Walter, I don't pretend to understand Dutch politics - don't insult my intelligence by pronouncing judgement on ours on the basis of your views.

>>It works differently because your nation has a different backup and makeup and history. That does not make ours wrong for us just as it would be silly for me to pass jingoistic judgement on what works for The Netherlands, wouldn't it?
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>Give it a try, i'd say....
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>>You guys have 5 or 6 major parties jockeying for position. Nothing gets done without a coalition. Therefore, I would expect there to be a surfeit in mud-clinging because no one knows who they will need to cooperate with next.
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>True we have 5 or 6 major parties, but not sure whether this the whole argument. The british system also has two major parties, but do not have this mudthrowing either. Actually I cannot come up with another western country suffering from the same.
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>>Also, the American press corp tends to be a lot more aggressive than the European corps so, therefore, American politics tend to be reported more tabloid fashion.
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>The american press often has financial ties to the political party (or actually connected to the corporate world who influences the politics) is therefore in a sense is corrupted. No true independed press, and mostly politically coloured. Most US americans are politically poisened before they even get the right to vote. You basically have two choices. If you vote for one, you basically 'hate' the other.
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>Walter,
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>>>>Ummmm...YES. That is how we do democracy. It's how we've done it for 200 years. Apparently, it must work.
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>>>>>I cry, because appearantly this is the way you do politics: mud throwing.
>>>>>IOW, does this stand for a civilised democracy ?
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>>>Our democracy works a little bit different then. That is why I cry.
>>>
>>>Walter,