Some time has passed since I last wrote down some thoughts. However,
some interesting things are happening here in Holland. Time for another
rant.
Here in Holland, we always laugh long and hard about the american elections. It always seems like the USA reverts to complete craziness in election time, approaching the impression of a civil war waged on a non-physical level.
But it's time for us to stop laughing.
Our own elections are coming up shortly, and some new parties are trying to join the club. With no small success.
A man, mr. Fortuyn, made it clear that he would be available to be the campaign leader of a politic party last year. After being just that for the party named 'Leefbaar Nederland' ('livable Holland' ?) he was kicked out of that party for promoting his own ideas instead of the party's. While he was the campaign leader of Leefbaar Nederland, the party did quite good, but since he left, the public polls show Leefbaar Nederland dropping in favour of Fortuyns own party, which he formed shortly after he dropped out of Leefbaar Nederland.
There are a few problems with this guy apart of his ideas.
Starting from day 1, it seems like he used his charisma and his charisma only to win votes for his party. Granted, he's very good at identifying the problems in Holland of today, but he hasn't got a clear party program to summarize the problems and solutions. However, he wrote a book instead. Great. So I have to pay for a party program?!
Also, the ideas of his party are mr. Fortuyns ideas and mr. Fortuyns ideas only. This may not be that bad, the people in his party may all share his ideas unconditionally. However, given the fact he was kicked out of Leefbaar Nederland for not promoting that parties ideas but his own, leads me to think he's stubborn and will only push his own ideas --
I stopped writing right here to watch the news, which included shocking news right at the time the news bulletin would end. He was lethally shot.
I wanted to write loads of stuff, but thought it was more important to follow the news closely.
(2 days later..)
The man who shot Fortuyn has been caught on the same day he commited his crime. Lots of people showed their sympathy with Fortuyn. But unfortunately lots of people are now making wrong assumptions about the events that have passed.
"This is the end of democracy in this country"
Democracy is a political system. Nothing's changed about that. Politicians will be better protected from now on, that's for sure, but this also doesn't change the system itself. The parlement will still be chosen in a fair way. Nobody will be standing next to the voting machine and shoot you if you choose the wrong party. "The assasination was a plot of other politic parties"
A bit twisted expression, influenced by emotions. There's absolutely no evidence other parties would revert to such means to get their way. "I can't even express my opinions anymore, or I'll get shot"
Why would the normal person get shot now? The person in question, Fortuyn, aspired to become one of the leaders of this country. The normal person on the streets doesn't have the power to make any political decisions in the parlement other than voting for some party, which will make those decisions. There's no way the normal person will be seen as a threat as politicians.
Here in Holland, we always laugh long and hard about the american elections. It always seems like the USA reverts to complete craziness in election time, approaching the impression of a civil war waged on a non-physical level.
But it's time for us to stop laughing.
Our own elections are coming up shortly, and some new parties are trying to join the club. With no small success.
A man, mr. Fortuyn, made it clear that he would be available to be the campaign leader of a politic party last year. After being just that for the party named 'Leefbaar Nederland' ('livable Holland' ?) he was kicked out of that party for promoting his own ideas instead of the party's. While he was the campaign leader of Leefbaar Nederland, the party did quite good, but since he left, the public polls show Leefbaar Nederland dropping in favour of Fortuyns own party, which he formed shortly after he dropped out of Leefbaar Nederland.
There are a few problems with this guy apart of his ideas.
Starting from day 1, it seems like he used his charisma and his charisma only to win votes for his party. Granted, he's very good at identifying the problems in Holland of today, but he hasn't got a clear party program to summarize the problems and solutions. However, he wrote a book instead. Great. So I have to pay for a party program?!
Also, the ideas of his party are mr. Fortuyns ideas and mr. Fortuyns ideas only. This may not be that bad, the people in his party may all share his ideas unconditionally. However, given the fact he was kicked out of Leefbaar Nederland for not promoting that parties ideas but his own, leads me to think he's stubborn and will only push his own ideas --
And here it happened
I stopped writing right here to watch the news, which included shocking news right at the time the news bulletin would end. He was lethally shot.
I wanted to write loads of stuff, but thought it was more important to follow the news closely.
(2 days later..)
The man who shot Fortuyn has been caught on the same day he commited his crime. Lots of people showed their sympathy with Fortuyn. But unfortunately lots of people are now making wrong assumptions about the events that have passed.
Democracy is a political system. Nothing's changed about that. Politicians will be better protected from now on, that's for sure, but this also doesn't change the system itself. The parlement will still be chosen in a fair way. Nobody will be standing next to the voting machine and shoot you if you choose the wrong party.
A bit twisted expression, influenced by emotions. There's absolutely no evidence other parties would revert to such means to get their way.
Why would the normal person get shot now? The person in question, Fortuyn, aspired to become one of the leaders of this country. The normal person on the streets doesn't have the power to make any political decisions in the parlement other than voting for some party, which will make those decisions. There's no way the normal person will be seen as a threat as politicians.