I wonder if French also share my pedicure-related unease?

Courtesy Sina's tip, a pithy summary of the political economies Western European and American from Roger Cohen:

"The shoe-shine rule goes something like this: if you can’t find one, you are probably in a society with a developed sense of egalitarianism and social solidarity, high taxation, a broad safety net, universal health care, extensive entitlements and high unemployment.... if you can, you’re probably in a place with low unemployment and little of the above social security, a place where capitalism is crueler and more vital, a place not unlike America."

And a nice conclusion about how our shoe-shine society might benefit from a touch of French egalité, even as their shine-free welfare state transforms to more closely resemble ours.