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Politics
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A Deeper Dive on the Political Conflict in the Rice Economy

Rice is a staple food in many countries, with a large portion of the global population relying on it as a primary source of nutrition. The rice industry has a significant impact on the economy and society of these countries, making it a highly politicized sector. This article examines the political power conflicts inside the rice sector and assesses how they have affected the market.

Government Interference in Rice Pricing

One of the most significant political influences on the rice industry is government interference in pricing. In many countries, governments set minimum prices for rice to protect farmers from price fluctuations and ensure their livelihood. However, these minimum prices can also lead to overproduction, which can create a surplus and drive down prices. This often results in government subsidies, which can further distort the market. Additionally, government procurement and stockpiling of rice can artificially increase demand and prices, leading to further market manipulation.

Agricultural Policies and Protectionism

Agricultural policies and protectionism also play a significant role in the political power struggles in the rice industry. Governments often implement tariffs, quotas, and subsidies to protect their domestic rice producers from foreign competition.

This can lead to a less efficient allocation of resources and increase food prices for consumers. Additionally, trade agreements and negotiations also have a significant impact on the rice industry, with many countries seeking to protect their own interests in these negotiations.

The Influence of Private Companies

Private companies also play a significant role in the politics of the rice industry. Large agribusiness corporations often hold significant power and influence over government policies and regulations. They can also engage in price manipulation and market control, further exacerbating the political power struggles in the industry. In some countries, these corporations have even been accused of exploitation and abuse of small-scale farmers.

The rice industry is a complex and highly politicized sector, with a variety of actors vying for power and influence. Government interference in pricing, agricultural policies and protectionism, and the influence of private companies all contribute to the political power struggles in the rice industry. Understanding these political dynamics is essential for ensuring a fair and efficient market for all participants, from farmers to consumers who understands the importance of rice and the key advantages of a rice cooker.

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Understanding the Political Implications of Relocating and How it Will Affect Your Life

 

Relocating to a new place can be an exciting experience with house movers Doncaster, but it also carries with it a variety of political implications that must be taken into account. Whether you are moving within your own country or across borders, understanding the political dynamics of your destination is essential in order to ensure a smooth transition and avoid any potential issues.

What are the Political Effects of Relocating?

Relocating has a significant political effect on individuals, as it can affect their voting rights and residence status. When an individual moves to a new area, they must take into account any rules and regulations that may be in place regarding residence change and voting rights. This is especially important if the individual wishes to participate in local or national elections. It is also important to consider the political implications of relocating, such as how it will affect their ability to access services or be represented by elected officials. In this article, we will explore the various political effects of relocating and how they can impact an individual’s life.

The Pros and Cons of Moving to a New City for Political Reasons

Moving to a new city for political reasons is an increasingly popular choice among people who are passionate about their beliefs and want to make a difference. However, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of such a move before making any decisions. On one hand, relocating can be beneficial if it allows you to vote in another state or district that has more favorable policies. On the other hand, there are potential drawbacks such as leaving behind family and friends, adjusting to a new environment, and dealing with the financial costs of relocation. In this article we will explore both the advantages and disadvantages of moving for political reasons.

Navigating the Complex Laws and Regulations Surrounding Political Activity After Moving

Moving to a new city or state can be an exciting experience, but it can also be daunting when it comes to navigating the complex laws and regulations surrounding political activity. It is important for citizens to understand their rights and obligations in regards to local municipal regulations, local ordinances, and federal laws related to political activity.

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How Politicians make the Decision on which Games to Approve?

Games such as those offered by https://technifiser.com are a rapidly changing medium with new titles and genres emerging regularly. As such, the role of government in regulating games has also become more dynamic. Games can be used to explore almost any topic, making them ripe for exploration by legislators looking to implement new laws or policies.

With so many types of games out there and new ones coming out all the time, it’s no surprise that government leaders will face a number of challenges as they create policy around this exciting medium.

Who is Responsible for Determining which Games are Approved?

As with most government decisions, legislators will decide which video games are approved.

It is their job to ensure that video games are not harmful to their audience and that they are not promoting violence or other distasteful content.

What Factors are Used to Decide which Games are Approved?

When deciding which games to approve and which ones to reject, the first thing legislators need to do is determine the purpose of their rating system. Are they trying to prevent the promotion of violence, or is the purpose of the ratings to protect children from seeing certain imagery?

The method used to determine which games are appropriate will vary based on the political climate and current events. There are many factors that legislators will use to determine which games to approve.

  • The Age of the Characters: Some games will feature adult characters, but what about children? In some cases, the characters in a game may be too young for the intended audience. This can lead to the game being rejected by the government.
  • The Tone of the Game: The tone of the game is important in determining which games are appropriate for children and families. This can include the use of language, the amount of violence depicted, and if sexual content is present.
  • The Setting of the Game: The setting of the game may be inappropriate for certain types of games, especially if it is based on real-world tragedy or exploitation.

How to Stay Neutral in a Political World?

Politics is divisive. The left and right seem to be further apart than ever before. So how do you stay neutral and avoid getting dragged into the mud? This is actually more important if you have a business.

Don’t Take Everything at Face Value

It’s easy to assume you know where a person’s views lie, but that doesn’t mean you’re right. If a friend or family member begins talking about their political beliefs, listen carefully to what they say and don’t assume you know where they stand.

If you’re in a debate with someone, don’t assume you know where they stand either. Listen to what they have to say. Ask questions to clarify their position. If you can’t understand their viewpoint, no matter how wrong you might think it is, you can’t have a productive conversation.

Be Aware of Your Environment

If you work with people who are all on one side of the political spectrum, it might feel almost impossible not to get drawn into the debate. 

You may even find yourself feeling pressured to take sides. If you’re in a situation like this, you may want to be more selective about what you share about yourself. 

You don’t have to keep your political views secret, but if you know that certain co-workers are likely to press you to take a side, you may want to avoid the subject. If you’re in an environment where you feel like you have to defend your beliefs, and you don’t feel safe or supported, it might be time to look for a different job.

Be Conscious of your own beliefs

If you have a friend or family member who is on the opposite side of the political spectrum, it’s important to be conscious of your own beliefs so you don’t assume you know where they stand. If you have a friend who is a conservative and you assume they are racist, sexist, or xenophobic, you’re going to have a hard time having a healthy friendship. 

If you have a family member who is a progressive and you assume they are completely against capitalism, you’re going to have a hard time having a relationship with them.

How Politics and Football Are Intertwining

Soccer coach talking to his team

 

We see quite a few football promoters active in politics. In a small series about people who are ‘in politics’ in addition to football, we start with Cock Jol.

Cock, you’ve been away from football for a while, do you still follow it?

Of course, I still follow football, both amateur football and professional football.

You are a teacher, do you see changes in your classes that are reflected in society and therefore also in football?

What I have seen in this time is that many youth players have started to fill in their weekends differently. In recent years, no irregular league matches were played, and there was not even training. But of course, that also applied to other sports. I am concerned about this development. I think the unions and the clubs will certainly notice that.

Incidentally, I must say that I have had a lot of appreciation for our youth. Appreciation for the way in which they have dealt with the situation that has arisen in recent years. I’ve seen that at my school. They adhered very well to the rules assigned to them and also the lessons, which were often provided through Teams, were generally faithfully attended. Of course, my respect also goes out to my colleagues, who had to master various digital matters. Of course, I was one of them. Nevertheless, it is very important that the students can go back to school. They need social contact with their fellow pupils and with their teachers.

Do you still come to clubs? And then when you go to watch a game, where do you go?

Lately, I haven’t been looking physically anymore. Of course, the weather did not invite you to stand along the line. Today the weather is beautiful and probably I will ride my scooter to Quick, because in the last 2 games Quick has won and can come out of the relegation zone if I win.

You show political ambitions for the second time, this time for the VVD. How did your return come about?

I have always been very interested in national and municipal politics. In 2002, as a member of the Political Party Scheveningen, I was already elected on preferential votes and thus came to the City Council of The Hague.

After this instructive period, I entered professional football. In 2014 I came back from London and I started working as a teacher again at my old school the Christian College De Populier. In October 2021, I had a conversation with alderman Anne Mulder at city hall. He asked me if I wanted to be on the VVD’s electoral list for the municipal elections of 2022. I didn’t really have to think about it and I promised.

I thought and think it is a great honor to be a council member in my own city. You can denounce issues and influence issues that are close to the hearts of the citizens. The government must realize that it is there for the citizen and not the other way around. That is very often forgotten. We live in a democracy and as such are elected by the people (demos = people). I believe that too little attention is being paid to the citizens. You see and notice a lot of dissatisfaction among people at the moment. They feel misunderstood.

What kind of politician are you?

I am a liberal-conservative with a social-Christian slant. Nationally, I have always chosen liberal-Christian and I, therefore, think that the VVD suits me best. I am neither extreme right nor extreme left. I love the harmony model. For The Hague, it would be good if there were a coalition with at most 3 parties. That would be good for decision-making. Fragmentation always causes a lot of unrest. I think most people think that way.

 

ALSO READ: Politicians Should Be On TikTok More

 

How important is a sport in general for a city like The Hague? What role do you think politics should play when it comes to sports in the Haaglanden region?

I think that the responsible aldermen for Sport in recent decades have invested too little in grassroots sport or top sport. There is a lack of a real sports culture in our city, let alone top sports culture. Our heroes from The Hague, who have delivered top performances, are not pampered and honored for their achievements. Ask our average citizen in The Hague if they can name some current top athletes, then they do not know. In England and Germany, for example, the champions are heroes for life.

In the 80s/90s we had top athletes or top teams in every branch of sport. A.o. Hellas (handball), Ons Eibernest (korfball), KZ or HGC (hockey), Hijs (ice hockey), and so on. The same thing happens with our music heroes. It is a shame that the Museum RockArt is located in Hoek van Holland. We have always been pop city number 1 in the Netherlands. There was no suitable location available!! The then alderman of Culture Van Asten should have done everything in his power in 2019 to find a good, spacious location.

How do you think the municipality acted in the takeover of ADO Den Haag?

I do not want to say anything about the course of events regarding the takeover of ADO. Maybe one thing. A few years ago, an alderman for Sport said that ADO should never again be in the hands of a foreign investor. That only creates problems, he said. Anyway, let’s be happy that ADO has been saved and hopefully will be a good eredivisionist again. That would be great!

Count that you are elected with preferential votes, what would you like to tackle in and for The Hague?

I have several things that I am worried about, but I am not alone in this. In many programs of the various parties, there are practically the same themes. What I have noticed in my many conversations with residents in every neighborhood, is that they are worried about what is happening especially in their own neighborhood or street. The aldermen and councilors need to be more involved with the residents and listen to their stories. Listening to what keeps them busy.

Of course, we cannot solve everything, but I have noticed that a listening ear already removes a lot of resentment. My appeal to those in charge of our city will be to Come out of that “Ice Palace” and go among the people and stop those long meetings. Use the council meetings only to reach a final decision. Use the committee meetings for debate. Be transparent and show that you are there for the citizen. Politics must regain the trust of the people.

Will we ever see you back in football?

No, I will not come back to football, but I will always be interested in this beautiful sport.

Do you want to say something else?

I do hope that the Hague voter will give me his or her vote on 15/16 March, so that I can come to the council on preferential votes. I think I can do something for the inhabitant of The Hague to make our beautiful city even more beautiful.

Reasons Why it’s Crucial for Lawyers to Understand Politics

Politics is never ending. From local elections to national debates, the topics and news coverage of political events are a constant stream.

Why Understanding Politics is Crucial for a Lawyer?

As a lawyer and future attorney, it’s important you understand your local, state, and federal governments to help your clients best navigate their legal issues. This could be about a client’s business like an aesthetic shop wondering about potential legal suits they may face if a certain decision is executed and so forth. 

We all have our own opinions on why certain policies are implemented and how they impact our daily lives. Whether you agree or disagree with the current political climate, it is important for lawyers to remain informed about politics.

Being informed about politics will help you as an attorney, but also as a citizen by better understanding how laws are created and improved. Here are reasons why it’s crucial for lawyers to understand politics:

Stay Up to Date on Law Changes

Lawyers are constantly researching the law for their clients and themselves. And with new laws constantly being passed, it’s important that lawyers stay up-to-date on changes to the law. One of the most common ways is by subscribing to newsletters and email newsletters that keep you in the know about new laws that affect your practice.

Help Shape and Strengthen Our Democracy

Lawyers are the ones that help shape and strengthen our democracy. They do this by doing what they know best, using the law to help their clients navigate through life’s legal issues.

Lawyers work with their clients on a variety of matters, including immigration, civil rights, family law, criminal defense, and more. Laws are made for different reasons, but it is up to the lawyer to make sure those reasons are valid and in line with the constitution.

If something doesn’t seem right or seems unconstitutional, then a lawyer can challenge it in court or petition lawmakers to change it.

Gain Better Understanding of Society

Gaining a better understanding of society is one of the most important reasons why lawyers need to understand politics. Understanding the political climate and current events helps you provide better legal guidance to your clients.

Political Apps: Useful for Elections

politics-jailbreak

Want to know more about your favorite party? Or are you looking for a voting guide app, for example for the federal elections? In this guide, you can find the best apps for political news, elections, election guides, and more.

Politics can be complicated

In regular national elections, you, as a voter, are often asked to go to a polling place and make a choice. This time the parliamentary elections are imminent, so I’m going to poll the new cabinet. But which app is the most helpful when choosing? Which news app has a good political news section and which party has its own app? It is important to read carefully before voting for the House of Commons elections, and these political apps will help you do that. We have also listed some voting guide apps for you.

* Voting indicator

* Political news

*Political Parties

 

Which election guide app is available for the Federal Elections of Political Party? There are many election guides in the Netherlands to help you choose during the election. You’re probably familiar with the famous Stemwijzer and Kieskompas, but this year there are plenty of voting guides available for iPhone and iPad. Unfortunately, there is no dedicated app available for voting guides, but thanks to the mobile website and through iPhone jailbreak download, it can be used on your iPhone or iPad.

Here are some of the voting guides you can run on your iPhone and iPad.

* Voting Guide

* Gravel compass

* Kieswijzer technology

* Voting checker

* Keeser’s quest

* Party guide

* Youth Election Leader

Election Guide

If you don’t know where to vote in your area, you can use the stemwegwijzer.nl website. The site will use your location to find the polling place closest to you, including directions. You can also find a wheelchair-accessible polling place so that everyone can vote.

What is the best political news app?

Are you looking for an app for voting guides and need a little more information? Almost all Dutch news apps have categories focused on political news. NOS, RTL Nieuws, and NU.nl apps have policy categories. Here you can find all the other political news, as well as the latest news about upcoming elections and election results. These apps are useful during House elections.
* NOS

* RTL News

* NU.nl

*The Poll

* Debate Direct

Which party has the app?

There used to be some parties using their own apps, but these days unfortunately this offer has been kept to a minimum. The political parties listed below currently have their own domestic apps. In addition, there are all kinds of local apps that are targeted only to a specific community. If you’re looking for an app from a particular provider, the best way to find it is to use the App Store.
* CDA-APPèl

* GroenLinks pick

* Forum for Democracy | FVD

Housing Proposal From All Parties

The benefits of making your bed in the morning, according to science Jean-François Perrault, chief economist at Scotiabank, stated that “there is no clear way to determine what might be the optimal housing level” in a housing report released in May. Though supply constraints and insatiable demand are major issues, the majority of housing experts agree. All major political parties‘ platforms include a commitment to building tens of thousands of new houses across Canada.

The NDP promises 500,000 homes in a decade. The Liberals are promising 1.4 million over four years. The Conservatives are offering a million in three years. But like most campaign promises, the devil is in the details. The Liberals and Conservatives include the average number of new homes currently built in their totals. The NDP does not. About 286,000 new homes are currently built each year, according to the most recent data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The Liberals are also including 130,000 “revitalized” units, repairing affordable housing that is in such poor condition that it is at risk of being lost.

When that data is removed from the equation, the image looks more like this:

The NDP promises to build 50,000 new homes a year for the next ten years, the Conservatives 47,333, and the Liberals 30,000 new, affordable homes and 32,500 reclaimed over the next four years.

However, how are these homes going to be built and how many does Canada require?
The Conservatives claim they can meet their goal by improving public transportation that connects people’s homes to their places of employment, freeing up 15 percent of the federal government’s real estate portfolio for housing, and encouraging the construction of rental housing by making it easier to defer capital gains taxes when selling a rental property and reinvesting the proceeds in rental housing. Liberals promise cities $4 billion in incentives to increase annual home construction and double the allocation to the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, which provides forgivable or low-interest loans to build new or revitalized communities or affordable housing. They also intend to double the budget allocated for the conversion of vacant office and commercial space into housing, including federal and commercial buildings.

The federal land and buildings that are currently vacant or underutilized will be converted into housing as part of the NDP’s plan; the federal sales tax will be waived on new housing construction that is used to build affordable rental housing. Jean-François Perrault, the chief economist at Scotiabank, stated that “there is no clear way to determine what might be the optimal housing level” in a housing report released in May. Though supply constraints and insatiable demand are major issues, the majority of housing experts agree. Mr. Perrault asserted that the housing supply in Canada has not kept pace with population growth: in 2016, there were 427 housing units per 1,000 people in Canada, and in 2020, the supply was expected to be 424. Canada’s population increased by 1.3 million people during this time period. Approximately one-third of these homes were single-detached, with the remainder consisting of a variety of housing units, including condominiums, apartment buildings, and townhouses, according to Statistics Canada. According to Mr. Perrault, if an additional 100,000 housing units had been constructed during those years, the housing ratio would have remained stable. Canada has the fewest housing units per capita of any G7 country, according to Mr. Perrault, and it would take the construction of 1.8 million new homes to bring Canada into line with the G7 average. Beyond the ones currently under construction. There isn’t a federal party that even comes close to that number, but Perrault points out that demographics and geography vary from country to country, making it difficult to generalize. By the way, if you are looking for a high-quality hand-crafted bed for your house you can visit Hugo & Sons for more details.

Graffiti That Promises To Generate Record Sales

The auction of the Turbo Zone Truck, a 17-ton truck covered in Banksy’s graffiti, is expected to break records. Despite the fact that Banksy’s net worth is estimated to be around $50 million, the street artist has stated that he does not want to be paid for his work, preferring instead to focus on political and social issues. A look at a few of the most widely discussed articles. Some graffiti artist is using brush materials, at you can order your brush or paint materials easily.

 

The theme of work on trucks is anarchy

With an area of over 80 square meters, the Turbo Zone Truck is the largest work ever created by an unknown craftsman. It was done by Banksy in 2000, about six years before it became widely known. The truck depicts political agitation and opposition, which the road craftsman depicts in a large number of his later works.

Comment on phone generation

In 2014, Banksy created Mobile Lovers. The artwork was hung on a brick wall in Bristol. At work, a couple is seen paying little attention to each other but a lot of attention to their phone. The artist’s work is a satire on the so-called “telephone generation,” who let their phones dictate their lives and pay little attention to what is going on around them.

Criticism of xenophobia

Steve Jobs takes center stage on the wall art created by the artist in 2015 near a refugee camp in Calais, France. Steve Jobs, one of Apple’s co-founders, was the son of a Syrian immigrant who died in 2011. “We are often led to believe that migrants are expensive,” the artist explains, “but Apple, the world’s most profitable company, only exists because America allowed a young man from Homs (Syrian city, ed.) to enter the country.” in connection with this To show support for the Syrian people, Banksy created a new version of his famous work Balloon Girl (shown below) the year before.

British slave labor

A boy sews British flags on a sewing machine in this painting, which hangs on the wall of a London youth club. Slave Labor is a Banksy protest against the use of sweatshops to make souvenirs for the London Olympics and the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II. Locals were outraged when the work was stolen from the wall on which it was hung. They mistook it for a present for themselves. Banksy intervened, stating that the club’s owners would be the ones to decide what would happen to the artwork. The house was eventually sold for more than £400,000, with the proceeds going to the club.

Rat of Wall Street

Banksy installed this piece in New York’s SoHo neighborhood. He drew a rat dressed as a businessman to represent a large number of suit-clad men on Wall Street, New York’s financial district. “Let them Eat Crack,” a play on Marie Antoinette’s husband Louis XVI’s statement, “Let them Eat Cake,” is written next to it. This quote exemplifies how the wealthy can have misconceptions about the poor. By replacing the word “cake” with “crack,” Banksy alludes to the drug problem that many homeless people in New York face.

Worst view in the world

In 2017, Banksy will open a hotel in Bethlehem that will overlook an eight-foot-high concrete wall. The hotel has “the worst view in the world,” according to the street performer, referring to the barrier that separates Israel and the Palestinian territories. The hotel, by the way, is still open. This isn’t the first time Banksy has made an appearance in this area. In 2005, the anonymous artist rose to prominence after painting nine works on the Israeli-Palestinian separation wall, including a ladder atop the wall and a child digging a hole through it.

Politics Impact On Professional Painting Services And Society As A Whole

The painting industry is a multi-billion dollar market, and with every U.S. presidential election, it’s likely to see more politicians than ever before entering the business of painting houses and buildings.

The Politics Impact on Professional Painting Services

Every time the U.S. Presidential election approaches, many people are turning to professional painting services for help in their homes or businesses as they seek to build up an impressive looking home or business that will impress potential voters. This trend has been going strong since 2008 when President Obama was elected into office, so some experts believe that future elections will have more demand from this sector of society.

Politics in Christmas Season

The election season is a time when many people are excited to get out and exercise their right to vote. So, it’s no surprise that the Christmas holiday also brings more activity in this area of society as well. This includes painting projects for homes and businesses, where people want to make their homes look like the holiday season.

Politicians tend to show off during the Christmas season, showering people with gifts and parading Christmas lights done by professional Christmas lights installation. People are clothed, the homeless have temporary shelter and warm food to eat.

Why is the political environment changing in Christmas season?

It’s a time of giving and getting gifts. The season is full of joy, but it also brings out people who have more than they can give to others. It’s the perfect season for politicians to play the role that they want to play. People are in their element. They’re dressed up and ready to socialize. Politicians can get away with things that they might not do during other times of the year because people will be too busy enjoying themselves to question them or let it bother them.

What will the future hold for politics in the Christmas season?

As more people become educated about how politics and politicians work, they will demand that their representatives show them respect at all times. They will also expect to be treated with fairness and respect, and they will not tolerate any type of disrespect towards them.

It is important to remember that the majority of people are honest and do have good intentions. They just need a little encouragement in order to be more aware of their actions during this time of year.

We need to be more aware of what we are saying and doing around the Christmas season so that our actions do not offend other people during this time. We also need to take a moment now and then to remember that most people are good and do not mean to offend.

It’s easy for people to get caught up in the excitement of Christmas and forget that others are watching them closely. It is important to remember that everyone has feelings and would rather be treated with respect.

Interested in Politics?

Are you interested in politics and you want to study political science, but you don’t want to become a politician? No problem, because the subject offers far more career opportunities than many think. You can work as a diplomat, journalist or speaker after your studies. During your studies, you acquire important knowledge about how political systems work and how political action shapes different states and societies.

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Importance Of Social Media In Election Campaign

Research by The Best Social Media platform among the 30,000 Instagram followers shows that 15 percent of this group follows a politician, and only 13 percent a political party on social media. If you want more to become famous you can ‘buy Instagram likes cheap‘ to attract more followers on your Instagram.

Never before have political parties made so much use of social media during election campaigns

We not only look at Belgium, but also at the US, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Facebook and Twitter are the ideal media for politicians to communicate directly (without the intervention of the press) with the voter. Personal opinions and realizations, but also party propaganda can be sent unfiltered. But perhaps more importantly: they can enter into a conversation with their target group. We are convinced that social media will not only bring politicians closer to citizens but will also help them to interact. Social media allows politicians to share their opinion, expertise, or vision on themes that are alive in their city or municipality. In this way, they quickly become more relevant to their voting audience. By using social media (not only during the campaigns) the election candidates become more authentic and they can also reach that younger, more difficult target group. The more well-known, the lesser, the more (preference) votes. That’s what politicians can achieve with social media. Do voters also know the politician online? Do they (regularly) see him or her pass by in their timeline? What image do they have of the politician?

Offers perspectives for a better (more participatory) policy, building credibility, and for a better campaign

On March 12, 2016, we came across an interesting tweet on Twitter that we would like to share with you: “A good politician campaigns for 6 years, you have to earn your voters, every day. Do what you say, say what you do.” Social media are just the right tools for this, simple but essential! Research also shows that social media has a positive influence on the number of preference votes that candidates received. Candidates who use social media during the municipal election campaign receive 7 percent more votes than candidates who did not. In comparison, rising one place on the electoral list produces more votes (namely 53 percent more votes). The research shows that the use of social media has a positive effect. On the other hand, this effect should not be exaggerated. The voters who will be reached directly through social media are still limited. When politicians make full use of and deploy their social media channels, they are not only reachable online, they also become more relevant to their constituents. As a result, they see the politician’s commitment and vision in a systematic way, so that they know better what he stands for. Finally, social media provide more online visibility, which only enhances the credibility of a local politician. Politicians do not build credibility in one day, not even during a campaign period. It’s something they have to work on in the long term. It is therefore essential to start early and to deal with it consciously. This way they can reap the benefits during a campaign period.

In addition, journalists also play a huge role in furthering the influence of social media. Journalists follow that social media and many politicians as a ‘news source’. Research shows that journalists often cite social media messages, such as tweets, in their articles. In this way, tweets reach a much larger audience and a candidate receives a lot of publicity. Scientists, therefore, emphasize that social media through traditional media may have a much greater influence than social media on its own. In this way, we get a nice interaction between social and traditional media. Publicity and attention are usually always positive and are likely to lead to more votes. Because as we already wrote: the more famous, the more loved, the more preferential votes. Especially in local elections: people vote for people. There are fewer undecided voters at the time of voting.

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Is Everything Political Or Non-Political?

You can read the title of my weblog in two ways. Yes or no with the brackets. How you read this may depend on how you are in public administration or how you view politics. And that is not very strange. Both movements occur among administrators and politicians.

 

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Everything is political
On the one hand, there are the politicians for whom everything is political. On the one hand, they make use of compelling visions, but also regularly make use of pre-hopeless motions. After all, symbolic politics is also political. Or make politics of agendas and procedures. Policy continuity is not important to them. If it is more convenient to change course, it will. Everything is political. This is often tiring and disruptive and that is sometimes the very goal of the politicians involved. For them, politics is not the means, but the end.

Not everything is political
On the other hand, there are politicians who emphasize that not everything is political. For them, there are fixed values, fundamental principles, and lines within which a politician operates and which people want to adhere to. Governance continuity is of paramount importance to these politicians. They name subjects and seize moments that transcend politics. They put the rule of law and good governance first in their actions and they also want to keep the debate in order. These politicians apply a kind of political hygiene.

Consistency of policy
Neither of these two styles is left or right. These styles can be found on both sides of the political spectrum. Yet the style in which ‘everything is political’ is dominant is not good for our country, provinces and municipalities. Inhabitants need stability, reliability, perspective, and trust-inspiring leadership. Not a street fight or ‘village politics’. This requires a certain consistency of policy and a certain distance from the issues of the day. And exactly this also applies to the relationships between the levels of government.

Dealing with administrative structure and financial system agreements
Financial and administrative relationships require care, consistency, and restraint. Yes, political principles prevail over technocratic implementation. Yes, that can and must be tinkered with a certain regularity. Yes, system agreements must also go along and be adapted to the times in which we live. However, taking an opportunistic approach to administrative structure and financial system agreements quickly leads to cluttered up and – political or financial – accidents and, at some point, an inevitable failure of policy or problems in implementation. Everyone knows from their own domestic experience: if you do not regularly clean up the shed and just mess around, there is only one option waiting at any time: the big cleaning. There is much more to it than just keeping it in order.

Decentralization and the financial system
In the meantime, the sounds are getting louder: the decentralization in its current form is stagnating (SCP) or, according to some, rattling on all sides(Foundation decentralized administration). In addition to all the otherwise good analyzes that apply to this, in my view, this also has everything to do with the hasty transfer in 2015, the enormous budgetary interventions that went with it, and the political capriciousness with which the decentralization had to contend in recent years on both policy and financial level. Depending on the political whims, interim interventions in policy were or were not taken. And depending on what did or did not ‘work out’ politically, they decided on (usually no) money. Too little policy space for municipalities and too little money for the requested task performance. That does not go well for long. Meanwhile, the administrative and financial system is squeaking and creaking at the seams.

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