Like previous governments (except for, a very old one, that of Pierre Mauroy in 1981), the present government considers that it can neither pronounce the word discipline, nor let it pronounce by any member of its majority. It sees there the guilty admission of a desire to involve all the French people in the national recovery effort.
It prefers to believe, and make believe, that it would be able to absolve the « average » Frenchmen, and the « middle » classes, without daring to define neither what they are nor at which level of income ends this average. Government ministers and parliamentarians of the new majority are thus repeating this mantra each and every way and swear, with their hands over their hearts, that the VAT reduction is already decided and that the increase in CSG (Contribution Sociale Généralisée) « is not currently on the agenda » because these two taxes affect all French, regardless of the income level.
For the words, this may seem unimportant. That the government and the new majority call it « discipline », « effort » or simply « deleveraging », (which sounds like a fairly good term to use), may seem like a trivial quarrel. And it is true that what matters is what they do. In fact, words depend on the nature of action. And to not recognize the need to reduce a debt made by all, is to condemn oneself to not understand the necessary action.
For the analysis, it is already much less acceptable. We have all lived under delusion. It is time to accept reality. It is not possible to suggest that all the French did not take advantage of debt in recent years: for ten years and during several months a year, all French people have benefited from public services without paying. They all sent their children to school on credit, they were all protected by police and soldiers paid on credit, they all received housing allowances, various subsidies on credit, that is to say without taxes from anyone to finance them.
About action at last, it is unrealistic and unfair to think that we can do without asking all French people, wherever they live, and all foreigners living in France, to participate in the funding, of past and future public services. The public debt cannot be reduced without significantly reducing costs for all and without significantly increasing taxes for all. And especially, since we must call a spade a spade, we will have to raise taxes on all incomes, and concentrate housing subsidies and other social welfare on those who need it most. It will be necessary in particular, and the sooner the better, to increasing both CSG (Contribution Sociale Généralisée) and VAT.
Especially since, even if we might regret it, the richest, private persons or companies, are the most mobile, and thus who are best placed to leave if we propose to have them pay an excessive share of the debt of the country: we will then lose their contribution to taxes and to jobs they animate and direct. Nobody has anything to gain from this.
Calling a cat a cat is a necessary condition for not treating it like a dog.