3 ms·
Covid wise? Measured infections yes, but not many dying anymore, as in most 'phase 2' countries. NL is very bad at making a clear line; no-one I know who lives
by tluyben2 6y ago
Covid wise? Measured infections yes, but not many dying anymore, as in most 'phase 2' countries. NL is very bad at making a clear line; no-one I know who lives there knows what they can and cannot do. Other countries have clear, easy to follow rules or get fined. We are polderaars; every decision must have 10000000 exceptions and it stinks.
Otherwise, I am a dutchman and I used to be proud of my country, even though I left it long ago (I like large dense forests and mountains and humid heat; Netherlands very little of any of that), however there is not so much to be proud of anymore. We privatised and sold everything that should not be private or sold, we are less open, less equal, less honest, less direct, the social system is not very social anymore and we are following the USA for pc. Sure there are much worse countries, but they don't pretend to be what they are not (anymore).
- the-dude 6y agoWe have literally abandonded our elderly citizens. The message was clear : there is no room for you on intensive care.
- tluyben2 6y agoWe sold our 'nhs' (ziekenfonds) in the 80s, everything went downhill from there. Rich elderly have no problems like this.
- the-dude 6y agoI am not that old, but have vivid memories of the 80s ( all of them ). I told a friend : there would have been a revolt and mass strikes.
- tluyben2 6y agoI am very much in favour of vital infrastructure being state-owned; klm, state banks, roads, trains, trams, hospitals, cemeteries/crematoria, pensions, vital insurance, schools/universities, police, phone/internet, army, firedeps should, in my opinion, all be state owned and free or dirt cheap (aka for every citizen) (tax money). Outside roads (? maybe now that changed too) and army (do we still have an army? I turned 18 in the last year it was mandatory; I was in uni so I did not have to go) & police, everything is private now while in the 80s most was public... Which obviously brings the perverse incentive of wanting to make as much money as you can which gives you; if you are not rich, you can't have anything.
- the-dude 6y agoPolice is of course not private, but managed to death by managers who receive market rate compensation. We have remnants of an army, but they have to bring their own equipment.
- tluyben2 6y ago> Police is of course not private, but managed to death by managers who receive market rate compensation. Which is ofcourse the criticism against public institutions; we still have not figured out how properly to motivate people for efficiency outside money it seems.