There was anger in Paris today.  An estimated 50,000 took to the streets of the French capital to protest government economic efforts, one of many rallies across the country.

A general strike also impacted transportation, schools, and government offices.

Folks here are upset about government plans to raise the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62, and require French to work longer to earn their pensions.

The move pits an austerity-minded French President Nicholas Sarkozy against the powerful French labor unions.

“It’s really unfair,” one protester told us.

Another said, “People have long careers, they have a long time of work, they need to stop.”

But there is the growing sense here that something has to change, that the French way of life will have to change.

60 is one of the youngest retirement ages in Europe.  For example Germany’s retirement age is 65 and there is talk of raising that to 67.

France is consistently running budget deficits.  And other countries in Europe are also implementing more stringent reform programs.  There is a race between countries to show fiscal responsibility.

“The French,” political analyst Dominique Moisi explained to us, “are slowly but ineluctably facing the reality of the changing world.”

In fact, a majority in a recent survey favored reforms to keep the pension system from going bust…and to keep France solvent.

“If I have to work longer I’ll work longer,” Parisian grocer Mehdi Larbi told us, “If others don’t want to they don’t have to.”

This being France, though, a majority in another survey favored the right of their fellow citizens to protest.   The measures won’t be decided on until the Fall, and would be phased in over eight years.

With Sarkozy expected to seek  re-election in 2012, it appears the French can enjoy that “good life” for some time to come.