Huh: Dutch King Declares End to the Welfare State

Misfire! Readers, who actually read the post and the article, point out that this story dates from 2013. I completely missed that. Apologies. I'll throw up a fresh post.

Original post follows:

Via Instapundit, as America abandons the American Dream, other people seem to be interested in exploring it.

King Willem-Alexander delivered a message to the Dutch people from the government in a nationally televised address: the welfare state of the 20th century is gone.
In its place a "participation society" is emerging, in which people must take responsibility for their own future and create their own social and financial safety nets, with less help from the national government....
"The shift to a 'participation society' is especially visible in social security and long-term care," the king said, reading out to lawmakers a speech written for him by Prime Minister Mark Rutte's government.
"The classic welfare state of the second half of the 20th century in these areas in particular brought forth arrangements that are unsustainable in their current form."
Rutte may be hoping that the pomp and ceremony surrounding the king and his popular wife, Queen Maxima, will provide a diversion from the gloomy reality of a budget full of unpopular new spending cuts he revealed later in the day.

The Dutch have pursued an austerity program (Northern European countries favor hard currency and more balanced budgets) and many (government workers, union workers, pensioners, etc.) are upset about all the cuts. Rutte's government is actually at record low levels in terms of support.

So this isn't a victory parade. As they say about democracy, people turn to freedom, capitalism, and personal responsibility when no other options are remaining.

Meanwhile, just to give you a bit of background on European politics, Geert Wilders "far-right" Freedom Party -- the party that is most vocal about stopping immigration -- is actually opposed to Rutte's cuts, and calls them a case of kicking the nation when it's down.

That tends to happen, that is, parties deemed allegedly "far right" pursuing more socialist, wealth-spreading agendas. Not as much as the socialists, but also opposed to what is often sneered at in Europe as "liberalism" (liberalism being both social and economic freedom)*.

* I found this Wikipedia entry useful on the subject. Basically, America is so thoroughly "liberal" -- in the "classic liberalism" sense -- that the parties were formally split between two branches of liberalism, what I'd call left-liberalism or populist/socialist liberalism, and "conservative liberalism."

But in America, we just called the two "liberalism" and "conservatism."

In Europe, they might deem people like us simultaneously "ultra-liberal" and "far-right."

Now that the Democrats are increasingly openly embracing Socialism, and increasing state control (every single day they rail against "so-called 'free speech'"), I don't think we can term them "liberals" any longer.

Posted by: Ace at 12:46 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Eventually you run out of other people's money

Posted by: Gaff at August 04, 2015 12:49 PM (jPS2y)

2 Uno

Posted by: CSMBigBird at August 04, 2015 12:49 PM (jsWA8)

3 Drat's

Posted by: CSMBigBird at August 04, 2015 12:49 PM (jsWA8)

4 Wheels coming off the European Wagon of Socialism?

Who knew?

Posted by: MacGruber at August 04, 2015 12:49 PM (FEAjO)

5 I'll get the others.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 04, 2015 12:49 PM (gECZB)

6 Queen Maxima, eh?

That's quite the name.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at August 04, 2015 12:49 PM (LA7Cm)

7 Meanwhile, just to give you a bit of background on European politics, Geert Wilders "far-right" Freedom Party -- the party that is most vocal about stopping immigration -- is actually opposed to Rutte's cuts, and calls them a case of kicking the nation when it's down.

That tends to happen, that is, parties deemed allegedly "far right" pursuing more socialist, wealth-spreading agendas. Not as much as the socialists, but also opposed to what is deemed "liberalism" in Europe (liberalism being both social and economic freedom).

Which is why I trust no one I'm told to trust. There's always something.

Posted by: Doomed, eyeing suspiciously at August 04, 2015 12:50 PM (bGLSw)

8 Netherland rediscovers the inexorable conclusions of math.

Posted by: Qoheleth at August 04, 2015 12:50 PM (iIzG7)

9 So the guy whose entire life is subsidized by the taxpayers is telling the taxpayers they need to suck it up and take better care of themselves?

Not saying I don't agree with the message, but the messenger probably wasn't the best choice.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at August 04, 2015 12:50 PM (xSCb6)

10 I didn't see anything about immigration in there but IIRC these two are linked - the New Dutch living off the welfare state.

Posted by: Lizzy at August 04, 2015 12:51 PM (NOIQH)

11

unsustainable

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at August 04, 2015 12:51 PM (qCMvj)

12 Why can't our King do this?

Posted by: Iblis at August 04, 2015 12:51 PM (9221z)

13 A story from 17 September, 2013.

Interesting, but sort of lacks that "Breaking!!" feel.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 04, 2015 12:52 PM (VPLuQ)

14 Saying something is one thing, changing the country is something else.

Posted by: CSMBigBird at August 04, 2015 12:52 PM (jsWA8)

15 Isnt' this an old story? The Independent UK has it listed as 2013.

Still, fine to bring attention to it again

Obviously 2 years later they haven't collapsed into anarchy

Posted by: Arcadehero at August 04, 2015 12:52 PM (xOH0X)

16 "Why can't our King do this?"

Because he's using all that free largesse to buy votes.

Posted by: Qoheleth at August 04, 2015 12:52 PM (iIzG7)

17 Wiskunde, het is wat voor diner.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at August 04, 2015 12:53 PM (659DL)

18 The article is dated 2013.

Posted by: Mikey NTH - Back-to-School Sale on Lunchboxes, Accusations at the Outrage Outlet! at August 04, 2015 12:53 PM (hLRSq)

19 Posted by: Iblis at August 04, 2015 12:51 PM (9221z)

Early thread winner?

Posted by: Chilling the most at August 04, 2015 12:53 PM (zW5rQ)

20 European welfare states only last as long as the population is relatively small and culturally homogenous, does not mind paying confiscatory tax rates, has little or no defense budget, and government control of a major revenue-producing industry such as North Sea oil.

Multi-culturalism is killing the welfare state.

Posted by: OregonMuse at August 04, 2015 12:53 PM (j1VIK)

21 I thought "far right" in Europe meant Nazis???? Who were actually socialists.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at August 04, 2015 12:54 PM (GpgJl)

22 if he had the power he should kick all dead beats out of the country

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at August 04, 2015 12:54 PM (0O7c5)

23 Queen Maxima, eh?

Yea, I'd give her a test drive.

http://tinyurl.com/qgmnf4n

Posted by: wrg500 at August 04, 2015 12:54 PM (S+el1)

24 A plan like this is going to need time to produce. Cutting regulation will provide the openings, but investment will take time to pay off.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at August 04, 2015 12:55 PM (oVJmc)

25 It's old, ~~ace~~ ~~BenK~~ ace.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, down with Eph 6:12-13 at August 04, 2015 12:55 PM (2l5vw)

26 get out of my country!!!

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at August 04, 2015 12:55 PM (0O7c5)

27 Hell, the fact that it's old is old.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, down with Eph 6:12-13 at August 04, 2015 12:55 PM (2l5vw)

28 Queen Barry Obama declares the welfare state in America will never end because of racism, sexism, homophobia and keeping Democrats in power.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 04, 2015 12:55 PM (OE2ur)

29 4 Wheels coming off the European Wagon of Socialism?

Who knew?
Posted by: MacGruber at August 04, 2015 12:49 PM (FEAjO)

I did.

Posted by: F. A. Hayek at August 04, 2015 12:55 PM (j1VIK)

30 I would comment on this if I was Moo Moo, but I'm not, so my personal ignorance concerning the Dutch situation shant be proudly displayed for admiration.

Posted by: maddogg at August 04, 2015 12:56 PM (xWW96)

31 It's not just the money, and running out of it.

It's the metaphysical damage to the individual human being, whose self-worth is destroyed by socialism.

People become disposable.

Euthanasia, abortion, crime, drug addiction, etc.

These are all clues to a sick society; a soul-sick society.

Posted by: Bossy Conservative....dumbshit in America at August 04, 2015 12:56 PM (RFeQD)

32 So how about that O.J. Simpson verdict.

Posted by: Up to the minute news at August 04, 2015 12:56 PM (bGLSw)

33 Multi-culturalism is killing the welfare state.

Posted by: OregonMuse at August 04, 2015 12:53 PM (j1VIK)

It's also killing the citizens

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 04, 2015 12:57 PM (OE2ur)

34 One abuse leads to another. It's all rot.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, down with Eph 6:12-13 at August 04, 2015 12:57 PM (2l5vw)

35 'The old Economy was built on Tulips, Windmills and it sat atop a Salt Marsh. The Tulips died, the Windmills fell over and ot all sank into the Marsh.

But this Economy, Son...
This economy is built on solid ground!'

Posted by: Dutch King at August 04, 2015 12:57 PM (85e8e)

36 "Yea, I'd give her a test drive. "

Yeah, she's all right.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at August 04, 2015 12:58 PM (LA7Cm)

37 Multi-culturalism is killing the welfare state.

If we were on the verge of curing cancer, the stupid fuckers would declare it an endangered species.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, down with Eph 6:12-13 at August 04, 2015 12:58 PM (2l5vw)

38 That will go over well with the "disaffected youths" of overseas background. Expect burning cars in Rotterdam when the cuts take effect.

Posted by: brak at August 04, 2015 12:58 PM (Tj+s6)

39 Dude's Dutch. Latest news is that he cut the ribbon at a cheesemaker.
Oh, and he has a Maxima...

wait, that's the Queen's title or something.

Posted by: anon a mouse at August 04, 2015 12:58 PM (C9pBZ)

40 So what has happened in elections since then? Economically?

I love the underlying assumptions - that the economy is struggling due to a lack of government spending.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at August 04, 2015 12:58 PM (xSCb6)

41 'The old Economy was built on Tulips, Windmills and it sat atop a Salt Marsh. The Tulips died, the Windmills fell over and ot all sank into the Marsh.

But this Economy, Son...
This economy is built on solid ground!'

Posted by: Dutch King at August 04, 2015 12:57 PM (85e8e)

Does it have "huge tracks of land"?

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 04, 2015 12:58 PM (OE2ur)

42 Libs always want us to be more like Europe, so let's tell them we should be like the Dutch and cut welfare.

Then watch their blank stares.

Posted by: Iasonas at August 04, 2015 12:58 PM (d33iO)

43 That's fine talk, but the European definition of ending the welfare state means cutting it back to only twice as much as the USA.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at August 04, 2015 12:58 PM (39g3+)

44 "Gee, our old LaSalle ran great."

Posted by: Mark1971 at August 04, 2015 12:59 PM (vaR50)

45 One abuse leads to another. It's all rot.

So there's something rotten in Denmark?

Posted by: rickb223 at August 04, 2015 12:59 PM (gECZB)

46 But, Weed and Hookers are a Right!

Posted by: Dutch Freeloader at August 04, 2015 12:59 PM (85e8e)

47 Is it Finland who recently reported a drop in violent crime after deporting immigrants who break the law back to the cesspools they came from?

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at August 04, 2015 12:59 PM (iQIUe)

48 I thought the new Dutch economy was built on drugs and prostitution.

Posted by: maddogg at August 04, 2015 12:59 PM (xWW96)

49 Found this but no date (no idea when the study happened):

"The influx of non-Western immigrants is costing Dutch society 7.2 billion euros per year, research commissioned by anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders has shown. The research was carried out for his far-right Freedom Party by the Nyfer economic research unit."

Posted by: Lizzy at August 04, 2015 12:59 PM (NOIQH)

50 The Dutch King also said that with the money saved, he would be able to buy back Indonesia and New York.

Posted by: Eromero at August 04, 2015 12:59 PM (go5uR)

51 Euro politics are difficult to gauge by our standards: Wilders "far right" party is similar to UKIP in that it's depicted as ultra right but if you read their platform it would be purple to blue here but for immigration and opposition to the EU

Posted by: SocietyIs2Blame at August 04, 2015 12:59 PM (V0f0p)

52 Just to clarify, the King only reads the speech that the PM gives him, so the speech doesn't necessarily reflect the King's personal views.

Same principle applies in the UK.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at August 04, 2015 12:59 PM (oKE6c)

53 I'll throw up a fresh post.

Ewwww.....

Posted by: Insomniac at August 04, 2015 01:00 PM (2Ojst)

54 Running out of OPM is a bitch.

Look, I will be the first to admit that I am not precisely the best in the world at taking care of myself. But you know what? I don't want anyone else to take care of me nor do I expect others to do so. My life. My choices. My decisions. My success. My failures. My responsibility. My rewards.

All I want to be is left alone. This makes me a dangerous revolutionary.

That is insane.

Posted by: alexthechick - Team Joker Money Pile Being Hit By SMOD at August 04, 2015 01:00 PM (mf5HN)

55 The Dutch royal family has a problem though, their youngest boy is actually Damien from the Omen

http://tinyurl.com/q3tphuv

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at August 04, 2015 01:00 PM (39g3+)

56 Queen Maxima . . . no doubt there's a Princess Altima and their son is Sentra.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at August 04, 2015 01:00 PM (T/B5D)

57 Queen Maxima sounds like a porn star name.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at August 04, 2015 01:00 PM (W5DcG)

58 The Dutch Royals, where a Hitler Jungen and member of the 90th Panzergrenadier married into the Dutch Royal family. The current king is the offspring of that union.

Posted by: Anna Puma at August 04, 2015 01:01 PM (i96Kk)

59 Hell, the fact that it's old is old."

But let's not stop the Maxima comments, 'k? Good look'n four door sprts car there.
IYKWIMAITYD

Posted by: anon a mouse at August 04, 2015 01:01 PM (C9pBZ)

60 The welfare state of the 20th century is dead.

Long live the 19th century welfare state.

Wasn't there something in the Federalist Papers about the Dutch being an example of what not to do?

Posted by: SpongeBobSaget at August 04, 2015 01:01 PM (ktt8p)

61 All hail King Vitamin.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at August 04, 2015 01:01 PM (W5DcG)

62 47
Is it Finland who recently reported a drop in violent crime after
deporting immigrants who break the law back to the cesspools they came
from?
*
*
Norway, I think. Perhaps there's still some Viking DNA left in that population.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at August 04, 2015 01:02 PM (T/B5D)

63 Let's go Dutch.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at August 04, 2015 01:02 PM (oVJmc)

64
The article is dated 2013.

Now we can jump to the future and find out how it all turned out!

Posted by: Bandersnatch at August 04, 2015 01:03 PM (JtwS4)

65 >>53 I'll throw up a fresh post.

NOT ON THE RUG!!!

Posted by: Garrett at August 04, 2015 01:03 PM (85e8e)

66 Is it Finland who recently reported a drop in violent crime after
deporting immigrants who break the law back to the cesspools they came
from?
*
*
Norway, I think. Perhaps there's still some Viking DNA left in that population.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at August 04, 2015 01:02 PM (T/B5D)

Cause and effect. The left never seems to figure out how they work together.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 04, 2015 01:03 PM (OE2ur)

67 Queen Maxima Bustier? Maxima Buttocks? Russ Myers' favorite royals.

Posted by: SocietyIs2Blame at August 04, 2015 01:03 PM (V0f0p)

68 In other Euro news, former Prime Minister Edward Heath is now under *four* criminal investigations. He was a "Tory", who got his ass handed to him by Margaret The Great; we'd call him a RINO here.

He didn't like Maggie much. Seemed to have a problem with women, especially older ones. IYKWIM.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at August 04, 2015 01:03 PM (LPidw)

69 Is this the same guy that won the lawn-tractor race in that movie? Seems like a nice guy. Maybe he will close some castles and cut back on the horses and parades and stuff. Or maybe go get a job and help his economy. Nah, it is good to be the king.

Posted by: goon at August 04, 2015 01:04 PM (gy5kE)

70 So the guy whose entire life is subsidized by the taxpayers is telling the taxpayers they need to suck it up and take better care of themselves?

Not saying I don't agree with the message, but the messenger probably wasn't the best choice.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at August 04, 2015 12:50 PM (xSCb6)

The King isn't telling anybody anything. The Throne Speech is written by the government of the day, and it sets the government's agenda for the upcoming session of Parliament. It's the King's duty[/] to read what the PM gives him. He's not ad-libbing. That's how a Parliamentary system works.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 04, 2015 01:04 PM (U5R9J)

71 Look, I will be the first to admit that I am not precisely the best in the world at taking care of myself. But you know what? I don't want anyone else to take care of me nor do I expect others to do so.

Word. The only person I trust less than myself to take care of my affairs is someone else.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, down with Eph 6:12-13 at August 04, 2015 01:04 PM (2l5vw)

72 39 Dude's Dutch. Latest news is that he cut the ribbon at a cheesemaker.

This just in- he cut the cheese at a ribbon maker.

Posted by: Bat Chain Puller at August 04, 2015 01:04 PM (SCcgT)

73 Cause and effect. The left never seems to figure out how they work together.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at August 04, 2015 01:03 PM (OE2ur)

My fav: leftists who sanctimoniously say that crime is down, yet the prison population is up, as if that were a conundrum.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at August 04, 2015 01:05 PM (oKE6c)

74 Don't feel bad, ace. Not only did BenK put this up, he dredged something up from 2010 for the dump.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, down with Eph 6:12-13 at August 04, 2015 01:05 PM (2l5vw)

75 we'd call him a RINO here.

I love the Brit term for RINO: "wets."

Posted by: SocietyIs2Blame at August 04, 2015 01:06 PM (V0f0p)

76 This just in- he cut the cheese at a ribbon maker.

Posted by: Bat Chain Puller at August 04, 2015 01:04 PM (SCcgT)

It was a Gouda event.

Posted by: wrg500 at August 04, 2015 01:06 PM (S+el1)

77 >>Multi-culturalism is killing the welfare state.

Especially when some cultures consider welfare a jizya payment and have no intention of ever getting off it.

Posted by: Lizzy at August 04, 2015 01:06 PM (NOIQH)

78 Are we gonna brie all about it?

Posted by: Anna Puma at August 04, 2015 01:07 PM (i96Kk)

79 Yeah, the Dems are simply socialists now.

Which means we have to have a Rep Prez that is willing to aggressively defund the left, use federalism as a tool to send power back to the states,
cut taxes and regulations, and back to the max fracking, coal, nukes and any manner of real, consistent power, border security, and repeal of Obamacare with market-driven solutions in place

and be willing to do it all within the first 100 days to six months.

All of this, "bipartisan lovefest ala Jeb!" is just holding and codifying Obama's socialism in place.

Posted by: naturalfake at August 04, 2015 01:07 PM (0cMkb)

80 39 Dude's Dutch. Latest news is that he cut the ribbon at a cheesemaker.

Such a curd.

Posted by: wrg500 at August 04, 2015 01:07 PM (S+el1)

81 My fav: leftists who sanctimoniously say that crime is down, yet the prison population is up, as if that were a conundrum.

Quit having prison handbabies.

Posted by: rickb223 at August 04, 2015 01:08 PM (gECZB)

82 Uh-oh!

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 04, 2015 01:08 PM (U5R9J)

83 The King isn't telling anybody anything. The Throne Speech is written by the government of the day, and it sets the government's agenda for the upcoming session of Parliament. It's the King's duty to read what the PM gives him. He's not ad-libbing. That's how a Parliamentary system works.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 04, 2015 01:04 PM (U5R9J)

Yep. See #52. Although I think strictly speaking, it's how a constitutional monarchy works; a parliamentary system doesn't necessarily have a monarch.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at August 04, 2015 01:08 PM (oKE6c)

84 Are we gonna brie all about it?

Posted by: Anna Puma at August 04, 2015 01:07 PM (i96Kk)

Your being a Muenster.

Posted by: wrg500 at August 04, 2015 01:09 PM (S+el1)

85 When we deport someone, we should be dropping them off in Antarctica, and not right across the boarder. If people found out that they might end up in Antarctica, or hell even Chile, it might give them a cause to pause. Some guy who makes it here from Antarctica, he can stay.

Posted by: goon at August 04, 2015 01:09 PM (gy5kE)

86 When we deport someone, we should be dropping them off in Antarctica, and not right across the boarder. If people found out that they might end up in Antarctica, or hell even Chile, it might give them a cause to pause. Some guy who makes it here from Antarctica, he can stay.

Posted by: goon at August 04, 2015 01:09 PM (gy5kE)

What do you have against Chile? They got rid of their Communists, in spectacular fashion, too. Deport illegals to their country of origin, and the locale within that country from whence they came. No more, no less.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 04, 2015 01:13 PM (U5R9J)

87 What do you have against Chile? They got rid of their Communists, in spectacular fashion, too.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 04, 2015 01:13 PM (U5R9J)

Yeah, they did. Chile has turned up on the list Mrs. Guevara and I have discussed.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at August 04, 2015 01:16 PM (oKE6c)

88 I should have not said Chile when I was thinking of Patagonia, or somewhere else far, far away. The revolving door, the easy trip back to our border, is not much of a deterrent to reentry. Maybe dropping illegals off into the Syrian desert would be satisfactory and have the desired effect.

Posted by: goon at August 04, 2015 01:18 PM (gy5kE)

89 You can call it what Rush just called it

Fascism

Yup, we have gotten to that point. And he included the republican wit that too.

Posted by: Brendan at August 04, 2015 01:19 PM (8kqcH)

90 Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 04, 2015 01:04 PM (U5R9J)

Perhaps you should read my comment for comprehension next time.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at August 04, 2015 01:26 PM (xSCb6)

91 I cheddar to think where this thread is headed.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, down with Eph 6:12-13 at August 04, 2015 01:31 PM (2l5vw)

92 You guys could make a cottage industry out of bad puns.

Posted by: Chi at August 04, 2015 01:34 PM (oE+xB)

93 >>I cheddar to think where this thread is headed.

I camembert when the last time we had a chees thread this slow...

Posted by: Lizzy at August 04, 2015 01:40 PM (NOIQH)

94 >> I camembert when the last time we had a chees thread this slow...

It's making me blue. I feel so provolone.

Posted by: 0302 at August 04, 2015 01:48 PM (N6eLE)

95 Good book on the history of terms like "liberal" and "conservative" in this country: David Green, The Language of Politics in America. Goes all the way back to "individualists" (McKinley) v. "Paternalists" (his term for Bryan/populist Democrats).

Posted by: Knemon at August 04, 2015 02:07 PM (JTwsP)

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