Re: Car dependency

Sorry about that. Any city in France. Building 25% of affordable housing is mandatory for cities or they're fined. And the tax is also national (used to be 1% of salaries, now it's around 0,5% I believe). I'm not saying we don't face some of the same issues around cars, we had the yellow vests afte...

Re: Car dependency

Are nowadays more Dutchmen moving to Canada, than Canadians moving to the Netherlands? I have no idea The YouTuber behind 'not just bikes' happens to be Canadian, now living in Amsterdam. Canadians moving abroad is irrelevant to my point of one of the main reasons why many people move to Canada - 4...

Re: Car dependency

Actually no, there is quite a bit known about the migration to Canada and Australia after WWII. I wasn't referring to post WW2, but more so today. Are nowadays more Dutchmen moving to Canada, than Canadians moving to the Netherlands? I have no idea The YouTuber behind 'not just bikes' happens to be...

Re: Car dependency

Ask your fellow countrymen why they moved to Canada or the US, its because they want exactly what we all want, a nice 4 bedroom rancher with a 2 car garage on an acre or two of green grass and a shiny new Cadillac in the driveway. - so, because of that, we built out and not up and with that buildin...

Car dependency

I am in real estate development, thus urban planning is one of my interests. Being from the Netherlands, it interests me how people get around and why American/Canadian cities have been designed in such a way that the only viable way to get around is by car. So it is not a choice to go by car, but t...

Re: Half of the World's Glaciers to Melt by End of the Century

As humanity, we want this to happen, apparently. We know this for decades and we are not taking the appropriate steps to combat this.

Re: Kevin McCarthy makes history... first in 100 years to fail Speaker vote

BN747 wrote:

In America, until we level up to think better of our political system as certain Europeans do, multi-party would be a nighmare and not make them any smarter.

BN747

Re: Kevin McCarthy makes history... first in 100 years to fail Speaker vote

How can anybody take the Republican party seriously? Serious enough to govern a country, when they clearly cannot govern themselves? Also a clear argument for a multi-party system, not just two parties. With a two-party system, you make yourself vulnerable for the extreme wings of the party. it has ...

Re: Kevin McCarthy makes history... first in 100 years to fail Speaker vote

Anybody watching TV right now? The schadenfreude is hitting like a first cigarette out of the prison yard. Looks like he's failed 2 votes so far, that hasn't happened in over a hundred years. This guy's cooked. Instead of 5 Never Kevins they're now up to 15 Never Kevins. My favorite quote so far - ...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

No I think you are, being daft that is. Why should you be any more privy to meetings between the monarch and the PM than between the PM and any of the other people he meets with?? You can bet you arse on it that company CEO's, heads of other governments, EU ministers have more influence over him th...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

StarAC17 wrote:

ltbewr wrote:

To me, Prince Harry is a person with serious psychological problems compounded by father cheating on his mother,

Going to stir the pot more are we sure Charles is even his father?

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

there you go, not symbolic at all.

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

it's called reserved powers. While Australia doesn't have peerage for the upper house so won't be applicable. But it's just like the reserved power of the G-G he is not elected either but appointed at the recommendation of the PM Australia went through its own constitutional crises in 75 https://ww...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

No I think you are, being daft that is. Why should you be any more privy to meetings between the monarch and the PM than between the PM and any of the other people he meets with?? You can bet you arse on it that company CEO's, heads of other governments, EU ministers have more influence over him th...

Re: Cheques/checks - do they still exist where you are? If so, how widely are they used?

I never gave a check in my life, or at least for how long I can remember. Made me curious when the first ATM was installed: 15 September 1976(!). And from 22 April 1982, it became more widespread. I was born in 1977, so basically all my life there were ATM's. And in 1997 internet banking was introdu...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

I think you’re vastly overplaying the influence the monarch might be able to exert on any PM. The relationship between Parliament and monarch is very largely symbolic and even if the monarch were to exert undue pressure on the government over a specific issue, parliamentary approval would still be ...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

it's called reserved powers. While Australia doesn't have peerage for the upper house so won't be applicable. But it's just like the reserved power of the G-G he is not elected either but appointed at the recommendation of the PM Australia went through its own constitutional crises in 75 https://ww...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3289/stages/16781 Second reading of the above is expected March 2023 https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-03/0111/220111.pdf More power to the King than. Parliament can suggest something and he or she might exercise the power. So the King is in char...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3289/stages/16781 Second reading of the above is expected March 2023 https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-03/0111/220111.pdf Give the Monarch powers to remove titles; to provide that such removals can be done by the Monarch on their own initiative o...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

Royal families shouldn't be anti-anything or anybody. They should be pro-country, pro-population. Could they work behind the scenes? I can only speak for Belgium but I'm quite certain our king isn't working any angles behind the scenes. Our king is the head of the state, in the sense that new minis...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

I think you’re vastly overplaying the influence the monarch might be able to exert on any PM. The relationship between Parliament and monarch is very largely symbolic and even if the monarch were to exert undue pressure on the government over a specific issue, parliamentary approval would still be ...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

They might not have power, but they have a real influence. Queen Elizabeth has held the thrown for 70years, thereby having fastly more experience then the democratically accountable prime minister. They might not have power, but they have a real influence. Queen Elizabeth has held the thrown for 70...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

Practically speaking, in what way is it totally different in a constitutional monarchy? There is no real power for royals to wield anymore. If the people no longer want a monarchy they can vote accordingly as has been done in several countries. Interesting, which country actually abolished the mona...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

the last official figure that i have seen is that the funding of the Sovereign Grant was £87.5 million. it's also estimated that tourist revenue generates about £49.8 million to the official Royal residence not including other revenue through accommodation and so forth. one could say that the Royal...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

What are the “huge drawbacks” of a symbolic royal family that has no real power? What real influence on UK society do you think the royal family has? They might not have power, but they have a real influence. Queen Elizabeth has held the thrown for 70years, thereby having fastly more experience the...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

One can (in theory) vote an elected government out of power though. In theory, yes…but why does, for example, the French president live in a palace? Or the American president an opulent mansion? Or the Finnish President also a palace? Is it truly necessary for certain heads of states of democratic ...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

Why do you need to support abolition of institutions that in now way affect your life or you country? That's cultural imperialism. Surely it's up to the countries concerned to make decisions that are relevant to than, rather than listen to some wee french man. Yes. I support the abolition of the mo...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

You are most likely right, But what is your opinion? Would you support Harry losing his titles that's the point of the survey in question and thread Yes. I support the abolition of the monarchy, all titles, all nobility, worldwide. The concept needs to disappear. Why do you need to support abolitio...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

Not sure why you think it needed to go another level, when the thread is only about your and other opinion in regard to harry. its not a broader question on whether who should be king, or the UK be a republic or monarchy So, you are off topic You asked for my opinion and my opinion is that you eith...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

I still find it amazing we're arguing over kings and queens in 2023. What an archaic and stupid system. Living as subjects of an inbred family line of stuck up out of touch people. Preposterous! Not every monarch is stuck up or out of touch. Just like not every president is aware of what's going on...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

Aesma wrote:

As long as Andrew has a title, Harry will have a title.

End of story.

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

Yes, it is off topic my opinion who should be King is for another thread In regard to harry being stripped he along with his wife have chosen to leave the life from the royals but complains about his privacy being breeched and the reason he believes why his mother died. you can't say you want the m...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

We are getting off topic(who should be King) but it would not matter if he abdicated anyway, us peasants have no say anyway. It’s not about me cherry picking it’s an opinion everyone has one.But if Charles does not want the firm lead to irrelevance just my opinion that the mantle should have passed...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

I am still of the opinion it should have bypassed Charles, never have liked him. Well, he was the firstborn, so that is his claim to fame. So either you have Royals with everything that comes with it: expensive, scandals, head of state which no subject has any control over, or you do not have a Roy...

Re: Nearly half of Brits say Prince Harry should lose his title, survey suggests

Is that what you are all on about now? Last I read it was about Charlie being unfit for the job due to his dalliances and that the title should be passed on to Willie. Don't you think the whole system of titles should just be trashed? Peers, lol. No better than anyone else, IMO. I am still of the o...

Re: Economic Crisis Looming in Russia

I don't know how we could get real numbers but it would be interesting to know what Russia is producing, importing, exporting. Import numbers for Russia (thus export for someone else) are indeed quite interesting. China, at one time, was at -50%. Export numbers from the EU are more dramatic. But we...

Re: F-35B off the runway at NASFT Worth JRB

Think we can rule out the lift fan (for now, at least). From the link that art provided: Though the JPO would not say exactly how many F-35s were grounded, it confirmed the grounded jets include all three variants . Some of those grounded F-35s are American fighters. This F-35B wasn't delivered yet...

Re: Economic Crisis Looming in Russia

I don't know how we could get real numbers but it would be interesting to know what Russia is producing, importing, exporting. Import numbers for Russia (thus export for someone else) are indeed quite interesting. China, at one time, was at -50%. Export numbers from the EU are more dramatic. But we...

Re: Economic Crisis Looming in Russia

Same as I'm 5'10" I'm average where I am, but I'm sure you can find somewhere with enough numbers to say that 5'7" is normal and I'm freakishly tall...but we all know people over 6'5 are all over the place. For all you metric people out there: 5'10" --> 1.78m 5'7" --> 1,70m 6'5&...

Re: Economic Crisis Looming in Russia

So, basically homogeneous societies with less citizens than many states? But does that really equal "greatest country"? I also find it unusual that the Nordic countries have a higher suicide rate than other European countries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_suicide_rat...

Re: Economic Crisis Looming in Russia

When, in the weeks after the invasion, the West started slapping sanctions on Russia and western countries started shutting down operations in Russia, I thought the predictions of a 10%-15% drop in GDP would turn out to be right. That scale of fall in GDP seems not to have materialised. 3%-4% looks...

Re: Economic Crisis Looming in Russia

China hasn't passed us yet. There will be many wishing for the "good old days" the world over, when they do pass us. thank you for underpinning my point. 8-) It must be the Netherlands, then. for what? Being the best country to live in? Quite objectively that would be one of the Nordic co...

Re: Economic Crisis Looming in Russia

johns624 wrote:

Dutchy wrote:

We'll see how long it takes Americans not to believe that their country is the greatest on earth.

China hasn't passed us yet. There will be many wishing for the "good old days" the world over, when they do pass us.

Re: Economic Crisis Looming in Russia

It took several revolutions for France to get where it is now (1789, 1830, 1848, 1870). One big factor every time was a liberal/free press with prominent leaders/journalists/writers. Russians didn't value enough their free press when they got one, maybe after so many years of pravda they couldn't d...

Re: Title 42 Expiration and the Border - What happens next?

It allowed summary expulsions without a hearing or due process. It drastically reduced the number of asylum requests, as migrants did not have the opportunity to apply. Migrants or asylum-seekers? According to UNHCR, seeking asylum is a fundamental human right, so denying the right to seek asylum i...

Re: Title 42 Expiration and the Border - What happens next?

Forgive me for saying it, but that is a load of bullocks. If I felt threatened by the Dutch government for some reason, I could hop on a plane and go to the US and seek asylum there. It will be rejected on perfectly valid grounds, but I can do it, the same for you in the Netherlands. The US is obli...

Re: Title 42 Expiration and the Border - What happens next?

we were not talking about immigration (Schengen isn't even about immigration, it is about removing the border checks, as an EU citizen, I am allowed to live anywhere within the EU anyway), we were talking about seeking asylum which is a totally different thing. Not denying that borders were closed,...

Re: Title 42 Expiration and the Border - What happens next?

If that is your position then you should lobby your politicians to withdraw from the convention on refugees. Basically, it is a human right to live, so if a person shows up on your border and asks for asylum, yes he or she must be allowed to enter the country. Then the authorities need to find out ...

Re: Title 42 Expiration and the Border - What happens next?

It allowed summary expulsions without a hearing or due process. It drastically reduced the number of asylum requests, as migrants did not have the opportunity to apply. Migrants or asylum-seekers? According to UNHCR, seeking asylum is a fundamental human right, so denying the right to seek asylum i...

Re: Title 42 Expiration and the Border - What happens next?

I was truly 'surprised' that some countries did this. It would be impossible to do this within the EU. One would just file a lawsuit with The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and it will rule in your favor, even though I am not a lawyer, I would put a fine bottle of wine on this. Although the...