Politics in the modern age requires you to have different views on controversial matters to avoid being commoditised. If 10 parties share the same view on some issue, they will be compared on competence, and no politician wants that. It is much easier to capture a subset of votes by taking a specific position, however good or bad it is, as long as you get a monopoly in that segment.
It is hard to understand how you can have 'Refugees welcome' and 'Full support for our LGBTQ' agendas at the same time.
Cologne and Düsseldorf were vibrant cities embracing an openly gay lifestyle. This has become impossible. You barely see rainbow flags and guys walking hand in hand or kissing each other on the streets anymore.
The Netherlands was a lovely place when I was young, in the 80s - 90s, but the country has been going downhill fast in the past few decennia.
I think most people at this time still don’t realize their pensions will be gone, social security will provide less as time goes on and cities will become unsafer. And since people don’t realize this, they keep voting the status quo until it’s too late. I don’t think at this point there’s a way to go back.
My girlfriend asked me to arrange a Dutch passport for our daughter, but I haven’t bothered as of yet. I think Asia has a much brighter future ahead compared to Europe (mainly EU), so I doubt my daughter will need the passport to study abroad. She’ll be able to create a good life for herself here in Thailand or perhaps some other ASEAN country.
Those are assumptions, but my answer is the following:
- I make an effort to learn the Thai language. In shops and such I converse in Thai with staff.
- I try to follow cultural norms. For example when visiting government offices, banks and such I wear respectful clothes (long trousers, nice shirt). I greet officials with a high (nose level) wai to show my respect.
- Every now and then (e.g. birthdays) I visit the temple with my girlfriend to receive blessings from a monk - and I am not religious.
As one investor stated in the past: if rising sea levels were really a problem, banks would not want to finance oceanfront property or under very strict terms.
YMMV
I bet. Turkish people != Kurdish people != Arab people
A lot of people don't seem to appreciate this.
The tipping point was already NYE 2015/2016 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015%E2%80%9316_New_Year%27s_E...)
I am an experienced Muay Thai fighter and don't feel safe anymore. I live in Düsseldorf, used to be the most beautiful city in Germany, and seeing this city decay is so sad.
Western values will be eradicated in a few years. It's pure mathematics if you look at the birth rates. You have to be extremely naive to think different.
We will move out of the country next year and never look back.
I have a lot of Turkish and other first and second generation migrant friends. A majority will vote for AfD.
They have enough.