My Blog Search
All parcels are
forakin at gmail dot com
Comment notice:
You are free to leave comments on my blogs as long as they are polite, reasoned and within the context of what I have written.
I will NOT entertain insults, abuse or expletives; your strength of emotion should be expressed without resorting to uncouth expression.
Since, it is my blog, I reserve the right to accept, review, edit without losing the context or delete the comment - if it does not meet standards of decent and polite discourse.
Finally, your comments cannot be anonymous, please give a name when leaving a comment.
Thanks for reading my blog and leaving a comment.
My Routine
My Interests
My News Junkie Staple
My Popular Tags
My Mini Search
My Latest Blogs
My BlogScope
My Flickr Badge
My Months Past
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- June 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- February 2004
- January 2004
- December 2003
No voting advice for our Dear Dutch Leader
«
H E
»
Politics :: Commentary :: Technology :: General :: Netherlands :: News ::
Akin Akintayo ::
email
posted Sunday, 29 October 2006
Tell me who
The Dutch political season in readiness for the November 22nd elections continues apace with the launch of StemWijzer (Dutch). StemWijzer is an online voters’ advisory that poses questions to the participant to help them determine if they are conservative, liberal, libertarian, socialist, communist or whatever political shade you might be, it now has a more European outlook called VoteMatch.
Then it advises on which of the 26 or so parties the participant should vote for at election, offering second and third choices depending on how the questions are answered.
As I have lamented before, our Western democracies are failing because of the failure of education and the lack of understanding of how to read party policies and ideologies and how to match that with personal political slant and thinking.
People think they are liberal and end up being classified as intolerant and right-wing, some who are right-wing end up in another political spectrum, how does one begin to appreciate ones political temperament and convert that into an effective democratic voice?
Bad system or lacking an ideology
Worse still is when StemWijzer cannot offer an opinion as what party you can vote for, when this happens to the person who has been Prime Minister of the Netherlands for the past four years, questions should be asked.
The Prime Minister is leader of the right of centre CDA, which would be nominally conservative, could it be that Stemwijzer is seriously flawed or we have a leadership without an ideology?
I do not have to answer that question because the Prime Minister himself says and I quote, “StemWijzer provided good support for people in making a well-motivated choice”. But for some reason, StemWijzer could not even find a neutral or nonchalant choice for our Dear Leader.
Other leaders like the leader of the Liberal party (VVD) was advised to vote for the progressive-liberal D66. The leader of the Labour Party (PVDA) however, was true to his party and ideology – he probably should be the next Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
References
tags: dutch politics stemwijzer voters d66 pvda cda balkenende elections democracy
links: digg this del.icio.us technorati reddit
Dear Reader, Whilst welcome to leave comments I might use in other blogs, some rights are reserved.
Tag Related Posts
Ghana: No antibodies for this virus - Obama's speech
Sunday, 12 July 2009
What we should not lose sight of from President Obama's speech to the Ghanaian parliament is that it is the first time a Western leader has been able to speak the truth to African leaders and not have blow-back. Against Obama they have no antibodies.
Nigeria: Ekiti elections, a case of conscience before responsibility
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
The Resident Electoral Commissioner of Ekiti State resigns before she has fully despatched her duties, I think she has failed in her responsibility on the basis of her Christian conscience.
Nigeria: No new states precursor to abolishing them
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
An ex-vice President suggests that states abolished in Nigera, there is a case for for this in the wider case of federal character and resource allocation.
Nigeria: Electoral reform starts with Iwu pensioned off
Monday, 16 March 2009
The first step to electoral reform in Nigeria is sacking the current chairman of INEC - Professor Maurice Iwu.
Nigeria: Courts give Diaspora the vote
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
The force of Diaspora is getting the vote and the right to participate in the political process from abroad.
In the last 2 weeks Nigerians & South Africans may and the South Koreans assuredly can.
Nigeria: The false debates on same sex marriage
Monday, 26 January 2009
The debate on same sex marriage is really about criminalising defenceless people using false information that does not address the real issues that affect the life expectancy and health of Nigerians. We are being short-changed with hypocrisy.
Nigeria: Women's democratic rights curtailed by Sharia
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
The failure of Islam to address the rights of divorced Muslim women lead to the call for a protest by the women.
Protest has been banned by the Sharia police that feels it is an embarrassment to islam - is Nigeria not a democracy?
Obama Inauguration: The message to Africa
Monday, 19 January 2009
If President Obama's inauguration speech touches on Africa, it should be the opportunity to speak the truth.
Guinea: African leaders are indeed mortal
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
The death of President Lansana Conté of Guinea brings us back to an analysis of the problems of leadership in Africa.
The Nero of Siam
Monday, 1 December 2008
The events in Siam give great cause for concern not so much for democracy but for the monarchy that migh well begin to make itself irrelevant to its subjects.
Nigeria: Gone is the Jos I knew
Monday, 1 December 2008
My childhood memories of Jos hardly square up with the horrible religious riots that have lead to the death of hundreds.
Our political leaders must have something to pay for these avoidable and unnecessary situations.
Nigeria: Ribadu and kids get bundled out of NIPSS graduation
Sunday, 23 November 2008
The erstwhile EFCC chairman gets bundled out of the NIPSS graduation cermony after the government fails by all other means to stop his graduation. His wife, 6 children and his guests all get pulled out of the event too.
Nigeria: Dutch parties demand Nigerian gang police force
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Certain Dutch Political parties with a right-leaning disposition have asked the Justice Minister to create a permanent police unit to investigate specifically, Nigerian criminal gangs.
I worry for this kind of development.
Nigeria: Dragging Iwu to the court of the Twelfth of June
Monday, 16 June 2008
When the tenure of Professor Maurice is placed in juxtaposition to that of Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the former is found wanting.
That is the start difference between the National Electoral Commissions of 1993 and 2007.
Nigeria: June the Twelfth
Thursday, 12 June 2008
15 years since the promise of representative democracy was destroyed by the machinations of a malevolent military junta.
We are yet to achieve that standard of democratic resolve which makes this day still so relevant and significant to Nigeria's fu
Cyclone Nargis: The death knell of the military junta
Saturday, 10 May 2008
The attitude of the military junta in Burma to the major disaster caused by cyclone Nargis might well be the death knell of that regime regardless of the referendum on democracy they are holding today.
Zimbabwe: Mugabe is a coward
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Robert Mugabe is coward, he cannot bear to see he has lost and he cannot accept the fact that he has lost - he is afraid of the truth of democracy in Zimbabwe and he must not be allowed to change the truth.
Zimbabwe: Mugabe's epitaph by a little girl
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
With bated breath and great anticipation we wait for a new dawn in Zimbabwe.
After every vote is counted, the man must know that his time is up and time has now passed him by.
Zimbabwe: Thanks Mugabe, Now Give Way
Saturday, 29 March 2008
Keeping faith with Zimbabwe that today they shall be freed from the clutches of the Grand Despot of Africa.
Inside China: Hatchlings of Democracy get nasty
Sunday, 23 March 2008
The election for class monitor of 8-year olds in China reveals a lot more about the machinations and manipulation of democracy and the dangers that might be ahead.
They damned the consequences
Wednesday, 2 January 2008
Murders and vote-rigging by people who damned the consequences of their actions in Pakistan and Kenya. We need to have ways of getting justice for these unjust actions.
Benazir Bhutto, 1953 - 2007
Thursday, 27 December 2007
Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in the garrison city of Rawalpindi today.
Putin and Chavez - Great Leader or Dear Leader?
Monday, 3 December 2007
Elections in oil-rich states belie the use of democratic process to entrench a benign authoritarianism or a virulent socialism.
Musharraf cannot fool us again
Sunday, 4 November 2007
Emergency rule in Pakistan is bad enough but to be lectured by General Musharraf on his failed democratic credentials is an insult we should not take lying low.
Ojo (Maduekwe) has lost his mojo
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
The Nigerian Foreign Minister - Ojo Maduekwe appears on BBC HardTalk without a message from Nigeria.
Viva Sierra-Leone
Monday, 13 August 2007
Sierra-Leone conducts free,fair and credible elections, what has Nigeria now got for excuses?
The seriously unfunny Kiwi parliament
Sunday, 5 August 2007
The New Zealand parliament have banned using footage of parliament for satirical purposes. Me thinks we need a radical lobotomy to force in a humour gene.
Parents of kids on booze should do time
Monday, 2 July 2007
Parents of kids who drink must have the law thrown at them. We however must do something about kids who go around causing unrest under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Obasanjo does Pírìgìdì in Christian Theology
Friday, 8 June 2007
The ex-President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo has returned to school for a post graduate diploma in Christian Theology - how contrite.
Democracy Day in the eyes of the fair-minded
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
Democracy Day in Nigeria and the swearing-in of the new President after 8 years of very little achievement for the ordinary Nigerian people.
The Nigerian Proclamation
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
On Nigeria's "Democracy" Day and the handover of reins of government to the President Select, I join other Nigerian bloggers in this proclamation. Slight correction for English rather than American spelling.
Nigerian uniqueness or French aberration
Saturday, 5 May 2007
Were there Nigerian observers at the French elections? They would have learnt a lot about how to conduct elections.
Is Nigeria a model for Africa?
Friday, 4 May 2007
A number of articles in the Economist about the Nigerian elections are painting us as a country rapidly losing respect, influence and clout - a model we are not.
Turkey belongs outside Europe for now
Wednesday, 2 May 2007
The current developments in Turkey are ample proof that the country does not belong in Europe if secularism has more weight that the results of democracy.
Rubbish elections or elections rubbish
Thursday, 26 April 2007
Rubbish features in the elections in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, but in what context?
Preparing for a one-party state
Monday, 23 April 2007
The numbers released as results of the elections in Nigeria are the kind of numbers that gave birth to one-party states and ineffectual opposition parties in Africa. I doubt if there would multi-party elections in 2011
Before we lose the Nigerian elections gracefully
Monday, 23 April 2007
The fundamental democratic human rights of Nigerians has been abused and infringed, but until some leader rises up to defend this right the verdict of the election observers would just be a vacuous exercise.
Atiku can, INEC cannot
Monday, 16 April 2007
The Nigerian Supreme Court has ruled that INEC cannot disqualify candidates - so they must present the Vice-President as a candidate of his party to the voters on Saturday. I also see a reckless INEC chairman oblivious of his responsibilities.
INEC frustrates Nigerians with incompetence
Sunday, 15 April 2007
INEC's preparedness comes apart when the reality of voting dawns. Some polling stations opened very late and others not at all. Irregularities abound and what else?
e-Petition pillow fights at 10 Downing St
Friday, 13 April 2007
Petitions to 10 Downing Street are making things happen even though indirectly.
Four years of shock and awe
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
The story of Iraq tells itself without the need for analysis or excessive commentary.
The Yar'Adua website - not impressed
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
A visit to the Yar'Adua website leaves me seriously unimpressed.
Verdonk disintegrates bill
Sunday, 18 February 2007
Her parting shot as Minister of Integration was to refuse that the bill she once spearheaded by voted on because it had been amended considerably. She pulled all stops to Dutch discomfort to get that done.
The hope in Hillary
Saturday, 20 January 2007
Hillary Rodham Clinton is in the race for presidency, there is great hope for America after this prodigal son of politics is done with.
The Iraqi Travesty - Saddam escapes justice
Monday, 8 January 2007
All charges against Saddam Hussein have now been dropped and rightly so. However, I do remember that we were assured that all the charges would be tried even if he was killed, smart people knew the rush to kill him was behind that false promise.
Spare and pardon the Saddam video guard
Thursday, 4 January 2007
As the net closes in on the person who recorded the execution of Saddam, the fact of the matter is that the government lied to us when something different was happening. They should face up to their mistakes and learn to speak the truth.
Lady Oddjob is now at odds
Wednesday, 13 December 2006
After earning a vote of no confidence from the Dutch Parliament at the 6th time of trying, would Mrs. Verdonk step down or be sacked? Probably not.
Verdonk in leadership slam dunk - Update
Tuesday, 28 November 2006
With the numbers in for the Dutch Elections, Mrs Verdonk has another go at grabbing the leadership of her party because she polled more votes than the leader. This would be interesting.
Bringing the Burqa down on the Dutch elections
Saturday, 18 November 2006
The dying Dutch cabinet supports the banning of the Islamic burqa two days before elections. Methinks, this is an electoral sleight of hand.
Are we voting in 8 days time?
Tuesday, 14 November 2006
We have elections in the Netherlands in 8 days, but you'll be forgiven for thinking nothing is happening - much is going on, but would the right people be chosen?
Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin - Rumsfeld gone!
Wednesday, 8 November 2006
Found wanting and forced to change. Rumsfeld is out.
Saddam's death - No open and shut case
Sunday, 5 November 2006
The execution of Saddam Hussein would do nothing to change Iraqi for the better, we can expect worse before things begin to change after the US November elections.
No voting advice for our Dear Dutch Leader
Sunday, 29 October 2006
StemWijzer is a voters' advisory, the Dutch Prime Minister answered 30 questions and StemWijzer could offer him no advice. That is seriously worrisome.
Politicking with straight talk
Monday, 23 October 2006
The Dutch politicians are at it again, seeking apologies for minor misdemeanours and overlloking grave accusations.
Many U-turns required
Saturday, 21 October 2006
On Iraq, on Iran, on North Korea, on Syria, on Hezbollah, on Hamas and on many other issues, the Bush administration is in need a radical rethink if not a complete overhaul of his team which should include Rumsfeld, Rice and Gonzales.
Finest quality Ecstasy from the Police
Tuesday, 17 October 2006
Immigration, asylum seekers and law enforcement - just some of the political tools to hammer the electorate before the November elections and it is not looking good at all.
Democracy - Counting the votes or Counting on judges?
Thursday, 21 September 2006
After the military coup in Thailand, one wonders about America's commitment to and support of democracies around the world.
Lady Oddjob takes no responsibility
Thursday, 21 September 2006
Lady Oddjob, my most favourite Dutch Minister of emigration and disintegration has now been promoted to Justice minister, having seen no reason to share some responsibility for the deaths of 11 illegal immigrants in an immigration detention centre.
The American-Israeli tinderbox that Hezbollah lit up
Tuesday, 15 August 2006
If America was already privy to Israeli plans to attack Lebanon long before the kidnap of the 2 soldiers in Israel on July the 12th, the whole truth of this matter does not augur well for the new world order at all.
Verdonk back with new controversy
Monday, 24 July 2006
She made the last government fall, kept out of the public eye for a few weeks - she is now back to make it difficult for once illegal and consequently legal immigrants to gain re-entry to the Netherlands.
Keeping moral convictions out of the US Constitution
Wednesday, 19 July 2006
Yesterday, the Senate voted to allow stem cell research with human embryos and the House voted to reject a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Karl Rove must be in overdrive on how to rescue this situation for the November 2006 Election.
Forked-tongues fuelling the Middle-Eastern fires
Saturday, 15 July 2006
Where would we find a seriously honest broker to look at the facts of the Middle-East Conflict and get the protagonists to face their responsibilities to global peace squarely and act accordingly? America is not in the frame for honest brokerage.
No to Balkenende III
Tuesday, 4 July 2006
There is no reason to allow a second reincarnation of the lack-lustre Dutch government. Their inability to accept responsibility and consequence shows they are both unfit for government or electoral success.
The Dutch government collapses around Mrs Verdonk
Thursday, 29 June 2006
Just as any inevitable situation, Mrs Verdonk also known as Lady Oddjob on this blog and the Minister of Integration and Immigration has brought down the government over an immigration affair centred around her selfish actions. Resignation tomorrow!
Verdonk force fed humble pie
Wednesday, 28 June 2006
Ayaan Hirsi Ali retains Dutch citizenship and we are also out of the World Cup - all thanks to Mrs Verdonk.
The Freedom of Association vs the Abhorence of Pederasty
Thursday, 8 June 2006
After my comments yesterday, I revisit the issue again and wonder if preventing such an organisation from going underground would serve the purpose of knowing if there is support for those ideas.
Unisex Pederasty seeking a Dutch constituency
Wednesday, 7 June 2006
The launch of a paedophile party last week has me looking for a civilised way of expressing my utter vehemence to such an outrage. I would defend many freedoms, but this one is well beyond my liberal disposition.
The Cacophony of Rules vs The Silence of the Indifferent
Saturday, 3 June 2006
My Lady Oddjob series ends with this lament of Dutch ambivalence when it comes to juxtaposing rules with giving humanity the benefit of the doubt. Mrs Verdonk, symbolises this situation - We the non-indigenes lover the Netherlands nevertheless.
No nice words for Mrs Verdonk
Wednesday, 17 May 2006
Mrs Verdonk has seriously miscalculated the consequences of her decision to revoke Ayaan Hirsi Ali's Dutch citizenship. She has been called to other and her support have dived in the quest for party leadership. That is the hole that dug for herself.
Lady Oddjob draws ire and fire
Tuesday, 16 May 2006
The recriminations have started, amd Mrs verdonk should be in a less comfortable position than she was on Friday.
Lady Oddjob decapitates Poster Child
Tuesday, 16 May 2006
Yesterday evening Mrs Verdonk called Ayaan Hirsi Ali and told her, her Dutch citizenship was suspect if not invalid. Basically, she cannot be a Member of Parliament. Opportunism has trumped perspective - what chance other immigrants?
Desiring a Palestinian Passover
Thursday, 11 May 2006
The Israelis celebrate in the peace of their borders and the desperation just beyond their walls as Passover arrives with the angel of death hovering over Palestine - all because the West is being unduly sanctimonious about Hamas.
Abort this preschool finger-painting politics immediately
Wednesday, 19 April 2006
Having heard the party political broadcasts of both the Labour and Conservative parties in the UK, we cannot seriously be hoping that the message is anything but condescending. My third installment on democracy.
In danger of becoming endangered species
Tuesday, 18 April 2006
Two episodes in 16 months in which I have had the good fortune to walk away. This time being run into by a drunken scooter rider. My bicycle gets damaged and the mention of police has one victim of a hit-and-run.
The unjust condemnation of Palestinian choice
Tuesday, 18 April 2006
This is my second analysis of democracy where party ideology on which elections are won suffer an onslaught for change. It is like asking Republican conservative ideology to go liberal or communist.
Iraq is far away from a Gettysburg Address
Monday, 17 April 2006
I begin a series of examining what democracy means and why the ideals of the Gettysburg Address are beginning to look impossible to attain.
Lady Oddjob - From Irrevelance to Assimilation
Thursday, 13 April 2006
An Amsterdam Alderman has suggested the Ministry of Integration and Immigration be assimilated by other ministry that might really address those issues. Come think of it, I agree!
Dutch Intolerance Incubator brings forth electoral still-born
Friday, 10 March 2006
The local elections of the 7th of March has the Dutch rejecting the local politics of Dutch nationalism for the age-old tolerance and acceptance of the Dutch. The Liveable and Liberal politics that underpin this demagogy lost out. Thankfully.
This Ugandan Moses leads to the Demised land
Tuesday, 28 February 2006
It is a crazy world if we have to take lessons in understanding democracy from Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. Once again the blight of eternal incumbency damages the good prospects of Uganda. 20 years in power with the people brow beaten.
Living with the results of true democracy
Thursday, 26 January 2006
When people go to vote, their purpose is to choose a leader, when the votes are tallied, the result reveals a leader. That is the result and dilemma we have to live with be it Bush, Chavez or Hamas.
Setting democracy ablaze with gas
Tuesday, 3 January 2006
This little Ukraine problem of gas supplies has more far-reaching consequences that could affect the whole basis of our democracy
Gubernator in Terminator IV
Wednesday, 14 December 2005
The Californian governor refuses to commute a death sentence and a circus witnesses the event - wherefore civilisation?
Web logs by Akin Akintayo is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Netherlands License.