French elections: a choice between poverty and lack of freedom?

Here's a smart and reasoned contribution from a French reader: "I'm from a secondary school in Burgundy, and a leftwinger like most of my colleagues," writes Sabine Sadel from Macon in Burgundy. "I'm afraid I have no idea how the election of one or the other candidate will affect me directly, or those around me. "In general, I fear a new term for Sarkozy would mean more and more xenophobic statements and policies, and more and more social tension; under Hollande I'd expect more peaceful and respectful governmental attitudes towards minorities, civil servants, teachers, and so on. "But apart from that, I have no idea how the result will affect us: will we be a third-world country within six months if Hollande gets elected and the rating agencies decide to destroy our country? Will we be run by a fascist Sarkozy-Le Pen coalition if the right wins? "Are we to be poor, or unfree, or both, as a result of the election? "So no, I do not know how the result of the election will affect us; but I do know how the election itself is affecting me and others who share the same views: we dread elections. They are supposed to be the great moment of democracy, but they have long turned into repeated threats against it, hijacked as they are by the Front National and its voters. "I can't wait for this election to be over! Unfortunately we won't be done with it before June, and the legislative elections."