"A generous state, whose generosity is directed toward me" is the true definition of French "socialism"

Regarding In France, the political clout of 'terroir' (Oct. 22): While I think that France's love for gastronomy may be the reason the French revere their "terroir" — the "mythical landscape of farms and the men and women who tend to them" — I believe it is wrong to associate this phenomenon with the Paris's position on the European Union's agricultural subsidies

writes Peter Marteinson to the International Herald Tribune from Toronto. (Also check out John Vinocur's Politicus article on Blair and Europe.)

The real reason is slightly less honorable: For the French, their "social model" and indeed the credo of socialism - "to each according to his need" - has little to do with the spirit of solidarity, compassion and state-organized cooperation it evokes outside the hexagon.

Sadly, in France such noble causes have become mere rationalizations for a spirit of selfishess.

"A generous state, whose generosity is directed toward me" is the true definition of French "socialism." France is one of my favorite countries, and is in some senses the paragon of Western civilization.

The nation's people, however, don't care about foreign farmers in the developing world, or even about France's own posterity. They want advantages now, and it doesn't matter who pays for them.

The French government is now giving expression to the position its people regularly take. But bless them, it's a lovely country, isn't it?