These guys must have a really wild national convention.
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to “Dutch alarmed by paedophile group”
That is some sad stuff. I should think folks would have better things to do than try to encourage such nonsense. Wait! Encouraging nonsense happens everywhere. I’ll grant you this particular flavor certainly hits a lot of “hot buttons” for readers and Dutch voters. Promoting pedolphilia is, in my view, reprehensible since my bases for engaging in sexual behavior are the ability to give informed consent and mutual desire. While it is certainly possible that those under 16 could have sufficient understanding to give informed consent, my experience with people that age indicates that most are not capable of it, nor are they particularly capable of discerning & defending themselves from aggressive behavior from older persons possessing more guile & experience. For the same reasons & more, extending the voting age down to 12 seems an absurd notion. Legalization of narcotics for other than medicinal use seems a strange plank for a political platform. While a natural selection argument may be made, I think impact on greater society, as well as the idea that addiction is perceived as illness/disease, must be considered in any serious discussion of the idea. Free train travel is just silly. The Netherlands, as well as many other parts of the EU, have a superb rail infrastructure, at least when compared to the rest of the world. It must be maintained, expanded or contracted as demand dictates, and manned, and that costs money. Someone will pay it, whether it is by payment from customers, tax dollars, or some combination thereof. The notion of free as it reads to me in the article reminds me of a small child who demands everything it sees without regard to a cost paid by whomever is asked to provide it.
Having said this, I am reminded of the post regarding “California Electoral News” just posted. The Dutch political structure is sufficiently diverse that even fringe ideas such as those espoused by this party will get heard. For those who may not know, the Dutch use a parliamentary structure for their legislature which then choose the leading executive. Frequently, governments must be formed via coalition as it is unusual for one party to gain enough legislative seats to form a government without cooperation from other parties that hold seats. I’ve heard of governments formed from several parties joining in coalition. This results in negotiation and cooperation almost never seen here. I think it also tends to result in much better government.
June 2nd, 2006
That is some sad stuff. I should think folks would have better things to do than try to encourage such nonsense. Wait! Encouraging nonsense happens everywhere. I’ll grant you this particular flavor certainly hits a lot of “hot buttons” for readers and Dutch voters. Promoting pedolphilia is, in my view, reprehensible since my bases for engaging in sexual behavior are the ability to give informed consent and mutual desire. While it is certainly possible that those under 16 could have sufficient understanding to give informed consent, my experience with people that age indicates that most are not capable of it, nor are they particularly capable of discerning & defending themselves from aggressive behavior from older persons possessing more guile & experience. For the same reasons & more, extending the voting age down to 12 seems an absurd notion. Legalization of narcotics for other than medicinal use seems a strange plank for a political platform. While a natural selection argument may be made, I think impact on greater society, as well as the idea that addiction is perceived as illness/disease, must be considered in any serious discussion of the idea. Free train travel is just silly. The Netherlands, as well as many other parts of the EU, have a superb rail infrastructure, at least when compared to the rest of the world. It must be maintained, expanded or contracted as demand dictates, and manned, and that costs money. Someone will pay it, whether it is by payment from customers, tax dollars, or some combination thereof. The notion of free as it reads to me in the article reminds me of a small child who demands everything it sees without regard to a cost paid by whomever is asked to provide it.
Having said this, I am reminded of the post regarding “California Electoral News” just posted. The Dutch political structure is sufficiently diverse that even fringe ideas such as those espoused by this party will get heard. For those who may not know, the Dutch use a parliamentary structure for their legislature which then choose the leading executive. Frequently, governments must be formed via coalition as it is unusual for one party to gain enough legislative seats to form a government without cooperation from other parties that hold seats. I’ve heard of governments formed from several parties joining in coalition. This results in negotiation and cooperation almost never seen here. I think it also tends to result in much better government.