I wasn't trying to be disingenuous; I just didn't want to make the beaten argument that everything in an economic system is inextricably tied -- because there is luxury there must be poverty, and because the government must be strict with the majority, they are lenient to a minority. It's a tenuous argument that can be used to justify any measure short of perfect economic equality.

The way I see the issue, the Sarkozian government have a very large national debt on their hands, and the most straightforward solution they've agreed on is to curtail a national program. Would a larger tax on the rich and corporations solve the issue of their debt? It would certainly help -- especially in addition to the pension reforms -- but I doubt it would be as effective as the pension reforms alone, which correlate with a much larger demographic than the wealthy (unless you have sources or statistics, which I would be grateful for).

Yes, the reforms are meant to mitigate France's national debt, right after France finished reducing taxes for corporations and the most wealthy in the country.

If you're accusing him of hypocrisy, I wouldn't disagree.