French PM Vows to Reward Bad Behavior

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin (reportedly a man-ed.) is cracking down on the bonehead rioters by telling them that if they don't stop, he'll throw more money at them. Here's what he's threatening to do (h/t Little Green Footballs):

The intiatives are:

- the creation of an anti-discrimination agency with special officials appointed to be in charge of certain regions, and making the fight against discrimination a national priority;

- 20,000 job contracts with local government bodies or associations paid a minimum wage would be reserved for those in the suburbs struggling to find work;

- an extra 100 million euros (120 million dollars) for associations that work in the neighbourhoods;

- 5,000 more teaching assistant posts in the 1,200 schools in districts designated as troublespots;

- the creation of 15 more special economic zones that provide tax breaks to companies that set up inside them as an incentive to boost local employment.

Villepin also said ‘social imbalances due to an insufficiently controlled flow of clandestine immigration’ would be tackled.

There's no word on what will be done for the 5,000 or so people who had their cars burned in the riots. Maybe if they burn someone else's car they can get in on the spoils.

Perhaps the riots have nothing to do with religion or economics. Could it be the rioters are just mad that they live in a country run by a guy with a sissy girl name?