Geert Mak leest Amerikaanse schrijver les in NYT: wij zijn vrijer

(tekst: New York Times via http://welingelichtekringen.nl )

Een Amerikaan in Amsterdam
Geplaatst op: zondag 3 mei 2009
Door: Gerard Driehuis
Categorie: Opinie
Bron: The New York Times
Aantal keren gelezen: 143

Is Nederland een socialistisch land? Schrijver en wetenschapper Russell Shorto, die anderhalf jaar in Amsterdam woonde, was daarvan vrij zeker. Vooral toen hij merkte dat 52 procent van zijn inkomen naar de belasting ging. ‘De eerste maanden kon ik maar aan in ding denken: 52. Ik vind mezelf links, maar dit is toch werkelijk te gek.’

The New York Times:

Geert Mak, the Dutch author, insisted that happiness is tied directly to the social system. We were sitting at his favorite cafe, a hangout of Dutch journalists since the end of World War II, and the genial, old-wood setting of the place, as well as its location, around the corner from the Dam and the center of the city�s history, added a bit of luster to his words and reminded me, for the thousandth time, why I�m still here, despite the downside. �One problem with the American system,� he said, �is that if you lose your job and are without an income, that�s not just bad for you but for the economy. Our system has more security. And I think it makes our quality of life better. My American friends say they live in the best country in the world, and in a lot of ways they are right. But they always have to worry: �What happens to my family if I have a heart attack? What happens when I turn 65 or 70?� America is the land of the free. But I think we are freer.�

het hele verhaal op:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/magazine/03european-t.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=dutch&st=cse