Ethics versus Ambition
Politics, oh my.
All my life I have vested my beliefs and trust for the future in one political party, the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD). Only once I cheated the Blue Party (A local Catholic politician promised us to make it easier for us to build our boy scout-clubhouse, but that’s a long story) and I still feel sorry about that. Anyway, the basics of liberalism (continental style) are of a rare beauty: as much as possible individual freedom for as much as possible different people. Combined with a no-nonsense approach on global economy and a very tickly nerve on civil rights, this civic party provides a solid manual to lead a society towards the bright future. Great was my joy when in 1999, after wandering for decades in the desert called opposition, the VLD rose to power and an ambitious liberal became premier of my country. A new spring, a fresh start, a better government.
Anno Domini 2005, after six years of government, things don’t look good. The economy is still as stagnant and arthritic as it was before, a painful divorce of the two linguistic groups in our country seems more and more plausible, our 6 parliaments have become completely immobilised and virtual powerless… These days, many citizens find themselves trapped between frustration and fear, both leading towards the extremes (nationalism, religious fanatism, consumerism, far right/left ideology, tralalalalaaa, the whole bit, it has always been the same)
I must admit, the true liberals among us should have been more vigilant. Too many men and woman find themselves lost in a labyrinth of infantile squabbling, personal greed or political cowardice. A Triumph of Mediocrity, alas, la Danse Macabre de la Démocratie.
And now, when so many issues are at stake (civil rights, global trade, the environment, European integration, migration, world peace, energy shortage, ageing,… ) our Flemish Liberals and Democrats are found fighting and yelling on the floor at Melsensstraat 34, Brussels. Our best men are squeezing each other out of the party, top versus bottom and left versus right. Approval rates and election polls are dropping, next elections (local 2006, federal 2007) will be a disaster for the VLD.
With only 16% max of popular support, what are the options ? A coalition with the far-right we were/are not capable to deal with (eg Italy, Denmark and Austria) ? Or another 15 year in the desert ?
I know this: if I want to have a swift political career, right now, I should join the biggest party of all, the Flemish Interest, a brown, populist party, because within a few years, these guys will be marching all over us…
Citoyens, joignons la Marche Funèbre Belge !
All my life I have vested my beliefs and trust for the future in one political party, the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD). Only once I cheated the Blue Party (A local Catholic politician promised us to make it easier for us to build our boy scout-clubhouse, but that’s a long story) and I still feel sorry about that. Anyway, the basics of liberalism (continental style) are of a rare beauty: as much as possible individual freedom for as much as possible different people. Combined with a no-nonsense approach on global economy and a very tickly nerve on civil rights, this civic party provides a solid manual to lead a society towards the bright future. Great was my joy when in 1999, after wandering for decades in the desert called opposition, the VLD rose to power and an ambitious liberal became premier of my country. A new spring, a fresh start, a better government.
Anno Domini 2005, after six years of government, things don’t look good. The economy is still as stagnant and arthritic as it was before, a painful divorce of the two linguistic groups in our country seems more and more plausible, our 6 parliaments have become completely immobilised and virtual powerless… These days, many citizens find themselves trapped between frustration and fear, both leading towards the extremes (nationalism, religious fanatism, consumerism, far right/left ideology, tralalalalaaa, the whole bit, it has always been the same)
I must admit, the true liberals among us should have been more vigilant. Too many men and woman find themselves lost in a labyrinth of infantile squabbling, personal greed or political cowardice. A Triumph of Mediocrity, alas, la Danse Macabre de la Démocratie.
And now, when so many issues are at stake (civil rights, global trade, the environment, European integration, migration, world peace, energy shortage, ageing,… ) our Flemish Liberals and Democrats are found fighting and yelling on the floor at Melsensstraat 34, Brussels. Our best men are squeezing each other out of the party, top versus bottom and left versus right. Approval rates and election polls are dropping, next elections (local 2006, federal 2007) will be a disaster for the VLD.
With only 16% max of popular support, what are the options ? A coalition with the far-right we were/are not capable to deal with (eg Italy, Denmark and Austria) ? Or another 15 year in the desert ?
I know this: if I want to have a swift political career, right now, I should join the biggest party of all, the Flemish Interest, a brown, populist party, because within a few years, these guys will be marching all over us…
Citoyens, joignons la Marche Funèbre Belge !
posted by dejongerembrandt at 1:13 am
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