The Netherlands:
A couple of years ago politician Pim Fortuyn & film maker Theo van Gogh were killed for their opinions.
The biggest part of the population wasn't sharing their opinions, but it felt like a blow to freedom of speach anyway.
But I'd say yes, normally we do get to read/write/say and do what we want.
For example we have a Gay Parade an Pink Carnival; festivities where homoseksuals can show they're proud of being gay. And we have gay marriage. I'm really pro gay marriage, it's not a decision of government or church wo you are supposed to love and want to make a family with. This should be a basic right. Just my tow cents though :roll:
We are allowed to choose any religion and praction it in open.
Our lives often consist of, like pretty much everywhere else, working your ass of for just enough to pay the bills. And never get to doing what you really love.
Just kidding; to give you an idea of financial situations; we do have a reasonable system; when something happends to you/you have a disability/can't fiend a job, you get welfare. Everyone is always guarantied to have an income.
A family home with 4 bedrooms costs 500 euro a month, in the area we want to move to, wich is rural and by the sea. We get some 'rental support' from the goverment, cause we don't make a lot of money :wink:
So we'd pay about 350 a month, plus electra end gas 150. Health insurance is about 100 euro a month per person, children under 18 are free.
Driving a care here is very expensive! gas/diesel prices are really high; you pay insurance, road taxes, and when you own a car, there's no more remission for some other taxes, like water and sewer tax
Yes we are a country of taxes and bureaucracy
Only 15 000 people out of 16 000 000 rely on the free food system.
Health care is good, eveyone gets the help they need; everything needed is paid by the insurance automatically.
There has been an attack on the royal family on queensday; some people were killed. Those kind of thing do change opinions, but mostly for a short time. In general, we do feel safe, but some would like more 'uniforms' on the street.
Normally we have pretty low unemployment and pretty well aducated people. Everyone can get a college loan, so everyone can go to school/highschool/university. This loan is paid out once a month; a part of the end amount is let off when you make it through.
prostitution is legal and so is smoking marihuana (you buy it in a coffeeshop) as long as taxes are paid. Grwoing is illegal; but the government is thinking of growing it theirselves :shock:
I'd say I live in a pretty relaxed country... I like living here.
The country site. Most of the Netherlands is flat
The city we're going to move to... can totally picure my business in one of these cute streets :roll:
Skyline of Rotterdam
Hoped to have given you some useful info!
Dagmar