Land of the Fee

My Dad and I like to joke about France's socialist system of government, but I am quickly discovering that whatever their political ideologies may be, the French are much better capitalists than Americans. For one thing, Americans are financially burdened by the quaint idea that some things should never be charged for, like potable water, use of a bathroom, and those big metal viewfinders in parks.

Another thing I see French people charge for that interests me is flavoring/color. When I go to the grocery store, I'll see a few boxes of the exact same cookie/biscuit in a row. Same brand, same net weight. But the apple flavor might be 3.43, the plain 3.23, and the strawberry 3.53. In the US, the prices are usually all rounded together. In stores, too, you can find the exact same pair of shoes in three or four different colors, and the most popular color (usually, but not always, black) will be a few euros more expensive.

Food for thought!