The General Political Thread

[Von Bergen]

Capitalism reigns supreme, the Netherlands is in fact a tax haven for a lot of international businesses.

Sounds like a country done right, especially given the hefty tax rates in the rest of Scandinavia.

Netherlands and "the Rest of scandinavia"? 

[Riddlez]

The Netherlands can indeed be counted as socialist. Mind you, we're not red, though definitely 'redder' than most other countries.
There is a considerable amount of government influence almost everywhere. Sure, we're pretty much a tax haven, but there is a lot of oversight and the power the Unions have is still, in spite of what people sometimes say, considerable.

Don't forget that it was only in 2006 that free market rule was introduced to our healthcare system.

[joer5835]

Thing is, welfare and government influence are no longer exclusively socialist point of views over here. Even Wilders, as right wing as it gets over here, is in favour of some form of a welfare state with government intervention.

[Edwin]

Capitalism reigns supreme, the Netherlands is in fact a tax haven for a lot of international businesses.

Sounds like a country done right, especially given the hefty tax rates in the rest of Scandinavia.

Netherlands and "the Rest of scandinavia"? 

Late night post, *Scandinavia hahaha

[Von Bergen]

Capitalism reigns supreme, the Netherlands is in fact a tax haven for a lot of international businesses.

Sounds like a country done right, especially given the hefty tax rates in the rest of Scandinavia.

Netherlands and "the Rest of scandinavia"? 

Late night post, *Scandinavia hahaha

I was mainly talking about that the netherlads are part of the benelux states in central europe while scandinavia is in northern europe

[StevenChilton]

I'm really confused who fraudbear is talking to. Did I miss a ww2 argument? 😕

Some conversation we had over two weeks ago that he's now randomly getting back into again. Cba to argue, everything I said last time still stands.

The Netherlands can indeed be counted as socialist.

Lol what-you're as confused as Bernie Sanders (also a social democrat who thinks he's a socialist). Dutch system is a centrist model that leans towards social democracy. I don't think it's recognised as a socialist country by Socialist International or any other such organisation. As you say yourself your healthcare system is based on the free market for a start...

[StevenChilton]

If you haven't noticed, just a little further down the page fetishism and voyeurism are described, but I don't feel that anyone here would classify people with those particular sexual interests as mentally ill.

Well I would given voyeurism is illegal and it depends on the fetish (many can be classed as mental disorders).

There is no evidence that transgender individuals have any "weakness" in them any more than any other soldier. You're making baseless claims that they are "not much use in combat". I'm curious as to where you're getting that from, as it sounds like a personal anecdote, but I somehow doubt that.

I never found myself in a combat situation surrounded by transsexuals, no.
The mental health of transsexuals is questionable and therefore you don't give them weapons, and nor do you put them into combat.

Moving on, even if it were a mental health condition, you're essentially saying that nobody with a mental health problem may serve in the military, regardless of impact on performance.
What about everyone who's depressed? What about people with dysthymia? What about low mood? You're going to exclude 90% of all military applicants if you go down that road.

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying, and depression and other such mental health conditions already excludes you from military service in the UK and other countries.

[Edwin]

I like the way labour want to do things. The thing is that they get slated for taxing corporations too much even though their new plans will still have it at the lowest in the G7

This is why people start making "money tree" jokes directed at Corbyn, though. I read Labour's manifesto and found myself wondering how they're going to fund their army of freshly recruited public workers.

Sounds like a lot of debt to me.

[Toffee]

The thing is though is that Labour's manifesto was entirely costed and the conservatives wasn't. Probably cos all they wanted to do was cut everything 

[joer5835]

The mental health of transsexuals is questionable

That is a massive blanket statement and I really wanna how you got to that conclusion.

[Edwin]

The thing is though is that Labour's manifesto was entirely costed and the conservatives wasn't. Probably cos all they wanted to do was cut everything 

Two sides of a leftist coin I'm afraid.

At least Corbyn admits he's left-wing, he gets some points for that.

[Toffee]

Nothing wrong with being left wing. IMO he stands for something good and gives people hope in a world that is kind of lacking in that department in recent times. His policies give equal opportunity and makes sure everyone in our society is looked after, something  which a civilised country should pride itself on.

[Edwin]

I meant that the Tories, at best, are neoliberals. I like to think that them using the name "Conservatives" is a bad joke on their part.

His policies give equal opportunity and makes sure everyone in our society is looked after, something which a civilised country should pride itself on.

That's easier said than done. I think he has a habit of making a lot of empty promises. Live liberal, vote conservative 

[Riddlez]

Lol what-you're as confused as Bernie Sanders (also a social democrat who thinks he's a socialist). Dutch system is a centrist model that leans towards social democracy. I don't think it's recognised as a socialist country by Socialist International or any other such organisation. As you say yourself your healthcare system is based on the free market for a start...

I wouldn't go as far as calling the NL a socialist state, what I meant was socialist, as in having a lot of socialist tendencies. Healthcare is one aspect of that, but the amount of government intervention in especially the lower social classes is, compared to a lot of other countries, quite substantial. Decades of Labour rule some time ago made this happen and Christian Democrat rule, sometimes interrupted by Labour rule, further enforced this (which is weird because that particular Christian Democrat are right-leaning, at least by our standards).

Then again, all of the NL is left in some way. Even the liberal party is pro some measure of social safety nets.

[Toffee]

I meant that the Tories, at best, are neoliberals. I like to think that them using the name "Conservatives" is a bad joke on their part.

His policies give equal opportunity and makes sure everyone in our society is looked after, something which a civilised country should pride itself on.

That's easier said than done. I think he has a habit of making a lot of empty promises. Live liberal, vote conservative 

I get that it's a lot to aim for but better to strive for something good than never try at all