Fact-checkers: Talking crap in Holland v America

Re:Fact-checkers: Talking crap in Holland v America by mynameishere on Thursday November 08, 2012 @12:00PM (#4758630)

So, why does the Dutch media care about the US presidential election to this extent? It would barely effect them, and the population (I'm guessing) is already firmly convinced of the evils of the Republican party, so...what's the point?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Fact-checkers: Talking crap in Holland v America by Someone on Thursday November 08, 2012 @06:44PM (#4760523)

Some/many (I wouldn't know) economists think the fiscal cliff, if handled incorrectly, will put the world into a recession.

So, the election may affect Dutch economy. Doubly so because the economy of the Netherlands is highly dependent on foreign trade. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/...:

  - GDP    : $840 billion

  - Imports: $492 billion (5.9% from the USA)

  - Exports: $550 billion

(some economists joke that it isn't necessary to have a Dutch minister of economics, as there is no way local policy can compensate for the effect of foreign economies on that of the Netherlands)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Fact-checkers: Talking crap in Holland v America by aerique on Thursday November 08, 2012 @04:30PM (#4759951)

What happens in the US still has a pretty big influence on the rest of the world and the Netherlands (NL) is very dependent on trade. Also NL has pretty close ties with the US historically.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Fact-checkers: Talking crap in Holland v America by notlisted on Thursday November 08, 2012 @03:28PM (#4759674)

Some countries prefer an informed populace.

[ Parent | on HN ]