As someone who has recently come to live inHolland, my view of society here is one of shock and surprise. Could what I was seeing around me be reality? Or was I stuck in a nightmarish version of Groundhog Day? My very first impressions were of a sense of suffocation, not enough oxygen, not enough room…… claustrophobic. But let me start at the beginning………….

My earliest memories of childhood are associated with freedom. My brother and I looked forward to the summer school break each year, as that meant a visit to our grandparent’s home. This was always a welcome break from the hectic life in the big city, and a chance to get away from it all. It was time to say goodbye to the bustling metropolis and escape into nature. We would gleefully run around barefoot in our ancestral home inKerala,India, where my grandparents lived, in the lush, green countryside, blessed by abundant monsoon rains, surrounded by the raw beauty of nature. Mango trees laden with fruit, tamarind trees with their sweet-sour pods, and graceful coconut palms covered the grounds. Rose bushes of various hues added a rainbow of colours and with the sun’s rays pouring through the trees, it was paradise. No wonder they called it “Garden House”.

My grandfather, a well known doctor, would wake up at 5 am and made his rounds in the coolness of the early morning mist, while my grandmother made him his “first C’ as he liked to call it. This was his first cup of coffee for the day, made from freshly roasted and ground coffee. My memories as a little girl of 5 or 6, was waking up to the delicious aroma of coffee, mingled with the scent of burning leaves, which my grandfather would gather and burn each morning. He would sit by the fire, read the newspaper and drink his coffee.

Often when my grandmother would call us to lunch, my brother and I had already had ours; sitting up in the mango tree, busy gorging ourselves on a game of “Who can eat the most mangos!” What we really looked forward to, was a visit from the mahout and the baby elephant! If we were lucky, his visit would coincide with our holidays. I remember my first ride on the elephant. He was huge! His hide felt rough, and the hairs on his back were like wires. No wonder they had a carpet for us to sit on! After the ride, my grandmother had asked for some fresh jackfruits to be cut down, so we could feed these to the elephant as a treat! I remember that his tongue felt rough, like sandpaper!

When the coconuts needed to be harvested, my grandmother would send word for the local coconut harvester, and he would be there the next day. This was of course, before there were any telephones in homes. The harvester, fondly called Mamutti by all, was an expert in his trade. My brother and I would watch in wide-eyed awe, as he ascended effortlessly up the coconut tree, bare feet, whipped out his shiny machete from his belt, harvested the coconuts, dropped them into a large pile below, and effortlessly climbed back down! That was the coolest thing ever to a 6 year old!

I recall that we would often wake up and find sacks of jackfruits, rice, or other produce left on the porch, with a note that said, “In payment to the kind doctor, for services rendered.” So the free market, and the free exchange of goods and services were alive and well in my grandfather’s town 40 years ago.

My grandfather was a freedom fighter who fought along with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose to freeIndiafrom the British Raj. As a doctor in the army his job was a challenging one. When my mother was a little girl, he left for the army, and did not return for 6 years, and everyone thought he had been lost. But my grandmother never lost hope. And sure enough, one summer morning, after 6 long, agonizing, years, he walked back into their home, a decorated war veteran. I recall my mother telling me, that living in a joint family, surrounded by supportive aunts, uncles and cousins, made those years easier. My grandfather’s stories of his efforts in the freedom struggle made a deep impression on me and made me realize the importance of being free. I realized that we were born free, and meant to remain that way.

Having grown up as the daughter of an international banker, (the old fashioned, honest kind) my siblings and I were exposed to a wide variety of cultures both local and foreign. Traveling was a part of our family lifestyle, as my father’s vision was to widen our horizons and give us the experience of being world citizens. His strong sense of ethics and discipline earned him the reputation for being an honest and principled man. My mother had an arts background, and studied Indian classical Bharat Natyam dance and music under Rukmini Devi Arundale, the well known dancer and choreographer at the Kalakshetra Academy of Dance in Chennai. Rukmini Devi’s cultural and aesthetic legacy is preserved both inIndiaas well as internationally.

Our home was filled with my Dad’s fascinating collection of books. And so we read. Having only 3 TV channels was a blessing in disguise, as every spare moment was spent in the company of books! From The Agony and The Ecstasy, to A Tale of Two Cities, Shakespeare, Tagore, Cronin, Tolkien, were all favourites. On a rainy day, us 4 siblings could each be found cozily curled up with a book and some snacks, lost to the world. Much of our ideas of human nature, culture, people, and history came from the books we read.

My university years caused me to question the state of society and its apparent inequalities, rampant corruption, and the general degeneration of humanity. Ideals of freedom and liberty remained priorities to me.

Fortunate to have met my husband Riekus inIndia, we embarked together on several decades of adventures, a dream come true for me! We traveled withinIndia,Nepal,Thailand,Turkey,Syriaand theMiddle Eastwhile engaging in developmental aid projects through meaningful, small, localized NGO’s. The experience of living in these countries and raising our children there has made an indelible impression on me that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I experienced many wonderful things, that have made my life richer and taught me much about freedom, love, hospitality and abundant living. It is my sincere view that the West has much to learn from these warm, civilized, cultures and its people. Although it does not seem that long ago, Riekus and I have been married for almost 30 years, and have been blessed with 5 children and 1 adorable grandson. How time flies!

So I now return to the beginning of my article where I speak of my first impressions of  society here. It was like watching a drama unfold in front of me daily. People running about from pillar to post from morning till night. Exhausted parents rushing to work, kids being brought to school, to football, music lessons, judo, korfball, the hasty breakfast, the quick lunch, the tired dinner, kids to bed, and the day finally done. Watch a bit of TV, and in a few minutes you’re asleep. Then the whole thing starts all over again. Whew! I feel tired just thinking about it! How different this is from a large joint family inIndiaor theMiddle Eastwhere the family support system is so supportive and so strong, they don’t even need the State. They delight in interdependence. Therefore such a society is stronger and does not fall apart at the seams when problems appear.

I cannot imagine how draining this stressful lifestyle would become in the long term, as to me, that is the ultimate nightmare, being caught in an inescapable bad dream that just keeps recurring. And we are not even touching upon the emotional or health related issues this sort of lifestyle creates, which provides enough fuel to keep the ‘sickness-economy’ running. It is no wonder then, that the statement “I have no time” is a reality. If you barely have time for yourself or your family, you most likely will not have much time to think. Which is really the crux of the entire matter, as without this important function, there will in effect be no individual reflection, and therefore no real societal change. This unfortunately perpetuates the existing status quo. You cannot see the forest for the trees. Being caught up in the smaller details hinders us from seeing the whole situation clearly. Perspective can only be achieved by taking distance from the situation either physically, or mentally, and then analyzing it carefully. The idea of spending a period of time in another country, preferably a freer one, can do wonders in changing one’s perspective. After all, we have to first believe that it can indeed be done differently. Rather than accepting the status quo with a belief that it cannot be changed.

I have nothing against hard work; as the dignity of labour is something I believe in. But to what end, to what goal? Appeasing the slave drivers so they don’t take us to task? Shedding blood, sweat and tears just to keep the fires of a greedy State burning? The freedom struggle in India came from the deepest recesses of the heart of an occupied people who longed for independence, for freedom from oppression, and were willing to pay any price, undergo any sacrifice to achieve that goal, no matter how long or hard the road. Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha or Force of Truth, as well as his philosophy of Ahimsa or non-violence were ideologies that swept the nation like a forest fire, and successfully ended the British occupation. The desire for freedom is deeply ingrained in the very fiber of every human being. For man to not struggle for his freedom goes against the grain of human nature.

So how do people get to such a state? Why in the world do people agree to be looted and otherwise oppressed by government overlords? Étienne de La Boétie, (1530 – 1563) the brilliant French jurist explains this in his book The Politics of Obedience: The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves and values his own freedom, as well as that of the coming generations. To La Boétie, the great mystery of politics was obedience to rulers. It is not just fear, Boetie explains, since our consent is also required. And that consent is given by the people, who get habituated to this relationship. This consent can be non-violently withdrawn. Thus, La Boétie linked together obedience and domination. By advocating a solution of simply refusing to support the tyrant, he became one of the earliest advocates of civil disobedience and nonviolent resistance. It was in exactly in this manner that the Gandhian movement was able to end British rule inIndia.

Seeing sincere people work so very hard and sacrifice so much, only to keep up with their payments and taxes to the State is distressing. Each time that they attempt to take one step forward, the State makes that difficult, if not impossible. The extent to which people are dependent on State regulations for mortgages, payments, licenses etc, displays a dizzying amount of finances involved. Which in turn end up dictating their lives. In the meantime, real life passes you by, people get older, the children grow up, and families and societies become increasingly dysfunctional. What we are speaking of here is the quality of life; time spent building relationships, spending time with your family, children and loved ones, friends. What legacy can we leave behind if this present system continues? And more importantly, will it be one that we can be proud of? Is this living in abundance? To me this symbolizes living in abject poverty; mentally, ideologically, physically, and in every other way. This is heartbreaking and pains me deeply.

Being able to afford things, can often be misinterpreted as independence, success, abundance, progress and freedom. Very subtly, this also gives the illusion of choice. Being able to choose out of 15 different types of bread, or 12 different brands of toothpaste, being able to flip through 300 TV channels, the ability to buy various brands of clothing, the idea that people can choose who to vote for, all give the illusion of an alternative, thereby keeping people in a false state of happiness as well as allegiance to the status quo. After all, who wouldn’t like to go to sleep and wake up in the Moulin Rouge day after day? And for those of you who have seen it, the State’s slogan is; as in Moulin Rouge, “The show must go on”!

My view is that on an individual level as well as society here as a whole we are living in a state of Triage. Triage is the process of determining the priority of patients’ treatments based on the severity of their condition. This rations patient treatment efficiently when resources are insufficient for all to be treated immediately. The term comes from the French verb trier, meaning to separate, sift or select. Interestingly, at a recent Orthomolecular seminar, I learnt how the human body, when faced with nutritional deficiency in certain areas, immediately goes into a state of triage. This ensures that resources are reallocated to the body according to areas / organs of priority in order to guarantee that the person keeps functioning as close to normal as possible. However, if this state of triage becomes the norm, rather than a short term response to deficiency, the body is likely to undergo irreversible damage in the long run. Of course, the amount of damage sustained would depend on how good the health of the person in question was, prior to the triage mode. Some may not live long in this state while others may. This does not mean however, that they lived in optimal health. Instead, this is a testimony to the incredible adaptive capabilities of the human body under survival mode.

Some may be familiar with survival programs such as “I Shouldn’t Be Alive”, where the story is re-enacted, of someone who survived miraculously after being trapped for several days in sub-zero temperatures, and is finally rescued. We are shown incredible graphics of how the human body shuts down certain functions, in order to save energy and thereby preserve life. This is the body going into triage mode, or emergency survival mode.

Similarly, people in society are living day after day in a state of triage that affects almost all areas of living. Compromised education, compromised economic and financial systems, compromised food, compromised relationships, compromised health, compromised healthcare, compromised services; in short, compromised living. On the other hand, someone may say, ‘But look around, everyone is surviving, we are all managing ok.”  True, people are surviving, but that is because humans are incredibly adaptable creatures and can survive through all kinds of traumatic circumstances. But try and imagine the level of abundance and prosperity we could have had, were we NOT living in a state of triage! “Oh, but I am so happy because I booked this cheap all inclusive holiday package to ABC!”. My answer, “Well, if you weren’t living in Safe Mode, maybe you would be living in your own villa in A, B, or C!”

We are not meant ‘to survive’, we are not meant ‘to be ok’ we are meant to thrive, to prosper! To achieve the pinnacle of our personal capabilities! We are supposed to be truly happy! Our children are meant to get the best education possible, become independent thinkers! They are supposed to achieve their dreams, and not get tied down by the balls and chains of the present system! Why operate in safe mode, when you have all the latest updates at your finger tips? None of us would operate our computers that way. Safe Mode is not a permanent or desired state of operation as many important and necessary functions will not work and is therefore undesirable. The problem is though, that if you operate in Safe Mode and accept that as the norm, then you will have settled for a compromised system, and you will eventually accept and learn to function under very limited possibilities.

For the last weeks, I have been on the streets of many cities inHolland, talking to people one on one and campaigning for the LP and the upcoming elections. What I have heard and observed are painful stories that reflect on a broken and shattered society, one that is crying out for change.

Society has become satisfied with mediocrity. We have indeed been conditioned to settle for less. We have become deaf to the deepest calls from within our souls. We have abandoned liberty and embraced slavery. We have forgotten the hopes and dreams that we held so dear as children and teenagers. The ideas of freedom and emancipation have been banished by the daily grind of life, and the treadmill of the State has all but sapped our strength. Are we living our own dreams, or someone else’s?

As my grandfather, I will fight State sponsored injustice and oppression. I refuse to let myself or my children become cannon-fodder for the State. I will strive with those who wish to make a brave, new world, a society where peace, prosperity, wealth and joy are abundant. Where we and our children can live without fear or intimidation. A society where we can enjoy and keep the fruits of our labours; which is the least our children and grandchildren deserve.

This Libertarian movement is not the end, it is only the beginning.

~ Sujatha de Poel, Candidate MP for the Libertarian Party. 

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33 REACTIES

  1. Thank you for sharing your interesting personal history and views. It’s a pleasure reading such refreshing thoughts and you’re hitting the nail on its head saying that Dutch society is shattered and broken. I’m glad LP exists so many more people know what the problem is, and I’m very glad you made it to the list!

  2. Wonderful story. Reminds me a bit of the writings of Jeffrey Tucker (if you dont know him, his books, ” bourbon for breakfast’ , ‘ its a Jetsons world’ and ‘ Beautiful anarchy’ are all available for free in pdf)

    Your diagnosis of Dutch society seems to be spot on. Children get forced to sit most of their childhood in state schools (or indoctrination camps), people have to work hard to be able to pay all the taxes (both parents have to work nowadays, where inthe 50s this was rare) and dont have the time anymore to read some books that could tell them the truth about the matrix they live in.

  3. I agree with most you write. Although I believe life in India’s big cities must be similar as stressful too. In my opinion people should start to refuse to enter the “rat race” and only work for what they need. Not to keep up with the neighbors and the latest hype.

    Thanks for mentioning the Étienne de La Boétie book, I’ve put it on my reading list (hey I can’t read all these books all at once…)
    Here’s the link by the way (PDF download)
    http://mises.org/rothbard/boetie.pdf

    It keeps suprising me how the French culture gave the world a lot of science and great thinkers and how fucked up the society has become today, although it isn’t any better over here.

    Good luck with the elections!

  5. Even off topic. Is het mogelijk, dat het verkiezingsprogramma van de LP op deze website geplaatst wordt? Mensen lezen namelijk de LP-site niet, omdat ze moeten klikken op “cookies accepteren” voordat ze op die site worden toegelaten.

    Kan deze site – bij gebrek aan een toegankelijke LP-site – het programma HIER online zetten? Dan kunnen mensen het in ieder geval via Google vinden?

    Naam * [6] reageerde op deze reactie.
    Ratio [7] reageerde op deze reactie.
    R. Hartman [8] reageerde op deze reactie.

  7. @Rechtse Rakker [5]: ik denk dat het integraal plaatsen van de tekst van het verkiezingsprogramma een brug te ver is. Vrijspreker is er ook voor degenen die weigeren te stemmen en van mening zijn dat de politieke oplossing een dwaling is. We brengen al heel veel artikelen over de LP. Als we het verkiezingsprogramma erop zetten dan kan ik me voorstellen dat een deel van onze lezers dan denkt dat Vrijspreker achter de politieke oplossing staat.

    Rechtse Rakker [9] reageerde op deze reactie.

  8. @Rechtse Rakker [5]:
    @Naam * [6]:

    De overheid is het probleem, en niet de oplossing!

    Ook in de mailbox krijgen we hier regelmatig klachten over, en misschien zijn we te braaf. Maar:

    Websites gebruiken al meer dan 10 jaar cookies om de beleving van de gebruiker zo prettig mogelijk te maken, en soms ook om reclame te maken. Cookies zijn volkomen onschuldig, en nooit een probleem geweest omdat de meeste bezoekers niet eens weten dat ze bestonden maar het wel handig vonden dat wachtwoorden (op de eigen PC!) bewaard werden etc.

    In combinatie met alle horror-stories die de ronde doen over virussen, trojans, phishing, etc., die de gemiddelde gebruiker ook niets zeggen zijn de onschuldige cookies nu ineens ‘eng’.

    In haar oneindige wijsheid heeft de overheid besloten cookie-wetgeving op te moeten stellen, die webmasters verplicht bezoekers te vragen of zij wel of niet cookies wensen te accepteren.

    Als de bezoeker NEE zegt dient de webmaster te garanderen dat er geen cookies geplaatst worden, anders kan hij aangeklaagd worden.

    Omdat veel websites niet meer met de hand gebouwd worden maar met third-party engines (zoals WordPress) is het onmogelijk een dergelijke garantie af te geven.

    Derhalve zijn wij door de staat gedwongen de gebruiker de toegang tot onze website te ontzeggen als die geen cookies wenst te accepteren.

    Dat geldt overigens voor de meeste, zo niet alle websites, en een site als FOK geeft u alleen de optie om te accepteren, of te accepteren. Ook een vondst, maar niet conform de wetgeving.

    Voor de LP-site geldt echter dat er geen enkele reden is om cookies te weigeren.

    Rechtse Rakker [10] reageerde op deze reactie.
    Rechtse Rakker [11] reageerde op deze reactie.
    Rechtse Rakker [12] reageerde op deze reactie.

  9. @Ratio [7]:

    Die visie begrijp ik en respecteer ik. Het is de LP die zich in de vingers snijdt door hun eigen site ontoegankelijk te maken. Ergens zonde, omdat de partij het mensen zo moeilijk maakt om kennis te maken met het libertarisme….

    Maar goed, je hebt natuurlijk een punt, dat deze site onafhankelijk is en hoort te blijven.

  10. @R. Hartman [8]:

    Mij schrikt het accepteren van cookies al af, omdat ik liever niet wil dat de LP mijn hele surfgeschiedenis gaat volgen. Bij andere sites vind ik dat minder erg, omdat ik de mensen toch niet persoonlijk ken…

    Maar goed, het gaat niet om mij. Want ik STEM SOWIESO LP. Het gaat om potentiele kiezers en potentiele geinteresseerden in het libertarisme.

    Veel andere politieke partijen hebben trouwens een andere werkwijze. Bij D66 kun je kiezen of je de cookies accepteert, maar heb je wel toegang tot de site als je ze niet accepteert. Anderen bieden ze sowieso aan, met een balk bovenaan de pagina dat er cookies gebruikt worden. Dat is misschien niet legaal en ook niet netjes, maar het maakt de website wel wat toegankelijker voor outsiders….

  12. @R. Hartman [8]:

    Een andere mogelijkheid is misschien om vooraf glashelder te zijn WAAR de cookies voor gebruikt worden en WAAR ze NIET voor gebruikt worden.

    Om een of andere reden, vind ik nu de website totaal niet uitnodigend. Ik hoop, dat de LP een betere (of minder slechte) formule vindt, omdat ik de partij wel zoveel mogelijk aanhang gun…

    R. Hartman [19] reageerde op deze reactie.

  13. @Joep (1) Thank you so much for your encouraging response! I am glad you liked the article! My sincere hope is that many will read it and be inspired that fighting for Libertarianism is worth it, as it indeed offers sound and practical solutions that can make a better world! 🙂

  14. @Peter (2)

    Dear Peter, Thank you very much for your positive reaction and response! It honors me to hear you say that my article reminded you of Jeffrey Tucker! Like him, I also like to focus on the human angle and the descriptive side. I do have a hard copy of ‘Bourbon for Breakfast’, and would love to read ‘Its a Jestons World’ and ‘Beautiful Anarchy”.

    Take care and see you soon! 🙂

  15. @Naam (3)

    Many thanks for your kind and encouraging words! Glad to hear that you are planning to read La Boétie!

    Indeed, you are right to suggest that people should ‘refuse’ to enter the rat race. This is also the key word in La Boétie’s treatise. The word ‘refuse’ has become a bad word in conformist societies today, synomymous with ‘unpatriotic’, ‘selfish’, and ‘disobedient’. The solution as La Boétie puts forth, is both profound and at the same time simple. Refuse allegiance. Refuse support. Withdraw it. And that done collectively by the people, will put an end to tyranny.

    Enjoy your reading list & thanks very much for your good wishes!

  16. @J.H [4]:

    @ JH (4)

    Dear JH,

    Thank you so much for your kind words! Indeed it is my sincere hope that people will see life and society in Holland differently, and see the urgent need for change.

    Best wishes, Sujatha

  18. @Rechtse Rakker [11]: Het lijkt erop dat de CU zich niet aan de wet houdt, want de CU plaatst vrolijk cookies, inclusief tracking-cookies.

    Ik zei al dat we misschien te v=braaf zijn. Anderzijds betaalt de CU een evt. boete gewoon met belastinggeld, waar wij het uitsluitend met donaties en lidmaatschapsgelden moeten doen. Of verwacht men als ‘gevestigde’ overheidsorganisatie er wel onderuit te komen.

    Hoe dan ook, de maximale boete is € 450.000 (waarom een zinloze wet zulke enorme boetes kent is niet duidelijk) en wij wensen het risico niet te lopen, al was het maar omdat we dergelijke bedragen domweg niet hebben (en als we ze hadden deze wel beter konden gebruiken). Uit de OPTA-brief:

    U bent verantwoordelijk voor de juiste naleving van deze bepaling. Het college ziet toe op deze naleving. Hierbij heeft het college de bevoegdheid om bij overtreding boetes op te leggen tot maximaal é 450.000. De hoogte van de boete die daadwerkelijk wordt opgelegd bij een concrete overtreding
    hangt af van verschillende factoren en kan daarom in de praktijk lager maar ook hoger uitvallen. Naast het opleggen van boetes kan het college ook waarschuwen of een last onder dwangsom opleggen om zodoende een overtreder te dwingen zijn overtreding te staken.

  19. @Rechtse Rakker [12]: Voor een dergelijke melding zou iets van een popup-pagina, gegarandeerd zonder cookies, nodig zijn of een aparte cookieloze website. Deze wet moet gewoon weer van tafel, want het is volslagen zinloos en veroorzaakt alleen maar ellende, zoals alles waarbij de overheid meent te moeten ingrijpen.

    Zouden wij de wet negeren dan zou u zich, net als bij de CU, niet druk maken over cookies, omdat u er domweg niet mee wordt geconfronteerd.

    Rechtse Rakker [27] reageerde op deze reactie.

  20. Very nice story, however the fact you have not even mastered the dutch language makes you a unsuitable candidate for joining the dutch politics, i would in fact consider it rather arrogant.

    On top of that you offer the perspective of someone who was fed with a gold spoon in one of the poorest country’s on earth, without getting bogged down in the details i think it is safe to say your privileged upbringing is something of a rare sight in a country that has is home the over 1/3 of the malnourished under the age of 5 (61mil~150mil global).

    Dont misunderstand me tho, your opinion is more then welcome and in the long run its change on a global scale that will deliver the freedom we crave and that will be delivered by connections and not borders.
    However being on a list to be elected is in my opinion a rather epic fail, rather surprised one would be so bold as to do that.

    Veel succes gewenst, maar niet in de nederlandse politiek.

    Apologies for my forwardness.

    Joep [21] reageerde op deze reactie.
    Victor van der sterren [22] reageerde op deze reactie.
    R. Hartman [25] reageerde op deze reactie.

    • @Igor [20]: It’s not very polite to attack someone about the income of one’s parents or the economical state of the country of origin. Both are not things she could do anything about. Except of course, fighting for freedom which is the only way out of poverty. Which is exactly what she is doing.

      If English is a problem for you, which it obviously isn’t, that’s your problem imho. I can’t care less. If it were possible, I’d love to see Ron Paul and Nigel Farage on the list, too.

      Igor [24] reageerde op deze reactie.

  21. @Igor [20]: I find it very strange to judge a person by something so insignificant as language, and something so irrelevant as circumstance of birth.

    We are libertarians. We speak in a common language of ideas, which we share and uphold. Personally, I greatly admire Sujatha, as a person and as a candidate. She has vast experience, which she gained all over the world, and which would certainly be of benefit to our small-minded Dutch politics.

    Where she was born, or in what sort of circumstances (economic or otherwise), is of no concern (or should not be, at any rate). What defines an individual is not his or her starting point, but the road he or she chooses to travel. The choices made, the endeavours attempted, the obstacles overcome and the leaps of faith taken.

    That is what makes an individual. That is what tells us who you are. By that standard, Sujatha is – if nothing else – an example me personally, and to everyone else who knows her.

    This coming september 12th, I will also for election, and I consider it an honour to do so alongside Sujatha de Poel. Were I not to vote for myself, I would vote for her. And I wholeheartedly recommend voting for her – to you and to anyone else reading this.

    Kindest regards,

    Victor van der Sterren

    Joep [23] reageerde op deze reactie.
    Igor [24] reageerde op deze reactie.

  23. @Joep [21]:
    Its not about my problem its about the reality of how politics works and how the vast majority of the people view the world now. Polite is just another word for politically correct, i’am neither but please dont mistake my forwardness for any personal dislike against the person or country in case. freedom of speech is very important to me if that has the unfortunate side affect of makes me disliked (or worse), so be it.

    @Victor van der sterren [22]:
    It does not matter if she is a great person, you do not speak the language you do not directly participate in “national” politics, be it because u become a easy target for nationalist minded opponent or be it for the very practical reason that if elected you “have” to interact with people who may not have mastered the English language.

    I do not belief in this political system at all, i retain my vote(voice) ( see how the translation incorporates a small difference, in dutch you give away you “stem” – the english translation out of context is “voice” ), i also belief that if any collective achievement is to actually get some result it would be a international organisation that does reaches beyond the borders, languages barriers en economic differences, however in my opinion a political party participating in the upcoming “national” election is not the right vessel.

  24. @Igor [20]: Sujatha is nog niet zo lang in Nederland maar spreekt goed Nederlands; Engels staat echter logischerwijze veel dichter bij haar en zij denkt dan ook nog steeds in het Engels. Een verhaal als dit in het Nederlands plaatsen zou haar zeer veel meer moeite en tijd kosten, en als u weet hoeveel tijd zij in de campagne steekt dan moeten er keuzes gemaakt worden: er zitten maar 24 uur in een dag.

    Dus forwardness: inderdaad, maar niet terecht. Zou de LP met 5 zetels in de kamer komen dan zou zij daar zeer wel haar zegje in het Nederlands kunnen doen.

    Blij te lezen dat u het een goed stuk vindt. Wat mij er vooral in trof was het gevoel van benepenheid, van verstikking toen zij voor het eerst in Nederland kwam. Zelf ben ik in 2008 bezig geweest met het verhuizen van mijn gezin en bedrijf naar Florida, wat (helaas?) niet is doorgegaan, maar bij terugkomst uit de VS had ik al datzelfde gevoel. De VS holt achteruit, maar het gevoel van vrijheid en eigen verantwoordelijkheid nemen dar daar nog de norm is is een schril contrast met Nederland.

    U zou Sujatha moeten leren kennen, bij een flyer-actie, een bijeenkomst of een libertarische borrel. Dan zou u dit niet meer schrijven.

    Igor [29] reageerde op deze reactie.

  27. @Rechtse Rakker [27]: Dan begrijp je cookies niet. Vrijwel elke site gebruikt cookies voor van alles, en dat is écht alleen maar handig voor de gebruiker. Deze site vult bijvoorbeeld “gratis” alvast in dat jij “Rechtse Rakker” bent zodat je dat niet voor de 80ste keer hoeft in te typen. Maar dat maakt niet dat Vrijspreker.nl kan zien wat je elders doet, dat gaat echt alleen over deze site.

    Het wordt iets anders bij bijvoorbeeld Facebook. Als je een Like-icoontje van Facebook ziet staan dan is dat plaatje afkomstig van een server van Facebook, en die heeft dan én een cookie (“Ah, dat was Rechtse Rakker”) én ziet op welke site je zit. Dus er zijn een paar bedrijven (Facebook, Twitter, e.d.) waarvan de icoontjes op een hoop sites staan, en die weten inderdaad angstwekkend veel van jou dankzij cookies.

    Google weet zo mogelijk NOG meer wat je doet. Ik durf er aardig wat om te verwedden dat Google met een voldoende statistiek 95% zeker weet waar een IP-adres op zal stemmen. Daar heeft Google geen cookies voor nodig.

    Als je erg hecht aan anonimiteit dan is TOR (even Googlen, :)) misschien een goed idee. Het is wel een stuk trager, de reden dat ik het zelf niet gebruik.

    Logic [30] reageerde op deze reactie.

  28. @R. Hartman [25]:
    Hmm was misschien handig geweest om de eerste paar zinnen in het nederlands te doen…

    Jammer dat bij dit soort topic kritiek altijd wordt gezien als een persoonlijke aanval, zo heb ik in ieder geval niet bedoelt, ik lever commentaar op het geen geschreven staat en dat zijn reacties daarop met de strekking; je zou er moeten leren kennen.

    Is helemaal niet relevant, het is niet haar karakter of persoonlijk waar ik kritiek op lever, ik reageer op het artikel.

  29. @Joep [28]:

    Misschien is HotSpot Shield gebruiken een goed idee. Is een VPN programma, gratis te downloaden en heeft prima snelheid.

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