Dear Hivers,
Always thought I lived in the right country i.e. Netherlands but now I think I must go to Sweden.
While we always have an opinion on China making laws against Hong Kong's existing freedom now the same happens in our own little country if we do not take action.
This is a warning for you as well!
What is happening ?
As the Corona measures like fines, penalties and do's and don'ts are not based on any Law and in some cases even against the Dutch Constitution they get rejected/turned back in Court when people complain.
For example people in elderly homes - also those completely sane - are not allowed to go out of the home where they normally do that unhindered.
People who get fined for not keeping distance get a fine but also a criminal record. Unbelievable but you can at least fight in COurt to get it out again.
The Government now drafted a hasty Corona-law which will make appeal more difficult AND gives a permanent base to act against the constitutuion.
Experts say actions cannot go in against the Constitution only for a very limited time frame and this hasty Law will not hold in European Court but that takes 3 years.
And what do we do ?
Nothing! Fucking people are still applauding near Hospitals while our economy is devistated almost.
Hospitals are keeping some patients on IC for over two months with hardly a chance of recovery.
New Corona patients are almost zero but with the threat of the SECOND WAVE a Law is drafted.
If only I had some more balls I - at age 50+ - would organize some rioting for a good cause myself:
fingers crossed
Goldrooster
I think there's a feeling amongst Dutch people it won't get that far - most of the time it doesn't if government gets enough feedback even before protests start. It's the main reason they closed schools at the beginning of Corona - not because they thought it was necessary (they didn't) but because enough people let the government know they didn't want to have their children in school.
If the law passes somehow or it seems to get more serious than this first rough draft that clearly wasn't thought through maybe us Dutchies will get a bit more defensive. We'll see. I'm not scared yet but will keep a close eye on things.
Nice Mask, Heh heh.