[saiya-jin]

Based on colleagues working in Monaco (both locals and commuters), it was not a friendly agreement at all (since Monaco is just losing) - it was basically give us all your French banking / employment data or we will fucking invade you with army and end your little kingdom for good.

French were/are not some nice baguette eating and coffee sipping polite 'bonjour monsieur' artists that visiting Paris as tourist may make you believe, rather colonialists to the core (at least people in government with actual power).

And yes French treatment of even modestly wealthy is straight out of communist guidebook - vilify, tax to hell, make up laws that even break european treaties but ignore european courts rulings on those, blame on rich all mismanagement of vast (not only social) state wealth on population deemed lazy even by french citizens themselves (I have tons of french colleagues and none hired french workers when doing some home reconstruction and they were clear why).

There are various protections in Monaco for local populations, companies have quotas on minimum mandatory hires from local population, so sometimes clueless people are hired to just sit on chair to get the numbers going, earning massive salaries (for France and western Europe at least). But its still well worth for the companies (mostly banks), some scenes are pretty surreal - 90+ senile guy barely coherent coming to the bank branch, accompanied by few 20-something models, taking literally full shopping bag worth of cash and heading right back to casino or yacht for next party. Definitely old rich money's place, overranked in my opinion but its mainly tax haven so thats not relevant.

[seszett]

I am French, by the way. I'm more or less aware of "what the French are", of how the blockade of Monaco happened, as well as of the "communist hell" that is the country -- it's not communist hell and I wish the country where I live (in the EU) was both as business friendly and as supportive of its poor as France is. I was also taxed less in France, but that's probably because I don't take advantage of the innumerable tax deduction and loopholes available here that are little more than disguised tax breaks for the rich.

Based on your comment I'd say you're working in the banking sector in Geneva. Just be aware that your French colleagues are extremely biased.

[ChuckNorris89]

>I wish the country where I live (in the EU) was both as business friendly and as supportive of its poor as France is

Would you mind saying which EU country that is?

[seszett]

Belgium.

[baud147258]

> none hired french workers when doing some home reconstruction

well, I think there's also a rather small number of French worker available in the construction sector anyway...

[WastingMyTime89]

> rather colonialists to the core

Come on, it’s Monaco we are talking about. It’s a small island visible from the cost of France, dependents on it for absolutely everything - food, energy, water, transport, defence - and surviving as a tax haven for the ultra wealthy. It’s not colonialism. The fact that it remains independent to this day is an insult to tax paying French citizen.

[fancyfredbot]

Monaco isn't an island. It's part of the mainland. Your point largely stands though.

[mometsi]

They were probably thinking about Britain

[WastingMyTime89]

Nope, just spent 32 years convinced Monaco was an island. These things happen.

[zoklet-enjoyer]

Colonist mindset right there

[WastingMyTime89]

Where is the colonialism here?

It wouldn’t even be a colony. It’s literally part of the land. It’s been going around being more or less independent since 1400 and was part of France a mere 200 years ago. And to be fair 90% of what was independent willingly joined France years ago. What remains is an insignificant piece of rock which doesn’t really have its own culture and is only allowed to stay this way because French residents pay taxes in France and the foreigners who use it as tax haven are powerful. It’s nearly as shameful as the Virgin British Islands.

[zoklet-enjoyer]

You're right, Russia is justified in their actions to reclaim Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.