The reaction to UberPop in France has been shameful. Taxi drivers have been attacking UberPop drivers for weeks, following and harassing them. They even posted videos of themselves attacking UberPop drivers and their cars on youtube on facebook.

The latest outburst of violence saw taxi drivers blocking access to airports in Paris forcing passengers to walk the remainder of the way. Overturning and torching cars that looked like they might be Ubers. There was even a video of taxi drivers on a bridge on the "periphérique", the motorway that goes around Paris, dropping bricks on cars underneath.

The government instead of punishing them bowed down almost immediately ...

Part of the problem is that striking is sacrosanct in France. If you're striking you can get away with almost anything like kidnapping your employer and holding him hostage or blocking a major port for days on end (MyFerryLink strikes) ...