The end of the welfare state

[tasko]

King Willem-Alexander delivered a message to the Dutch people from the government in a nationally televised address: the welfare state of the 20th century is gone. In its place a "participation society" is emerging, in which people must take responsibility for their own future and create their own social and financial safety nets, with less help from the national government.

"The classic welfare state of the second half of the 20th century in these areas in particular brought forth arrangements that are unsustainable in their current form. The necessary reforms take time and demand perseverance," the king said. But they will "lay the basis for creating jobs and restoring confidence."

Willem-Alexander said that nowadays, people expect and "want to make their own choices, to arrange their own lives, and take care of each other."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 22421.html