Right. I'm just thinking, if someone handed me $16,000/yr and was like "use only this money buy all your benefits, retirement, kids' college tuition, childcare,

Right. I'm just thinking, if someone handed me $16,000/yr and was like "use only this money buy all your benefits, retirement, kids' college tuition, childcare, et c. up to the same level as a French person, for your household" I'd be like "LOLWUT? There ain't no way." Heh, not to mention, what, 7 weeks time off plus 10 holidays? Hahahaha, $16,000's only a start. That the figures are that close makes French people look way better off. And theirs is "automatic"—no time wasted shopping around trying not to get screwed (and probably failing).