Pensions and my old age

A new political decision approaching: lowering the pensions with about 100 euro a month next year. I don’t have a pension, so it doesn’t hit me, but I can understand that some old people are panicking right now. Lowering the pensions is a consequence of the recession. The pensionfunds lost a lot of money. But [...]

No sponsoring by healthcare organisations anymore

I’ve always thought it to be strange that healthcare organisations survive in subsidies, grants, gifts, sponsoring and that they themselves sponsor all sorts of events, like sportevents, art exhibitions and such. It’s ridiculous to think that the money isn’t used for patientcare, better equipment or prevention, but on events that won’t pay off in any [...]

It’s a shame!

Some research was done in old people’s homes and carehomes and it turned out that they ask people to pay for services which should be included in the services which are paid by the government and individual payments. People have to buy their own toiletpaper, soap, tea and some people even have to pay for [...]

pregnancy leave

The European Union wants to extend the duration of pregnancy leave. Already The Netherlands offers two weeks less than the lowest adviced duration. (16 weeks) In the papers the subject was discussed and the readers were told that more leave wouldn’t be positive as with a longer leave nothing would change at all, like work [...]

government, obesitas and money

Ofcourse our government has to find ways to balance expenses and income. Like everyone else, I would say. So today we were informed about plans to save money on healthcare. A few years ago a new system was introduced, which worked rather OK. Better than expected. Pity for me the meds that keep me alive [...]

Economics and souvereinity

Greece needed economical assistance of the other European countries to counteract the negative influence on the worth of the Euro. Countries felt they needed to step in not to endanger their own economical situation. Rumours that some south European countries had economical difficulties caused the Euro to drop again. The European Union is now thinking [...]

my birthday is always different

My birthday is always different. Not only because there’s no visit from family, but my own children, and no friends, because that’s the toll I pay for having 4 autistic children. Not only because aging is not my preferred activity. But because there’s an important day in history that’s remembered on the same date. 65 [...]

give-away shop

Today I was cleaning one of the rooms and had some things in my hand that were good enough to use. But we’ve outgrown them. I’ve always been very careful with my things and I can keep toys, household items and other things far longer than anyone. Maybe because my mother threw away things so [...]

money, iceland, and taxpayers

“Money makes the world go round….” Yea, and without money the world goes round too. People here in The Netherlands who lost their savings on bankaccounts in Iceland know that all too well. Bad banksupervision caused a loss of money for people all around the world. Pensions, dreams, studymoney for the children, it all evaporated [...]

raising tuitionfees bad for economy on the long run

England and Wales are considering raising the tuitionfees. Well, it’s the first step towards a new elite, because a difference of £4,000 to £20,000 per year just swipes away a lot of students. OK, it will lower the costs on education… a lot! But it also means that many more students will end their studies [...]