You're not a true democracy. Neither are we. The Netherlands and the US are representative democracies. Parliamentarians represents the Dutch people and Congressmen and Senators represent Americans. Additionally, you still have a monarch. Don't you think your ought to give that up? It's rather passe.
Not really, and I hesitate to explain, because I think our cultures are different to enough not understand each other without serious effort.
As usual, I'm willing to make an effort. I have followed a cross-cultural training course at my own request, when I was asked by my then employer to take on the role of Business Controller of a commercial division (in Professional Photography) for several countries (Belgium, France, the Netherlands). That proved to me to be a bit of an eye-opener, in addition to the functional differences that are created (and expected) in Multi-National enterprises (where countries tend to defend their own position, but not necessarily the position of the international conglomerate).
You didn't deny that The Netherlands puts you in jail if you are caught as an illegal any less than what we do in America.
No, because 'we' do. HOWEVER(!), we do NOT employ the
political tactic (it's only political 'because' it is not effective), of trying to scare away people by inhumane treatment, because it only achieves INHUMANE TREATMENT, and not really solves anything, There are better (not easier, but better) ways to pursue, like taking away the reasons why these people have to flee their country of birth (I know, it's radical, but only if you follow the hollow mantra of America first, at the expense of others).
Free advise, looking in from the outside, although it requires a less racially motivated President who even gives a fig about his country (when do you guys/gals wake up?), and not only about himself. Abandon the America first mantra in the way Trump promotes it. Turn it around to something that REALLY takes the wellbeing of the entire American people at heart, and not of just the Trump organization and its financiers to favor personal re-election goals.
So you're no better or worse than we are.
It's not about "better" or "worse" (which is an American cultural hangup, you think you can only become 'better' at the expense of someone else getting 'worse'). Instead, it's about doing the right thing, humanly speaking,
for all affected.
Additional, it's harder to enter legally and become a citizen in the Netherlands than in America. We take in 1,000,000 legal immigrants a year.
Hand-picked immigrants, who are part of the American
business model (not really for compassion, humanitarian reasons, or otherwise). You say that it is more difficult to become a legal citizen in the Netherlands (than is the case in the US, I have to assume). Are there reliable sources that suggest that this is the case, or attempted by the government (e.g. to ensure an adequate work force for certain job-levels?), or even true, for that explanation (I assume you did your homework before you had anti-peristaltic functions taking over from your brain)?
I would appreciate an honest answer.
Cheers,
Bart
