CALL TO ACTION TO THE NEW MINORITY GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION:
WORK TOGETHER
Translated into words to tackle the biggest problems of our time, this means the following programme points:
- UBI (unconditional basic income): security for everyone
A welcome tool to integrate into our society and that of the whole world, to keep our societies afloat and simplify them.
The simplicity of the UBI, understandable to everyone: no complicated rules or conditions; no more allowance scandals, a weapon against AI!
Just a bank account number, a name, accepted residency in a country, and the basic income is deposited into the account every month, just as the state pension and child benefit are deposited into our accounts in our country today.
Tax is paid on income above the basic income. Individuals with higher incomes and greater wealth contribute more, just as profit tax for larger companies/industries will help. This also serves to limit and keep the growing gap between rich and poor “healthy” and to refine dominant capitalism.
With the basic income, groups of employees in our public services (such as DUO, the UWV, social services) will have more scope to make their work more customer-friendly, as the Wageningen Social Services experiment shows.
The OBI encourages citizens to take up the challenge of self-employment, to look for other work, paid or unpaid, such as informal care and voluntary work.
Take note of the proposal for monthly net basic incomes adopted by the members’ meeting of the Basic Income Association on 14 September.
The financing of the introduction of basic income in our country is also on their website (search under “Basic Income Newsletter February 2026” for the amount and financing of basic income). - Solidarity, national and international connection.Resistance to hostility, war rhetoric and escalation politics. A modest, well-trained and equipped defence force stands by, just as the police watch over our citizens within the nation, the GGD, the fire brigade and 24/7 first aid from hospitals.Internationally, we value organisations such as the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, NATO, the Red Cross, healthcare programmes and development aid “at the appropriate level”.
- Care for the preservation of the environment, our natural surroundings: nature, the sea, the forest, the polder, and to that end, the continuation and completion of the energy transition and the reduction of our footprint on the earth, of CO₂ emissions, PFAS, soil and water pollution.
- A roof over everyone’s head: more housing construction by associations/cooperatives. Fairer distribution of housing and sufficient supply, type, rent and ownership.
- With regard to the perceived need to strengthen our democracy, Eva Rovers’ plea helps: “Why we cannot leave politics to politicians alone”. A booklet about local and national permanent citizens’ assemblies, a kind of third chamber with citizens chosen at random by lottery, who express their views on political matters and whom the government and parliament must listen to, consider what to do with their views and be accountable to the citizens’ assembly for their decisions.
- Education, from nursery school to scientific research. Advocates the need for broad development opportunities and lifelong learning, safe schools, facilitating smaller classes and embedding the principles of the Peaceful School. We connect youth centres with schools before and after school hours.
- Healthcare/debt counselling/prevention: tailored care, without hassle, local neighbourhood nursing teams. Inclusive, appropriately designed public spaces for people with disabilities and promoting more prevention, education for the elderly and other groups regarding exercise, use of social media, AI and digitisation.
Final remark in response to the morning newspaper Trouw, 8 February this year, Religion & Philosophy section.
The new cabinet wants to invest 19 billion in defence, in line with the new NATO standard.
The army is growing like never before. Why is no one protesting? We continue to fall into the trap of believing that we can build peace through violent means.
Tutu van Furth: ‘As far as I’m concerned, the only thing we ever achieve by spending money on weapons is that our prosperity declines.’
Ajouaou: ‘For me, as a theologian and citizen, the question is whether we are dealing with normal, legitimate armament, or whether there is more to it than that.’
‘Nevertheless, I tend to view the current intentions of the cabinet as over-armament. It is not clear what all the extra money is for, how long we will continue to invest and, above all, under what circumstances we will stop.’
‘Are we going to remain in a permanent state of war? Arms manufacturers are going to have a field day, because the people want to feel safe. Who will ultimately pay the price, and who will profit?’
Eric Binsbergen
8 January 2026
CALL TO VOTE FOR PARTIES IN THE LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON WEDNESDAY
THAT HAVE BASIC INCOME PROMINENTLY FEATURED IN THEIR PROGRAMMES