Olivier Véran’s good deals
Marc Roché (Paris)
The article by Professor Denys de Béchillon seems deeply manipulative to me. Indeed, after quickly painting a picture of a ridiculous Olivier Véran – it’s not mean – he accuses France and its relationship with money. According to him, we are simply dealing with “sad passions”. However, it is a very legitimate feeling of disappointment which is felt by the majority of French people. Disillusioned, one of my doctor friends commented: “He does what any politician who gives up does: he does business.” With this choice, a mask falls. And the lawless face that appears is that of a Rastignac. (“Conversion of Olivier Véran: we must stop annoying the ministers“, L’Express of April 4.)
An idea against the deficit
Régis Fayolle, Villeurbanne (Rhône)
An idea came to me when comparing two of your articles: couldn’t we consider the “cryptoactivation” of state assets? The French, passionate about their heritage, would perhaps not mind compensation for future financial sacrifices, in the form of attribution of NFTs based on one (or more) of their world-famous cultural assets, which can then be traded on a platform. To reassure, rightly, about the risk of losing control by the State, guarantees could be included, if necessary, in the law (“Faced with the deficit, the State seeks an emergency exit” And “Cryptos: France is catching up“, L’Express of April 4.)
Drugs: and the users?
Pascal Lemarquis, Dounoux (Vosges)
There is a shocking contrast between the efforts that have been made against smoking, which are incommensurate in terms of collective harm, and the absence of fight and communication against drug consumption. Despite increasing police resources, the fight against drug trafficking is hopeless in the medium and long term because the traffickers have too much to lose in the affair. We are not close to making “the neighborhoods” habitable in the long term and we will always see more zombies wandering the streets, including in the countryside. (“These neighborhoods governed by drug dealers”L’Express of April 4.)
Russia: let’s not be naive!
Marian Ion (Paris)
I would like to respond to the comment from one of your readers, entitled “Let’s get out of NATO!”. His reasoning, naive at best, is that “Russia, no longer feeling threatened, will no longer have a reason to shell it.” I find it hard to believe that this argument could be understood in Georgia or Ukraine, two states which posed no threat to Russia. In reality, the objective of this country, since the Tsarist era, has been to expand its territory – in short, the same theory as that of “living space” dear to the Nazis. (“Readers’ mail”, L’Express, April 4.)
Israel: Harari’s intelligence
Guy Vernusse, Mint (Indre-et-Loire)
An “intelligence of heart and mind in a dove of peace.” This is how I would describe Yuval Noah Harari’s excellent article. Every Palestinian, every Israeli should use it to accept each other and live in universal peace. (“Israeli-Palestinian conflict: escaping the trap of demonizing the other”L’Express of March 28.)
The Mayor and Philippe, ridiculous
Robert Loupe, Chalmazel (Loire)
Edouard Philippe and Bruno Le Maire are both considering running for president. However, the current situation in France, both in terms of insecurity and debt, is the result of the decisions of these two individuals. The first could not, knew or wanted to see the crisis of the yellow vests emerge. As for the second, he explains to us today what to do about the debt. Having been stationed at Bercy for seven years, why hasn’t he done this before? Fortunately for them, ridicule doesn’t kill… (“Mayor-Philippe: the race for Mr. Serious”L’Express of March 28.)
One of our feathers Mask
Collaborator of our newspaper (in the book pages), Louis-Henri de La Rochefoucauld made his debut at Mask and the Feather on April 7. Created in 1955, The mask… is one of the oldest PAF broadcasts (behind The day of the Lord, which dates from 1949!), and we know the principle: four critics scrap together around the novels, films and plays that are making the news. Communion is rare in this program where the speakers like to argue with each other in bad faith. Renowned for his grating wit (he recently singled out two of his pet peeves in L’Express, the novelist Marie Darrieussecq and the poet Arthur Teboul), Louis-Henri de La Rochefoucauld had a blast at his premiere, laughing at Nancy Huston’s latest book. The bowling has only just begun!