{"id":54463,"date":"2026-08-22T17:27:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T15:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.turner.nl\/uncategorized\/vote-for-character\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T17:27:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T15:27:18","slug":"vote-for-character","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.turner.nl\/en\/blog-en\/vote-for-character\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cVote for character\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Column by Peter de Bruin<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cVote for Character\u201d<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Peter de Bruin points out a growing imbalance between a majority that looks out only for itself and a minority that takes on responsibility beyond that. He wonders: Can you blame politicians and institutions if you don\u2019t get involved yourself? His plea: Bridge the gap by CHOOSING: yes! Vote for character! <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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What is our biggest problem: climate change, emigration, poverty, social isolation, food, safety, or health? A relevant question on election day. Or is our biggest problem that we have so many problems? That we don\u2019t know where to start. Neither, it seems to me. Our biggest problem is that we don\u2019t experience these problems. They\u2019re there, but we don\u2019t feel them. You only raise the dikes once you get wet feet. No one denies any of the problems mentioned above; there are more people struggling with obesity, social isolation, relying on food banks, or sleeping rough in Ter Apel than ever before, but overall, we\u2019re doing well. We\u2019re spoiled. <\/p>

Today\u2019s European elections will see a low voter turnout. People say it\u2019s not a hot topic. What isn\u2019t a hot topic? Not Europe, not politics\u2014or have we lost interest in ourselves as a community? My argument is the latter. Deep down, many people simply don\u2019t care at all. They\u2019re focused on themselves, on consumerism. As long as \u201cI\u201d am doing well. You hear a lot of complaining, and politicians are dismissed as an elite or as institutions that don\u2019t want to listen to citizens, but today the majority of us aren\u2019t even bothering to walk to the polls. So who is causing this disconnect? Was politics really that much closer or better in the past? I don\u2019t think so. On average, we simply have fewer immediate concerns to worry about. To generalize: this group doesn\u2019t vote or participate and acts like a spoiled victim. <\/p>

At the same time, there are many people who are dedicated to a cause. Community nurses, leaders with a mission, entrepreneurs, start-ups, teachers, \u2026 and many politicians as well. They go above and beyond, are always there, and you can completely rely on them. They have character and want the best for everyone. Except when it comes to themselves. They\u2019re \u201con\u201d 24\/7, always available, always ready to listen, offering well-meaning advice, and rolling up their sleeves to get the job done. They see the work that needs to be done\u2014and tackle it head-on. They\u2019re not afraid of anything. All at the expense of their own health; \u201cresting is for wimps.\u201d It\u2019s not uncommon for a serious loss or accident to finally bring these people back to reality\u2014that\u2019s how fiercely they pursue their ideal: others. Of course these people go out to vote\u2014first thing in the morning or just before the polls close. To generalize further: these people of character get involved and take on a responsibility greater than themselves.<\/p>

So while a complaining majority is primarily concerned with self-preservation, a principled minority is willing to lose itself. And the balance between the two is getting worse. Of course, neither of these generalizations is entirely accurate, but what I increasingly miss in the Netherlands is the character of the second group. There\u2019s plenty to truly worry about, including\u2014or perhaps especially\u2014through the political channels designed for that purpose. That\u2019s why I\u2019m offering some voting advice today: get involved. Take ourselves seriously! Only by voting can you hold politicians accountable for their responsibilities. CHOOSE in favor! That\u2019s a great first step toward solving our problems. If necessary, choose based on character. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Meet the Author<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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