Discussion » Questions » Politics » Are the Dutch smarter or dumber than the English and the Americans put together?
Benedict Arnold

Are the Dutch smarter or dumber than the English and the Americans put together?

As populism gains momentum in europe and the U.S., the Netherlandians were having none of it, rejecting who's been known lately as the Dutch Trump for his ultra right views on immigration and nationalism.

USA TODAY says that "The vote follows two populist earthquakes last year: the election of Donald Trump in the United States and Britain's decision to leave the European Union. The front runners for prime minister are liberal Dutch incumbent Mark Rutte and Geert Wilders a far-right firebrand who vows to ban the practice of Islam, curb immigration and pull out of the EU."

Well, The Dutch Trump lost.

Are the Dutch smarter than the Americans and the English? . . .Or are they just willing to let their countries get invaded by the Muslim hordes?

Where are the Netherlands anyway? Is there more than one of them?

Posted - March 17, 2017
Tags : None

Responses


  • Populism doesn't have a right or left dynamic.

    Only recently has it taken on a bad and unearned connotation.  It shouldn't be seen as a negative because in reality it's a power to the little people.   It's only when the idea is corrupted and abused that we get false promises by the elite pretending to be populism.

    The United States was founded on populism and populists.  Fact is populism and democracy and democratic republics are tied together.
      March 17, 2017 12:28 AM MDT
    3


  • Everybody calls it populism, I call it Nationalism, and someone else is going to call it something else. According to whatever you want to call it. The question still.stands, why the English and the Americans and not the Dutch.
    I understand what you are saying. Tho.
    I do. 
      March 17, 2017 12:57 AM MDT
    2

  • I don't know anything about that ...: I dif know this Dutch chicka .... Who only ever wore purple tops.... well think you can see where im going  with this.... Cos I can't :( PURPLE! 
      March 17, 2017 12:38 AM MDT
    3

  • Not really,  but that's alright.
      March 17, 2017 1:06 AM MDT
    0

  • 17261
    Wilders still became second largest party in the election. However, Dutch system is different than the American. You might say GOP/Trump became second largest too, in popular vote. Brexit was a referendum and protesters won, it was a yes or no similar to the election of next POTUS. So...
      March 17, 2017 1:13 AM MDT
    2

  • So?
      March 17, 2017 11:18 AM MDT
    0

  • 17261
    You tell me...
      March 17, 2017 11:20 AM MDT
    0

  • Me?
    I think yes, they are way smarter than the Americans and the English. Their saw the havoc of unbridled populism sweeping across Europe and the U.S., and they did not fall for it. So yes, they are.
    You?
      March 17, 2017 11:25 AM MDT
    0

  • 17261
    I only partly agree. Wilders got a higher share than last election, just not as big as expected/feared. As said, you can't compare their election 1:1 with the two others. UK was a referendum (two choices only), and US practically being an election between two candidates. This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at March 17, 2017 2:58 PM MDT
      March 17, 2017 2:56 PM MDT
    0

  • I understand S, 
    I do.
    I just thought it an anomaly, I had been watching the process over there and was sure that it was going to happen there too.
    I figure there has to be.something intrinsically different between them and us. Personally, I think their society is more advanced than ours. . . At least for now.
    Just me.thinking you know?
    Thank you Sapphic.
    I always appreciate your comments.
      March 17, 2017 3:03 PM MDT
    0

  • 17261
    Political system means a lot. This is also reason why France will be more comparable to UK and USA. Germany will be differently again.
      March 17, 2017 3:12 PM MDT
    0

  • 13277
    "You might say GOP/Trump became second largest too, in popular vote."

    Perhaps true, but irrelevant to anything. A US presidential election actually comprises 51 separate elections in each of the 50 states plus DC. Trump won the popular vote in more of those than did Clinton and that's why he's president. A lot of folks harped on the national popular vote as part of their sour grapes over Clinton's loss and it got quickly got stupid.
      March 17, 2017 5:55 PM MDT
    0

  • 17261
    Why do you try to mix it all together? I am not questioning the result, nor the election process, or anything else around that election. I have my opinions, but they were not brought into my reply for the OP. Try see my response in the light of the question asked. And please keep your sour grapes to yourself. Thank you. This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at March 18, 2017 5:56 AM MDT
      March 18, 2017 5:55 AM MDT
    0

  • 13277
    You're welcome.
      March 18, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
    0

  • 13277
    I don't know, but at least folks in England and the US never found it fashionable to wear klompen, aka wooden clogs.
      March 17, 2017 8:07 AM MDT
    0

  • What are you talking about man?
      March 17, 2017 11:20 AM MDT
    0

  • 13277
    Wooden shoes.
      March 17, 2017 5:46 PM MDT
    0

  • Like I said, what are you talking about man?
      March 17, 2017 8:26 PM MDT
    0

  • 13277
    Like I said, wooden shoes. What are YOU talking about man?
      March 17, 2017 10:26 PM MDT
    0

  • 22891
    it probably depends on the person since everyone is different
      March 17, 2017 3:35 PM MDT
    1

  • That is true, Ms Pearl. 
    That is very true.

      March 17, 2017 8:27 PM MDT
    0

  • 46117
    The first thing that came to mind is the fact that TRUMP is used as a unit of measurement to measure how stupid the country in question is.    It's like this is the new standard of how low one can sink in the IQ forum.

    Unfortunately, I think the world is just as insane as ever and that America is no different.   I have yet to find many leaders of any country that I would hold as a role model for anything.   That doesn't mean they do not exist, it means they are few  and far between and are not even noteworthy enough to be mentioned in a world where nothing is sacred and money talks and power is GOD.

    There is nothing for this.   Nothing.  Everyone is really really stupid these days.
      March 17, 2017 5:54 PM MDT
    1

  • That thing you say about Trump being the stick against which other countries are measured, is actually very clever. And you are correct. Now that I think about it you are right. They do do that.
    Hm, that's pretty good!
    You know im not going to agree with the low IQ and everybody is stupid thing, but I understand where you're coming from. 
    Why do you think it didn't work in the Netherlands?
    I was talking to a friend and she says that it is just a matter of time, that the whole world is moving towards that.!!!
      March 17, 2017 8:33 PM MDT
    0