your bellybutton with your flag.
Title: French lower the flag....
Post by: Hangtime on March 14, 2003, 09:12:06 PM: Quote
I mean, thats like wiping your bellybutton with your flag.

or an attempt at keeping me from wiping mine with theirs.
Title: French lower the flag....
Post by: muckmaw on March 14, 2003, 09:49:55 PM: Golly-geemit, Hang....Your beautiful!

In a heterosexual way....of course...ummm...how bout those bears....*cough*:D