What! You mean socialists aren't evil people who all want to take your money?

I loved this article. From talking to people who have spent time in many other "socialist" countries this article is right on mark. And I'd like to thank the Dutch for investing in America so much and so early. They were one of the first governments to invest in America after our independence.

This article also reminds me why I'm going to spend my summer working, so I can get out of town and explore the world more. Maybe even fall in love and marry someone and not have to come back. Oh well, for now I have a job, I pay my bills, and have a little for travel, but I leave on Monday for Phoenix and this vakantiegeld would be very useful.

clipped from www.nytimes.com In late May of last year an unexpected $4,265 arrived in my account: vakantiegeld. Vacation money. This money materializes in the bank accounts of virtually everyone in the country just before the summer holidays; you get from your employer an amount totaling 8 percent of your annual salary, which is meant to cover plane tickets, surfing lessons, tapas: vacations. And we aren’t talking about a mere “paid vacation” — this is on top of the salary you continue to receive during the weeks you’re off skydiving or snorkeling. And by law every employer is required to give a minimum of four weeks’ vacation. For that matter, even if you are unemployed you still receive a base amount of vakantiegeld from the government, the reasoning being that if you can’t go on vacation, you’ll get depressed and despondent and you’ll never get a job. Going Dutch clipped from www.nytimes.com There is another historical base to the Dutch social-welfare system, It is rooted in religion.