Cogs can think.

Massive worldwide economic downturn…

Accepted and widespread hatred towards a religion and its members…

Just saying.

I don’t know about you, but my country as it is today reminds me of something. I consider myself to be very, very Dutch, but I’m simply no longer able to be proud and upfront about it. It doesn’t feel like something “good” anymore to be Dutch. All our ancestors have worked for - freedom, equality - are being thrown out the window because of a perceived threat.

Many, many of my countrymen are advocating the end of freedom and equality to defend… Freedom and equality. The lack of logic in their reasoning is so glaringly obvious that they simply don’t see it anymore. You can’t give up freedom and equality in order to defend freedom and equality. It doesn’t work that way.

I feel let down by my fellow countrymen. The Netherlands that I see today is not The Netherlands I want to live in or can be proud of. And with the economy only getting worse, hatred and fear will only grow larger.

I do see a light in the darkness, though. I’ve always been to the right of the political spectrum. I still am. However, the right in this country has been hijacked by mindless nazis who only try to get votes by fuelling the hate and fear. As a result, I’m moving towards the left. Not the far left obviously (I’m not an idiot), but towards the left of the middle.

Alexander Pechtold. That’s the man to lead our country. He’s the one voice of reason among the screaming and yelling children of our Lower House. He’s well-spoken, honest (for a politician), a good speaker, incredible debater, and one of the few who goes head-to-head with the nazi in our parliament without yelling or resorting to derogatory language. And he wins every time. The man has done the impossible: he made me want to vote for D66.

And now the world will end.