Yesterday [March 15, 2017] there were general elections in the Netherlands. Never before had there been such a presence of foreign media.
Why were ABC, CNN, BBC and many others so interested in these elections?
The reason is Donald Trump (USA), Marine le Penn (France) Alternative für Deutschland (Germany), FPÖ (Austria), Geert Wilders (Netherlands).
It looks like the Western World is suffering of a tsunami of ultra-nationalism, protectionism, xenophobia, anti-islamism, racism and discrimination.
This looks like to be the ultimate expression of the longing for a meaning of life. We seem to have lost all direction and grip on our culture and traditions, according to Wilders.
This is of course due to our weak attitude and muslims, flooding the Netherlands, so he yells: “We want the Netherlands back!”
Sounds closely related to another slogan: “America first - America first”. This comes close to a nice meaning of life.
But because of the undemocratic and even unconstitutional ideas of the people I mentioned above,
many people get scared and fear for the collapse of true freedom and democracy, when such politicians come to power.
And that is what the whole World Press expected to witness last night.
The polls suggested, that the party of the populist Wilders would become the biggest party.
The leader of the leading liberal party and present prime minister had said, that we HAD to defeat this growing undemocratic populism.
If you are looking for a meaning of life, in fact a political ideology offers you one. It offers you an answer of the question “Why am I here?”
Are we here to build walls around our country, leave the Europe Union, forbid the Quran, deport all foreigners, especially muslims,
abolish international development aid for poor countries and keep all money for ourselves, bridle the free press with its “fake-news”?
Behind me you see the answer. What was feared, if not even hoped by some, did not happen:
The PVV, the ultra-right party of Wilders, did not become the biggest party. On the contrary. The liberal part of the Prime Minister, the VVD, lost seats, but stayed the number one.
This means, that the 20 seats of the PVV have become politically irrelevant, because this party will not be invited to participate in any possible coalition.
You could say, that an election like this forces the voters to ask themselves the question: what is the meaning of life (in my country)?
The result of this general elections is the proof, that playing the US - THEM card does not work for the majority of the (Dutch) people.
The attempt to create increasing social and nationalistic polarization has not worked in the Netherlands.
Of course there is much more to say about these election results, but what puts me in an optimistic mood is,
that the Dutch people answered the question “What is the meaning of my (political) life?” with their heart and common sense.
Most of the international journalist have traveled home again. There was nothing spectacular to report……. or actually there was.
Thank you for your attention ^_^
The Discussion
[13:16] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ☆*¨¨*:•.•:*¨* hallo hello hi holla *¨¨*:•.•:*¨*☆
[13:16] CB Axel: Hi, Gemma
[13:16] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): hallo Gemma
[13:16] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): congratulation on your election!!!
[13:16] herman Bergson: Thank you Gemma :-)
[13:16] herman Bergson: One moment....
[13:16] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): was glad to see it
[13:16] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Gemma:)
[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): may i pass this on to bixyl??
[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): perhaps for the paper?
[13:19] herman Bergson: sure!
[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
[13:20] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Wilders was pissed...
[13:21] CB Axel: I was certainly relieved to hear the results.
[13:21] herman Bergson: He was indeed....
[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i was too
[13:21] CB Axel: Has Wilders been saying the election was rigged?
[13:21] herman Bergson: seriously disappointed :-))
[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): so sad
[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): wish i could say the same
[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i feel like i am living in a circus
[13:21] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): why Gemma?
[13:22] herman Bergson: Well...to some extend this result is due to Trump....
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): the trump situation is insufferable
[13:22] CB Axel: It's my opinion that xenophobia
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): he is everything I despise
[13:22] CB Axel: is a natural way for people to fee.
[13:22] CB Axel: *feel
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): is insane
[13:22] herman Bergson: Yes and the Dutch have seen this and know that Wilders is like Trump or even worse....
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): every day a new situation
[13:23] CB Axel: Every day a new distraction, you mean.
[13:23] CB Axel: a distraction from what's important.
[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Wilders yells at everything but has no solutions
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and the people who back what he is doing
[13:23] herman Bergson: Indeed Beertje
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i just cannot understand it
[13:23] herman Bergson: and the Dutch voters in majority know this
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): keep the refugees out
[13:23] CB Axel: I find it hilarious that the people who backed Trump are the one's who are going to be hurt worst by the changes in the health care system.
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): keep any travellers out fro these places
[13:24] herman Bergson: I am very happy with this outcome...
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): save money by closing down programs for the poor
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): build the wall
[13:24] CB Axel: Trump has solutions, but they involve screwing over everyone but the rich.
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): correct
[13:24] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes, i read that in our newspaper
[13:25] CB Axel: I've had it with this country. I hate it so much.
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): give a big tax break to the business moguls
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh no
[13:25] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): millions wont have any care securety anymore
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): do not hate the country
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): goodness
[13:25] CB Axel: And take away the regulations that keep us safe so the moguls can rake in more and more money.
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): just trust that things will change
[13:25] herman Bergson: no you shouldn’t....
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right
[13:25] CB Axel: Why? This country hates me.
[13:25] herman Bergson: Let your voice be heard...
[13:25] CB Axel: It wants me dead.
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): the new budget proposed will have a hard time to get through
[13:26] CB Axel: It's only value is money.
[13:26] herman Bergson: Countries have no feelings CB....
[13:26] CB Axel: I'm fed up.
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): the do nothing congress will have to do something
[13:26] CB Axel: OK. The people of this country want me dead.
[13:26] CB Axel: A country is it's people.
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): why
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i dont
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): why do they wish you dead?
[13:27] herman Bergson: If they threaten you, go to the police :-)
[13:27] CB Axel: Because I'm a loser.
[13:27] CB Axel: I'm not rich.
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): join the crowd
[13:27] herman Bergson: Ahhh the American Dream/Nightmare :
[13:27] CB Axel: I won't become rich because I don't believe in crushing everyone beneath me to be rich.
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sorry skeleton
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well we do have rich people who are nto that way
[13:28] herman Bergson: To begin with...
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): the gates give 90 percent of their money to good practices
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): all over the world
[13:28] herman Bergson: Even GAtes does some good with all his billlions
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): as does buffet
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): much good!
[13:28] skeleton Ghost: microsoft are in cahoots with the nsa, cia, etc though
[13:29] skeleton Ghost: not the most magnanimous company
[13:29] CB Axel: Just look at what passed for popular entertainment in the recent past: reality TV shows where people competed against others in ridiculous completely staged battles of "life and death" just to win some money.
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): 90% of t great number of people with billions do that
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): there is a whole group
[13:29] herman Bergson: Possessing so much money is in a way senseless......idiotic.....
[13:29] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): those people are free to say no in a tv show CB
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): does everyone have a trump doll?
[13:30] herman Bergson: I think I have one, yes :-)
[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i use it whn i am watching the news
[13:30] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): make a Wilders doll too please?
[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i cant build
[13:30] skeleton Ghost: i just have the hat
[13:30] CB Axel: But they don't, Beertje. That's my point. People love watching greedy assholes beating each other up for money.
[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): but are they forced to beat?
[13:31] CB Axel: Trumps stupid TV show was very popular.
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): very
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i watched it the first year
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): adn did not like him then
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): pompous ass
[13:32] herman Bergson: This Trump seems to get all his intellectial input from TV, isnt it?
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well what a good way to spend an hour
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): he does
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): he is also a conspiracy theorist
[13:32] herman Bergson: oh my...
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:33] CB Axel: I've hated that pompous jerk from the first day I heard of him.
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well almost ...
[13:33] CB Axel: With his ugly gold plated everything. Yeech.
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:33] herman Bergson: Well...bad luck for you, I am sorry
[13:33] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i saw a show long ago from Trump called You're fired!,,,I hated that man then
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): gold plated houses decorated i side
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): inside
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yep
[13:34] herman Bergson: But we escaped WIlders by voting in the right way
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): he has no manners,
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that was it for years
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i was so glad
[13:34] herman Bergson: So I was......
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): now have hopes for France and Germany
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): I doubt for France
[13:34] herman Bergson: But the fact is....
[13:34] CB Axel: I'll be holding my breath for those elections.
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): France is different
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i hope !!!!!!
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes fingers crossed
[13:35] herman Bergson: I am convinced that this man not really wanted to become the biggest faction at all
[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Marie le Pen has high hopes
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh yes
[13:35] herman Bergson: He has done everything to loose voters...
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but
[13:35] CB Axel: I can understand those feelings over there.
[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): you mean Wilders Herman?
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): maybe your election will have influences
[13:35] herman Bergson: He didnt show up in hardly any public debate
[13:36] herman Bergson: yes Beertje
[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ah ok:)
[13:36] herman Bergson: the reason is very simple....
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): strange looking man too
[13:36] CB Axel: Those of you across the pond from the US are much more likely to be attacked by terrorist then Americans, but people seem to think there is a bomb around every corner.
[13:36] herman Bergson: If he had become the largest party in parlement HE had to start forming a government....
[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Wilders had just one A4 to say what he wanted to do when he was chosen
[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): that's a bit uuhhmm.."weinig"
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ha
[13:37] herman Bergson: yes...and that would have become a humiliating disaster for Wilders
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): his name was mentioned a lot!
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i was worried
[13:37] herman Bergson: yes by the foreign press and abroad...not here
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ha
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): interesting
[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): The media has the case blown up
[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): about Wilders
[13:38] herman Bergson: Here he gave no interviews...didn’t show up in TV debates
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): the news made it seem there was a strong possibility
[13:38] herman Bergson: only the two major ones
[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): he is just like a tiny dog, barks a lot..
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well maybe the same will apply to France and Germany
[13:39] herman Bergson: I hope so too Gemma
[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): I don't know about France...
[13:39] herman Bergson: Here people have used their common sense.....
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): germans have common sense
[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): The turkisch Erdogan has a lot of influence there
[13:39] herman Bergson: They have...
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): nto sure about French
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh gosh
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): another fright
[13:40] herman Bergson: Noo he has not....
[13:40] herman Bergson: Just look at the results...
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i think they are having a fued
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): feud with Erdogan
[13:41] herman Bergson: Two members of the socialist party who have a double pasport....Turkish and Dutch...in fact stole two seats...
[13:41] herman Bergson: this allowed them to participate in the elections....
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah
[13:41] herman Bergson: They have hoped that all Dutch turks would vote for them....
[13:41] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes...and I don't like those guys
[13:41] herman Bergson: Only 2% of the voters did
[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): that's too many..
[13:42] herman Bergson: No big Dutch (crypto-Turkish) faction in our Parlement
[13:42] CB Axel: What is that PvdA party that lost so many seats?
[13:42] herman Bergson: they only got three seats
[13:43] herman Bergson: That was the largest socialist party of the Netherlands....
[13:43] CB Axel: Oh. Interesting.
[13:43] herman Bergson: They made the most stupid move ever made....
[13:43] herman Bergson: in 2012 they formed a coalition with their biggest political adversary..the VVD..the liberals
[13:44] herman Bergson: The result was a 99% neoliberal policy for 4 years...
[13:44] Netherlands Second...: THE NETHERLANDS has just been used by CB Axel!
[13:44] herman Bergson: We are not stupid....so we presented the bill to this party...
[13:44] herman Bergson: 29 seats lost!
[13:45] CB Axel: Wow.
[13:45] herman Bergson: there was a time this PVDA had 53 seats!!!!!
[13:45] CB Axel: Do all those different parties get covered by the press?
[13:46] herman Bergson: More or less yes...certainly
[13:46] herman Bergson: We have three groups...
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): This is a holiday from the project which is probably good with the time change going on
[13:46] herman Bergson: liberals - christians - social-democrats
[13:46] CB Axel: Here in the US we think we have a democracy, but in reality we get to choose between Democrats and Republicans. Other parties don't get their views heard hardly at all.
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): It certainly adds more thoought to the idea of the meaning of life
[13:47] herman Bergson: IN fact elections like this put an existential question to th epeople
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right
[13:47] CB Axel: And we don't even really choose the Republican and Democratic candidates. They let us think we do, but those people are chosen for us.
[13:48] herman Bergson: ANd the response was typically Dutch :-)
[13:48] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes:)
[13:48] CB Axel: Well, here in America the meaning of life has been make more money than anyone needs and F**K everyone else.
[13:48] herman Bergson: I am really happy to see that not guts feelings but comon sense prevails here
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:49] CB Axel: Me, too, Herman.
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): wonders where Ciska is
[13:49] herman Bergson: she was here last Tuesday
[13:49] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): even the Danish news was in dutch to congrat us:)
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah i did not get home in time
[13:49] CB Axel: I rely on the Dutch for commons sense and fair thinking.
[13:49] CB Axel: °͜°
[13:50] herman Bergson: Do so CB and you'll feel a lot happier :-)
[13:50] CB Axel: °͜°
[13:50] skeleton Ghost: cant go wrong with mercantile calvinism
[13:50] herman Bergson: Might be true indeed Skeleton :-)
[13:50] CB Axel: I've respected the Netherlands since the time of Copernicus. °͜°
[13:51] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ohh that's a long time CB:)
[13:51] herman Bergson: He was a Polish astronomer CB
[13:51] herman Bergson: You'd better choose Erasmus :-))
[13:51] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol
[13:51] CB Axel: Yes, but the Dutch respected his work unlike Catholic countries.
[13:51] herman Bergson: True!
[13:52] herman Bergson: We printed a lot in those days which could not be printed elsewhere
[13:52] CB Axel nods
[13:52] CB Axel: And now the Catholic church believes in evolution and global climate change.
[13:52] CB Axel: They're becoming the liberals! LOL
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yep
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): actually the past few decades as more science was accepted
[13:53] CB Axel: If only they could keep their priests from the kiddie fiddling...
[13:53] herman Bergson: And they even believe that the earth is round and not flat
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and this Pope is a Scientist!
[13:53] CB Axel: LOL, Herman.
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): cb it is a small minority
[13:53] herman Bergson: Is true CB
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): do not blame the whole church
[13:54] CB Axel: I saw a picture on Facebook of what a flat earth lunar eclipse looks like. °͜°
[13:54] herman Bergson: that is the problem with big institutions.....
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ha
[13:54] CB Axel: Gemma, I don't just blame the priests that do it. I blame all the other that cover it up, too.
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i think the Trump would probably like that one on facebook
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i was counting them in
[13:55] herman Bergson: A pitty Ciska wasn’t here....Bergie had RL visitors...
[13:55] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): aha
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): did you make a viewer of vacation herman?
[13:56] herman Bergson: Actually no, Gemma..:-)
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ohoh
[13:56] herman Bergson: I only have one picture :-)
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): haha
[13:56] herman Bergson: the viewer is behind em in my house
[13:57] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ahha
[13:57] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): hahah
[13:57] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): reallly flat !!!
[13:57] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): that looks cold...and windy
[13:57] herman Bergson: This is the only picture I have of this vacation
[13:57] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that is the island???
[13:58] herman Bergson: yes....we were transported in that car to the very end of it....
[13:58] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah
[13:58] herman Bergson: and it was COLD!
[13:58] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i bet
[13:58] CB Axel: Jeeps are cold, aren't they?
[13:58] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:58] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:58] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:58] CB Axel: Ah. You answered that already. LOL
[13:59] skeleton Ghost: looks like a fun time man
[13:59] herman Bergson: It hasnt proper seats either
[13:59] CB Axel: It looks like a great place to sit inside and snuggle.
[13:59] herman Bergson: It was fun Skeleton :-))
[13:59] CB Axel: By a fire. °͜°
[14:00] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): now you can see that the Netherlands are eraly FLAT!!
[14:00] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): reaLY
[14:00] herman Bergson: very flat there Beertje :-))
[14:00] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): really!!
[14:00] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol
[14:00] herman Bergson: Well..now that you know all my secrets.....
[14:00] herman Bergson: Let me thank you all for your patience :-))
[14:00] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
[14:00] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): for a good talk
[14:01] herman Bergson: Class dismissed .... ^_^
[14:01] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman:)
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