Unfortunately, We Will Not Solve Our Problems with the Current Politics

Unfortunately, We Will Not Solve Our Problems with the Current Politics

29 September 2026

Just try to make sense of the newspaper on a day like today. Spatial planning is failing because politics facilitates investors. Locals simply cannot compete with foreign investors in the real estate market.

Psychological distress is widespread; young people in particular are struggling. The government is focusing on suicide prevention. Among those struggling are whistleblowers. By September 2026, there have already been more murders than in all of 2025, a year in which the number of homicides had already increased.

Safety at schools, which led to a strike last week, is still an issue. One minister believes that greater spirituality among young people could be part of the solution. According to her, the situation in schools reflects what is happening in society. In my view, it is at least also a reflection of leadership.

A few people are still writing about climate adaptation. To illustrate the quality of leadership: the Ombudsman has been harassed by politicians for eleven years because his legal status has still not been properly regulated.

Fifteen civil servants are taking the government to civil court because it refuses to comply with court rulings in their favor.

The Blue Wave continues to provide a welcome distraction.

The government talks about improving government accommodation. They are good at concrete and glass.

Then the government announces that the Nieuwe Haven will be cleaned up. Meanwhile, more and more residents and tourists are complaining about how dirty the island is. But it is certainly not the government throwing garbage out of car windows.

Then there are the reports about rising crime. An article about the media and the rule of law.

And I have not even mentioned the enormous increases in the prices of fuel, electricity, and water. Sixty percent of people are already unable to repay their debts. The hospital does not have sufficient funding, and poor people cannot afford their medication.

The situation has become so serious that many people can no longer even see the full picture.

Miguel Goede