Come to Holland

We do not only have tulips and cheese. We also have something very Dutch and that is our social system. Well, what's left of it. And it wasn't the crisis that got it starting. Nope. A while back we had a good education system, free of charge. Nice Health Insurance. Lots of high taxpayers to fill the National piggybank. Women were allowed to work parttime. Men were given Paternity leave. And, when you lost your job, you received some money.To avoid you living in a cardboardbox. Sounds nice doesn't it? Well, then the crazy socialists arrived. And the weird Green Lefters. And other strange political species. Opening our borders to thousands lazy visitors. Not willing to speak our language. Not wanting to be one of us. And the left wing kept feeling sorry for these poor people. So they pampered them silly to avoid they would become angry and place scary bombs. Or shoot famous people. And it even gets better. In a southern town called Tilburg they are so nice at City Hall thay they donated 91000 usd to some Maroccan visitors. To go and have a nice day at the sauna. And local amusement park. If you are lazy too, don't worry. You can always come to Holland!

The Undutchables

In this little paradise by the North Sea, we have always been allowed to say what we think. Anything about Hitler. Stalin. God. Jews. The Government. Gay people. Till one day the guests from abroad started arriving. Because they had to flee their country. Often because they heard such wonderfull stories about Holland. Where high social standards for the poor and lazy were well organized. So it came to be that little by little these guests started to want their own schools and churches. They wanted to remain exactly who they were. Foreigners. Islam believers. Dressed as they walk in Marocco. Or Iran. Nothing to do with the little paradise by the sea. Not at all behaving like we, The Dutch, are used to. One day, a politician from the right wing, started his own political party. Because he was fed up with all the social niceness from the left wing and Central Democrats. He spoke up. He stood up. That being his birthright. In Holland we have always been allowed to say what we think. Not any more. That man, Geert Wilders is his name, is now awaiting trial because of what he said about Islam. With thanks to the guests from abroad. Forcing us to change. Ludicrous!

Fuck the crisis

So I am one of the new poor. Mostly having earned loads of money the past few years, and spent it, it's a bit weird. All of a sudden I have to rethink what I spend. And how I spend. And try very hard NOT to spend. But to save. That being a word I hardly know. How do you save? What do you save? I interesed look at offers in the supermarket and decide to go for the nice stuff. Which has nothing to do with save. I was never taught how to live on a budget. Money has always suprised me. Lots of it and shortage as well. So, 2010 looks like a poor year. I have to sell my SUV. I have to clean out my wardrobe. I have to shop at the poor people's side of town. Which means dressing appropriate. Old scruffy jeans. Dirty boots. Dirty look. No fancy earrings. No designer coat. I only have designer coats. That's a problem. I will have to go out shopping. For something ugly and cheap. Nothing to do with save..