PARIS, January 17, 2008--The Paris daily Le Parisien polled its readers on how people could survive in conditions of price hikes and falling buying power. Some of the answers are far more telling than many long speeches:

CHRISTIAN: "I installed low consumption light bulbs all over my house, I wash my cloths at night when electricity prices are cheaper, for the dishwasher I take the short program, and shielded my windows for better isolation. I only buy large-packaged food in supermarkets."

GILLES: "In Canada, some basic foodstuffs aren't taxed; why don't we do the same in France?"

CHRISTINE: "If I still have any buying power, it's because I avoid buying anything that is without direct usefulness, things such as a connection to Internet, a plasma TV screen or a handy."

JEAN-PIERRE: "The price of milk in my supermarket went up 31% since February 2007," a price increase I consider "unacceptable."

ALAIN: "I moved from the city to the countryside."

VERONIQUE: "With a low income, I was forced to leave Paris. I took a credit that reaches till I become 69 years old. I stopped travelling, and if obliged I avoid highways for the toll and I reduced my speed by 20km/h, lowering gas consumption by one-fourth."