Seulement le prix c'est different

If you've ever considered learning Dutch, then now is good time to start. You'll be able to understand this parody of Jacques Chirac.

22:05

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Change the law

There's one thing I don't understand about the current government. OK, there are a number of things, but the one that strikes me today is the way in which the Balkenende administration has put forth anti-terror legislation.

Justice secretary Donner has on several occasions attempted to curb our freedom of speech in a number of ways to stop radical Islamism. Apart from being wrong in principle, for I have rather libertarian views on such matters, taking this measure would also cause unwanted side effects, such as hate preachers going underground, which would make it harder to track them.

It seems to me energy spent on such rather dangerous and unproductive ideas would be better invested in trying to improve current anti-terror laws. Samir Azzouz walked from the appeals court today, who ruled that Azzouz did have terrorist intentions, but hadn't gone through enough preparatory motions to be eligible for a free stay in one of our famous burning prisons. (He'll remain in jail for the time being, as he's been indicted on other charges as well.)

I really don't like laws and I think this country could do with a fair few less. Also, I deplore the knee-jerk adoption of laws by politicians who feel more comfortable pleasing their electorate by looking steadfast, rather than explaining to them how the police is unable to make the most of the ones that are already in place. But if a triumvirate of judges say a guy is up to no good, and can't find the legal means to jail him, then the government and Parliament need to step in. Pronto.

18:42

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The Dutch disease

Bruce Bawer argues we didn't want immigrants to succeed:

For many Muslims in Europe, self-segregation has come naturally. What's tragic is that European authorities have supported it. Rejecting the American approach - namely, encouraging immigrants to work and integrate - they've instead helped newcomers to maintain distinct communities and provided benefits that have made it easy for them to stay unemployed. Why did these authorities prefer segregation? Supposedly they were enlightened "multiculturalists" who respected differences; for many, the real reason was a profound discomfort with the idea of "them" becoming "us." Naively, they imagined they could preserve their nations' cultural homogeneity while letting in millions of foreigners and smiling on their preservation and perpetuation of values drastically different from their own.

Knowing the small-town mentality of many of our leaders, I find this theory disturbingly plausible.

18:40

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My new book in Elsevier

Somebody was kind enough to breach my copyright for your viewing pleasure.

17:23

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