Going Dutch?

Question

Relaxed laws seem to work for the Dutch. The plod there are free to deal with more serious crimes and resolve these well. In England we seem to always want to increase the 'red tape' and waste time with things that don't work. Would it be bad to try and introduce a more relaxed way of dealing with some problems here. I know about the pub hours and downgrading of puff but thats not what i call relaxed just flexible.

Well all those five brasses in Suffolk before Christmas might not have been murdered if their trade was being controlled and taxed etc. Regular healthchecks for them also means a safer environment for punters too.

Having smoke shops reduces the chances of coming across harder drugs and, as I said before, frees up the police to deal with the bigger problems. And again more tax to the government.

Answer 1

Oh man Im going(Jules,Pulp Fiction)

Answer 2

I think the problem with introducing a 'Dutch' system in England is that the English have a subtly different ideology to the Dutch, and this comes from having lived the way we do for decades. For example, because of pub opening hours being limited for years, the introduction of longer hours will take a while to have an effect upon people's behaviour because their ideas on what to do in pubs will need to adjust (hard to break the habit of drinking a pint at a certain speed, for one).

The Dutch are not an inherently competitive society, which I think is a factor with the English in that we have a history of being an Empire and viewing ourselves as world leaders ('why bother learning other languages, everyone speaks English' is a typical attitude, and one that the current government promotes by reducing the importance of foreign language teaching in state schools). Although it's politicians who act out these beliefs, it still filters down into the beliefs and behaviour of individuals in society. We're taught to be ambitious and to view the world as our oyster, and a lot of people (although they may not admit it) unconsciously see this as their right. The Dutch, and other similarly relaxed nationalities, are just a touch happier to keep their heads down and seek personal happiness instead of attention and glory.

My opinion - it's worth trying to relax our attitudes to things, but this needs to be a slow process, and needs to sit alongside different methods of teaching and different ways of behaving politically, both on a national and international scale.

Answer 3

What may work for one doesn't always work for the other. In my own society, the laws are mandated by a majority of vote. So until the majority changes the way they want things to go...it stays the same.

Answer 4

I like the Dutch prostitution industry!

Answer 5

well what do you call relaxed?
I'd go for zero tolerance, turning a blind eye is the thin edge of the wedge!

Answer 6

i think we would be better to get rid of political correctness and let the police get on with their jobs

Answer 7

zero tolerance is the only way to go

Answer 8

Well give us a few ideas then

Answer 9

The UK is too conservative to change!

Answer 10

i could so simply agree with you but its all to do with