Posted on 11/03/2013 6:12:56 PM PST by amnestynone
When the Netherlands’ newly coronated king made his first annual appearance before parliament, he turned some heads when he addressed the deficiencies of the Dutch welfare state. “Due to social developments such as globalisation and an ageing population, our labour market and public services are no longer suited to the demands of the times”, the king said in a speech written by Liberal prime minister Mark Ruttes cabinet. “The classical welfare state is slowly but surely evolving into a ‘participation society’”, Willem-Alexander continued. By this he meant that the public systems should start encouraging self-reliance over government dependency.
It is worthwhile to reflect on the challenges faced by the Dutch welfare system. In a knowledge based economy, influenced by strong global competition and dynamic economic development, public policy must encourage thrift, education and build-up of social capital. Discouragingly high taxes and encouragingly high benefits are no way of doing so. Such policies are therefore likely to become even greater obstacles to social and economic development as they are today.
Meanwhile, we are heading straight for one.
Tell me the first place to eschew the welfare state and I am there
Something worth looking into I guess
Unfortunately, 42% of the people living in this country do not have the ability to think.
Even the Dutch understand what progressives here fail to.
I had a strange dream where some wealthy people bought Tuvalu and Australia took all 9,000 of them, because they were all a million bucks rich.
The islands were divided into 3,000 small estates and sold for $5 million each - along with citizenship. This money went into an endowment fund that funded their small government fully. No taxes, no welfare.
They went Galt in their own way.
Now if only I were a billionaire... Tuvalu or Nauru would be mine. bbbwwahahahahahahaha
Where does the king of Netherlands get off telling the Dutch what they should do? I’m sure the Dutchish people can make their own decisions. What If the king of Dutchland started bossing around all the Netherlanders? And what about the Hollandaisers? What do they think?
The world gets more conservative in the most interesting places you wouldn’t expect.
The King just read the speech prepared by his governement. He is like the British Queen just a mouthpiece.
“There are two things I can not stand...people who are intolerant of other peoples’ cultures, and the Dutch!”
Went there a few months ago....Absolutely loved it there. And I thought Texas had a lot of cows. ;)
Australia located a detention center on the island to intercept all the asylum seekers bound for Australia. It now provides a major source of employment and income for the island. It has a year round temperature which hovers between 77F. and 86F.
Not to say that the islanders couldn't be bought out for the right offer. I think there are only about 8000 of them in 8 square miles.
The Dutch king is like the British queen? My cousin Mike warned me about those Dutchish guys. He said that you take out one of those Dutchish beauties and you think you’re gonna hit a home run and you find out that she’s got a bat and some balls.
What’s the difference between a tube and a Dutchman with an absurd sense of humor?
I for one would like to know. They are a saucy bunch.
A tube is an instrument in a marching band. You know, like a strumpet.
One is a hollow cylinder, the other is a silly Hollander...
That, is a good one.
Thank you. I first heard it in the 50’s...
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