Update: Budget negotiations have failed. Press conference this afternoon.
Preamble:
There is a rich compost heap here at ZH from which we can take our share to turn and prepare for our respective gardens. I've thrown down the gauntlet here and there, made a few observations. It is strengthening my resolve to post my poorly referenced crap because it may be fresh for some. Some are beginning to understand what my point is so they can take it for what it's worth, others are welcome to post whatever shit they have on their own minds. I think I've explained my willingness to be forthcoming when I haven't properly identified my sources or the basis for my arguments. And I will be all over the place, once again just picking up on a bit of news here and there and trying to distill it.
Body:
Some of the supplementary budgetary plans are leaking out and the calculations by the fumbling morons at the CPB have been handed to the negotiators. Why no one questioned the epithet I used for the CPB in my last post is beyond me. I'm sure I could come up with a short list of criticisms rather quickly. I personally think it would be appropriate to knock some wind out of that holy see here in the Netherlands. I digress.
The VVV (an association of insurers) has already criticised what might be part of the deal to save this hapless construct of a government we have at the moment. They say forcing people to pay off their mortgages in 30 years would completely destroy the housing market. There's still a large contingency of people here who think the housing market can revive from here in short order, probably because they own mortgages or need their commissions. And that group is supported by a massive and comforting lobbying effort from all sides. The point is that the housing market sucks up upwards of 10 billion euros (conservative estimate I believe) of tax money - and growing quickly - despite the low volumes of new mortgages. I say let Southern Europe see exactly what we're up against here by adding some reality to the mix. I think non-owners, or people who are a little less concerned about changes to mortgage policy, should form a more vocal opposition to a Cabinet who sees its prime responsibility as keeping that market afloat. It is sad to read elsewhere yesterday that 65 000 home owners are already identified as unable to make instalments on time, and the number is growing. The silver lining here? Don't forget that whatever subsidies you take out here can be reinjected elsewhere. Like trying to create the basis for an economy that results in potential homebuyers. But most of the youth, unless they find jobs at KPMG or Goldman (which is planning to open up an office here) are screwed because things have gone so far out of whack for so long. Yes banks, my suggestions add considerably to your worries and I will go out on a limb and say that doesn't concern me so much.
The coalition governing of one of our provinces, Limburg, has collapsed because of a dispute surrounding the visit of President Gul (sorry I don't know how to do the umlaut in this word processor) of Turkey to celebrate 400 years of trade relations, or diplomatic relations, between the countries. I don't think the collapse of this government is going to mean much in the end but who knows. It is just a kind of karmic reaction to the politics going on in this country. The things I'd like to pick up on here and regurgitate from what I've read, for what it's worth, is that some kind of parliamentary mission to Turkey planned for next January is not going ahead. At least at this point. The Queen will still visit in May or June to continue to celebrate the anniversay, but other missions have been cancelled. For the time being. The reason is Turkey's Davatoglu, the great thinker and statesman, does not want Wilders in Turkey because he is a racist and fascist. So our Parliament, in a show of solidarity and as part of its tradition on these things, has kindly declined the invitation. For the time being. As we all know, there's a lot of posturing going on everywhere and that's part of politics. That posturing happens to win and occasionally lose votes. And distracts from other large issues. Gul, while here, added a more nuanced take of circumstances than Davatoglu: he said something to the effect that parties such as the PVV are natural in a multicultural society. Or something like that. If it interests you there should be articles in English to read elsewhere.
Wouter Bos is starting a column in the Volkskrant. As I've said, the guy has received criticism for handling the crisis at its height as our Minister of Finance at the time. I will see if that column has any momentum from my point of view. So far he is teasing us with some bait that I'm not sure actually interests me.
Thanks for reading and you know the routine.