A heavily mustachioed man, with a passing resemblance to the comic character Asterix, regularly enjoys gourmet meals at Brussels restaurants, paid for by the European taxpayer. He draws a salary and allowance of at least €11,867 per month (not counting the salaries of his staff, travel per diem, fringe benefits and other overheads). His total expense to the taxpayer could easily total €500,000 per annum.

José Bové is a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) representing the southwest of France and a leading anti-globalization activist. Reporters and pundits seek his opinion. Think tanks, universities, and even companies invite him to express his opinion on a range of subjects from multinational investment, to agriculture, to outsourcing. When his name is mentioned to French people, their faces light up with instant recognition, and secret approval – even from those who overtly oppose his views. There is something about José Bové that resonates with the French soul.

Mr. Bové is also a thrice-convicted felon. Not so long ago, he periodically vandalized and demolished McDonalds restaurants in France, burnt genetically modified crops in Brazil and France, entered Yassir Arafat's Fatah headquarters while it was underseige by Israeli forces, and has periodically been tear-gassed at anti-globalization protests in various world cities. Although he is the scion of academic and intellectual parents, Mr. Bové today parades as a sheep farmer from the village of Millau (population 22,000).