{"id":54712,"date":"2026-08-24T11:40:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T09:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.turner.nl\/uncategorized\/column-by-peter-de-bruin-existential-insecurity\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T11:40:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T09:40:51","slug":"column-by-peter-de-bruin-existential-insecurity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.turner.nl\/en\/blog-en\/column-by-peter-de-bruin-existential-insecurity\/","title":{"rendered":"Column by Peter de Bruin | \u201cExistential Insecurity\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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\"Economic insecurity\"<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The economic security of the Dutch people\u2014a popular political slogan\u2014depends on the economic security of the Netherlands, argues Peter de Bruin, drawing a parallel with the recently bankrupt BCC. Which stakeholders should we choose to avoid being \u201ctoo little, too late\u201d? <\/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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BCC has gone bankrupt. It\u2019s an almost passing mention in the newspapers, but it\u2019s yet another brand disappearing from the shopping districts, according to the commentary. Nowhere did I read anything like \u201cinevitable,\u201d \u201conly a matter of time,\u201d \u201cmismanagement,\u201d \u201cpoor oversight,\u201d \u201cfailure to innovate,\u201d\u2026 or words to that effect. But of course, that\u2019s exactly what it is. Ever since digital service providers like Coolblue overtook this supplier of brown and white goods commodities, you could see the bankruptcy coming from a mile away. <\/p>

When I read this, I wonder which stakeholders have been asleep at the wheel. But it makes it very clear that job security isn\u2019t a given. You have to work for it. Innovate, for example. When things change, you have to change too. The employees are left holding the short end of the stick. Their job security is taking a serious hit. <\/p>

Economic security is all the rage in politics right now. Virtually all party platforms are adopting it as their slogan for the upcoming elections. And last Tuesday\u2019s Budget Memorandum is also full of it. Excellent\u2014I hope economic security remains a political goal for all time. Apparently, there is currently a high degree of economic insecurity; otherwise, the parties wouldn\u2019t be trying to win votes with this issue. <\/p>

Still, we must hope that this doesn\u2019t stop at this somewhat populist-sounding rhetoric. Or that the debate gets bogged down in the obvious issue of redistribution. That doesn\u2019t solve the core of the problem. Above all, we need to move forward together. The livelihoods of the Dutch people depend on the livelihood of the Netherlands itself. \u201cNo bullshit, everyone rich\u201d (*1) isn\u2019t possible all at once. BCC would have preferred not to go bankrupt either. <\/p>

At many roundtable discussions, people are calling for a long-term vision to save the Netherlands. I don\u2019t disagree with that. But there\u2019s one thing that\u2019s much more important: a cohesive team that\u2019s committed to working together over the long term\u2014a team that can explain difficult decisions without bickering over who gets one more seat in Parliament. <\/p>

That is why I advocate forming a long-term, high-quality cabinet\u2014not one made up of the best (party) politicians, but of the best (specialized) ministers. A team that works with decisiveness in the short term toward a horizon of at least two cabinet terms. A cabinet that we trust to get the job done\u2014even though, as is inherent in parliamentary democracy, there will be elections again in four years. Let me put it this way: I don\u2019t vote for the party with the so-called \u201cbest\u201d platform, but for the presidential candidate who, before the election, demonstrates which team he or she intends to use to ensure the Netherlands\u2019 economic security. <\/p>

At BCC, the management, supervisory board, and owner acted \u201ctoo little, too late\u201d to change course. Well, customers may be buying their electronics elsewhere, but as mentioned, the employees are the ones left holding the short end of the stick. Let\u2019s not let that happen to us. Choose a long-term, high-quality cabinet. Otherwise, the Netherlands will become the BCC of the future. <\/p>

If necessary, I’m willing to take charge of the team-building activity.<\/p>

*1 Jacobse and Van Es \/ Koot and Bie<\/a><\/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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