Economic and government policies (e.g. taxation and subsidies) play a big role here, and I always thought the French public sector was well and truly over-bloated.
In hearing some of the protesters saying there is no money for the average French person, I couldn't help thinking that, in addition the economic policy factors, the French taxpayer is also paying huge amount to fund the houses, cars and lifestyles of a large number of Middle-eastern and African personages, so that France can have the benefits of multiculturalism. I don't know what that sum is, but as these demographics statistically have... ahem... higher unemployment rates than the native population, I would imagine it's pretty big.
