All politics is global.

Power and Fear: Why Egypt's Protesters Won't Go Home

The incredible mass protests in Egypt have been going on for over two weeks.

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Dutch PM backs away from criticizing Iraq report

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende conceded Wednesday, "with the knowledge of now," that a stronger legal mandate was needed for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 — and his decision to support it.

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Illegal aliens: disturbing images reveal the problem we're facing

Illegal immigration is not just a problem along the US-Mexico border, as the following shocking pictures show. In the Netherlands, thousands of illegal aliens flock together, gravely disturbing the native population and putting the welfare state under pressure.

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How paying more taxes can make you happier: let's end the consumption arms race

"I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to satisfy them" - John Stuart Mill

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Yes, we should apply double standards to Israel and Hamas

Since the start of Israel's most recent air attacks on Hamas targets in Gaza, it is frequently claimed that 'double standards' are applied by those who dare to express criticism at Israel's actions.

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Synchronised Diving: Jokes and Puns about the Financial Crisis

What's the difference between a guy who just lost everything in Vegas and an investment banker? - A tie. ---------- There are 30 billion prime numbers below 700 billion. The rest are all subprime. ----------

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Four questions to American voters...from old, arrogant Europe

Ok, so even if you elect Barack Obama, which seems to be what 99% of the world wants, I still have a couple of questions for American voters. Please help me understand these issues.

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Dutch beat world champion Italy 3-0

The Netherlands handed Italy its worth loss in a European Championship, a 3-0 rout Monday that left the World Cup champions in danger of elimination in the first round.

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Ron Paul's tin-foil hat

Don't get me wrong: I sympathise with Ron Paul's campaign. I have a soft spot for underdogs, particularly the ones that stick to their guns. I may disagree with much of what Ron Paul has to say, but I appreciate his earnestness.

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Australism: diagnosing our twisted views of the global South

I would like to draw urgent attention to an affliction that is rapidly spreading around the world's high-income areas. The disease, 'Australism', is a particularly virulent strain that seems to have evolved from Orientalism.

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World Peace: A suggestion for Newsvine collaboration

The world has a circular problem. Let me oversimplify. Countries feel insecure when their neighbours increase military spending, and in consequence they increase their own spending on weapons systems and the size of their army.

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How Conservatives Think: A Response to a Recent Seed

Edit: I've opted to disable comments after all. Sorry, I'm tired of checking back here to make sure that the latest squabbling is within reasonable boundaries. If you want to discuss what to do about the problems raised here, I suggest weighing in over here.

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Farm subsidies are a crime against human dignity

It's a simple rule in politics: the small yet well-organised interests of a few consistently overrule the large but diffuse interests of many. Some may say that democracy was invented to address that problem.

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Eurabian Nights?

A specter is haunting Europe - this time, it's not communism, but islamo-fascism. Over the next couple of decades, Europe's ailing native population will be forced into submission by hordes of angry Muslims, so that the old continent will effectively become a Caliphate.

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A Reply to Osama bin Ladin, the Murderer and Infidel

The Noble Qu'ran opens with these words: بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

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'Please come back': America admits it needs the U.N. in Iraq

It's a curious contrast. While Americans are increasingly examining the possibilities to pull out of Iraq, the United Nations just decided to move back into the war-torn country.

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The Best of Both Worlds: Universal Private Health Insurance

Let's not kid ourselves: its lack of universal health insurance is hurting America. In 2005, 48 million of America's adults spent at least some time without health insurance.

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Leap of Faith: Bush Arms All of Iran's Enemies, Prays for the Best

These past days, US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice has unveiled a stunning array of military aid packages to America's supposed allies in the Middle East. Over the next 10 years, Israel will receive 30 billion dollars in military assistance.

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Understanding Europe, Conclusion: a Community of Ideas

After having written a series of five articles about Europe, it is time to return to the main question behind them: what defines Europe? Did the articles bring us any closer to a satisfactory answer?

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Understanding Europe, Part 4: Welfarism

Definition Welfarism is interpreted here quite simply as giving priority to well-being over wealth. My understanding of the term thus should not be equated with the 'Welfare State' or with the economic definition of welfarism, as these are only partly related.

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Understanding Europe, Part 3: Secularism

"To date, only citizens committed to religious beliefs are required to split up their identities, as it were, into their public and private elements.

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Understanding Europe, Part 2: Protectionism

First of all, I want to make clear that I do not interpret protectionism only in its narrow economic sense. For the purpose of defining Europe, the concept needs to be extended to include other aspects of society, such as culture and social cohesion.

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Understanding Europe, Part 1: Non-Patriotism

This is to be the first of a series of articles about what defines Europe. I thought some of the many Americans here might find the topic interesting as a sort of primer, and I would like to discuss it with others.

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Profile

Handshake

Articles Posted: 23
Links Seeded: 176
Member Since: 6/2007Last Seen: 1/30/2012

Interests: international trade and development, conflict, global governance, cycling. Nationality: Dutch. Country of residence: Netherlands.

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