In a recent video (>3 min.), Dutch vlogger Harry Vermeegen wondered why liberal-left beliefs qualify as idealism, while conservative-right beliefs qualify as populism. His remark triggered a question that had once been on my mind, but which I had discarded back then, for reasons I cannot recall. The ingredients of conservative-right beliefs are either (i) emotions...
In a recent facebook remark, I wondered how we can restore togetherness in a society; or in Dutch: hoe krijg je saamhorigheid terug in een "samen"leving? Our Western societies are often characterized by glorifying freedom (eg, sexual expression, speech) and by individualism. I received several replies. A friend of a friend is convinced that global grass roots...
Late June 2022, the Times published an article: How Britain became a gerontocracy. Its subtitle was: "The pensions boost is further proof that Britain is run for the benefit of the older generation — paid for by the young". My April 2019 blog had predicted this: The future Great Divide between generations. The cause appears to be quite simple: demographics and the...
One of the most annoying expressions, in my view, is the following: I am entitled to ...... (eg, a house, a job, migration, service). Often, these people believe they have a right to something (or someone), and usually without having duties (eg, good behaviour, good intentions). In Putin's view, Russia is entitled to former Soviet republic territories, like Ukraine,...
The US Supreme Court is about to rule on the federal right of abortion. Some US states are already preluding on its verdict and are only allowing abortion for early pregnancies (ie, less than 15 weeks). Should individual ethical issues even be governed by national laws? The Netherlands (my country) does not have a legal right on this ethical issue. In principle,...
There have already been several people arguing that restricting access to (foreign state) propaganda is against the (individual) right of free speech. I trust you will see the inherent contradiction(s). Nevertheless, let's assume, for the purpose of this blog, that these people actually believe in what they're arguing. The above is an example of the paradox of...
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