The poster I replied to was talking about the UK and we can't even resource the checks we are supposed to be doing (see link). FWIW Rich, I thought your comments were quite balanced.
But I too spend plenty of time in France and it cannot escape your notice how the dynamic is changing and fast. The fuel and food prices in France had briefly reached parity after many years of being cheaper but that has changed again. To that I would now add availability as a contrast point. As for UK roads and infrastructure, the UK is (to borrow a Johnson phrase) world leading - in the wrong way.
For a so-called first world country, they are abysmal and that is getting worse by the day - see also the huge increase in unrepaired drainage. The reduction in proactive tree felling and verge maintenance means more service interruptions. Then there is the non-existent litter control even in rural areas. In short, the place is increasingly looking more like a dump and over much wider areas. Not signs of a country on the up.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61259832