After a ride to parliament in golden carriage, Dutch king declares end to welfare state

[unhappycamper]

Last edited Thu Sep 19, 2013, 09:59 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/17/dutch-king-tells-citizens-to-take-responsibility-as-pm-implements-austerity/



After a ride to parliament in golden carriage, Dutch king declares end to welfare state
By Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, September 17, 2013 18:15 EDT

The Dutch government heralded the end of the welfare state on Tuesday as the fifth-largest eurozone economy presented an austerity-driven budget for 2014.

“The classic welfare state is slowly but surely turning into a society of participation,” King Willem-Alexander told parliament, laying out the Liberal-led government’s plans for the year.

“It is asked of all those who can to take responsibility for their own life and that of those around them,” the king said in the speech written by Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

The king, who travelled through the streets of The Hague to address MPs and senators in an ornate horse-drawn golden carriage, said the transformation would be particularly noticeable in social security and long-term healthcare policies.



unhappycamper comment: The Dutch may have ended part of the people part of the welfare state. but their corporate welfare state is doing just fine:

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/2013/09/joint-strike-fighter-lockheed-martin

Will It Fly?
By Adam Ciralsky
September 16, 2013

~snip~

On October 26, 2001, the Pentagon announced that it had chosen Lockheed Martin over Boeing to build what Lockheed promised would be “the most formidable strike fighter ever fielded.” The Pentagon’s ask was huge: Build us a next-generation strike-fighter aircraft that could be used not only by the U.S. military but also by allied nations (which would come to include the United Kingdom, Italy,the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Norway, Japan, and Israel). On top of that: Produce three versions of the airplane—a conventional version for the air force, a short-takeoff and vertical-landing version for the Marines, and a carrier-suitable version for the navy. The idea was that a single stealthy, supersonic, multi-service airplane could entirely replace four existing kinds of aircraft. And the expectation was that this new airplane would do everything: air-to-air combat, deep-strike bombing, and close air support of troops on the ground.


Om edit to add: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/18/business/global/dutch-choose-f-35-fighter-jets-but-fewer-of-them.html?_r=1&

[liberal N proud]

1. Let them eat cake

Pompous pigs!

[Democracyinkind]

2. take the royals off the dole already, then.

As if the EU's economic problems were caused by people who rejected to "participate". It's hard to participate without any oppurtunities, and it's quite human not to want to participate if the benefits of participating do not guarantee a living wage.

What's left of Europe if they dismantle the social security state? Nothing! But the left went the third way, and here we are - a Europe not for the people, but for some privatized project of empire. I was a proud supporter of European integration once. Nowadays, I'd vote against joining them (currently living in a non-member state).

I know that the article pertains to the Netherlands, and not the EU as a whole. The dutch king's words, though, nicely echo the policies of the EU commission.

[trusty elf]

3. I had to check to see if this was the Onion. n/t

[eShirl]

4. starting at the top? why not lead by example.

at least pass the Dutch-ie on the left-hand side

[AllyCat]

5. Well, he is not hiding AT ALL that he would like to go back to monarchial rule

and the rest of us peasants can just piss off. He's got his. And her outfit is hideous.

[Alkene]

6. I seem to recall from reading somewhere...

that it doesn't, historically, always work out that well for royalty that flaunt their opulence while dismissing the life struggles of their subjects.

[bullwinkle428]

7. The irony is priceless.

K&R.

[Faygo Kid]

8. What a world.

The Kochs and their ilk are prevailing everywhere. Is serfdom next?

[Jackpine Radical]

9. In their dreams.

What's next is revolution.

With any luck, it'll be a peaceful form of revolution.

[WCLinolVir]

10. What a sponge.

[allan01]

11. re:After a ride to parliament in golden carriage, Dutch king declares end to welfare state

ah . please make that wealthcare .we are now the biggest wealthcare system in the world .

[pa28]

12. We have a similar kind of class warfare here.

Whenever you hear a billionaire patiently explaining why Social Security needs to be cut because he doesn't want to pay taxes it's basically the same thing.

[gopiscrap]

13. fucking asshole

if he wants to see welfare-just look in the mirror!