Reflection on Governance and Duty

The Sovereignty Goddess and Modern Governance

I have been thinking about my ongoing issues with the Dutch Government and its institutions and it made me reflect about governance in general. That in the current times in Western Society with the socio-economic and political situation as it is, politicians tend to forget that the government has the duty to protect those who are marginalised and everyone else too. This is the fundamental duty that a government has. To take care of its citizens regardless of who they are. Society has a duty to look out for each other. To protect and care for the well-being of the people.

The Sovereignty Goddess Archetype

The Sovereignty Goddess, I feel is also important here. She is an ancient archetype representing the land, its people, and the rightful order of governance. She embodies the principle that the health and prosperity of the land are intrinsically linked to the justice, integrity, and virtue of its leaders. When the rulers are just and the land is well-governed, she grants prosperity and peace. However, when the leaders fail in their duties, the land and its people suffer. So the well-being and health of a people reflect the health of the country. With that a countries duty is to serve its citizens. And thus treating ones people fairly and help them prosper is key for the stability of the realm. The inability of the government to solve issues should not just lead to them pushing that onto people, as if it is now only their responsibility or pushing things from the main government to local governments and then to its people. Who obviously can't deal with the complexity of the larger issues.

The Role of Government: Responsibility and Leadership

It is a governments responsibility to serve and lead. To work through its issues. And the confidence and trust in a government is earned by actions not by words or empty ideas. As one will know a tree by its fruits. On a deeper level despite the efforts of people, including myself to thrive, if the soil is not there for people to thrive on their own, how could they do that? People are only responsible for so much and can't be expected to solve socio-economic issues that are beyond their control. That is why there is a government. People can only do so much to take care of themselves. This can't be solved by mere handouts either, but by creating the right conditions and have the proper leadership for people to be able to thrive on their own.

Just as the land must be fertile for crops to grow, society must provide the right conditions for its citizens to prosper. Legitimate rule requires the government to serve and protect its people, failing to do so The Sovereignty Goddess withdraws her favor in a symbolic sense. Sovereignty is not merely a legal or political right but a moral obligation. The government’s failure to create the conditions for the people’s well-being reflects a breach of this sacred duty. The legitimacy of any government hinges on its ability to fulfill this duty.

Even Dutch history, leadership has often been defined by a commitment to moral and ethical principles. During the Dutch Golden Age, leaders like Prince Maurits of Nassau and statesmen such as Hugo Grotius emphasized the importance of justice, integrity, and civic responsibility, reflecting the nation's values of tolerance and ethical governance. The Dutch resistance during World War II and the nation’s role in promoting human rights, exemplified by its support for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, further underscore the importance of moral values in governance.

These historical precedents align with the symbolism of the Sovereignty Goddess, who embodies this idea that the health and prosperity of the land are intrinsically linked to the justice, integrity, and virtue of its leaders. Just as historical figures and movements have emphasized moral obligations, contemporary leaders are similarly expected to uphold these principles of our forefathers. The failure to do so, as seen by various scandals and socio-economic issues, suggests a breach of this sacred duty. Thus, the idea that sovereignty and legitimacy are tied to moral obligations remains not only relevant but is a crucial lens through which to evaluate the legitimacy of leadership. This historical context reinforces the notion that sovereignty and legitimacy are fundamentally tied to the ethical conduct of leaders, affirming that a government’s authority is validated by its adherence to justice and integrity.

Mental Health and Socio-Economic Well-being

With that comes taking care of the core issues instead of the mere symptoms of the larger issues. Meaning to foster for people an improved mental health, including teens. As we should also protect the well-fare of the youth. As they are the future, and by investing in youth welfare and mental health support we create a generation better equipped to handle psychological challenges. Thus reducing long-term societal costs and improving overall productivity and happiness.

Where we could further try to tackle consumerism and other issues like alcohol abuse through a deeper public focus on mental health (depth psychology), and try to focus on the underlying needs and repressed aspects. To create more awareness. As such a deeper emphasis on mental health and addressing underlying psychological issues could lead to significant improvements in individual well-being. By tackling issues like alcohol abuse and consumerism at their roots, this could foster a healthier society with reduced dependency on ongoing symptomatic treatments.

By addressing the root causes of mental health issues, a nation could see a decrease in healthcare costs related to mental illness and substance abuse. This could free up resources for other public needs and improve overall economic efficiency. Next to giving people more time to do creative things and generally prosper as people.

Enhancing Community Well-being and Economic Reforms

Next it is I feel important to push for a culture where communal well-being and national solidarity are reinforced. As it could foster a stronger sense of unity and collective responsibility. Which could lead to more cooperative and supportive communities, enhancing social cohesion and resilience. So we could have a more inclusive society, based on shared humanity.

Where further pushing for reforms for wages to increase, and pressuring rental organisations to use their money to build more homes would be key too. So rent can go lower. Next to encouraging more local stores and businesses by Dutch citizens. Pushing back against large corporations. To stimulate local economies, create jobs, and promote sustainable practices. To revitalize local communities and reduce economic disparities.

Reforms in Governance: Regional Representation

Also finally pushing for a reform where local governments have direct representation in the national government. Requiring each province per party to sent one person to represent the region. So all regions are more equally represented. As this could both address regional disparities and ensure that diverse local needs are considered in national decisions. Which often does not occur. So regional interests could be better represented, leading to more tailored and effective policies.

Potential Savings and Long-Term Impact

Those where just some thoughts that came to mind regarding what I would do, and how I feel about these things. As I feel that tackling these things at the root instead of doing ongoing symptom treatment or focussing on empty rhetoric, would generate results that would be much more beneficial long term. Even if it takes time to unfold. For fun I had to ChatGPT look at how much these ideas hypothetically could save the Dutch government. Even though this should be taken with a grain of salt obviously. As it is more for entertainment, than really being accurate. As reality is more complex.

While these estimates are speculative and dependent on many factors, Robin’s proposed reforms have the potential to save the Dutch government a substantial amount of money. The overall savings could be in the range of €10-15 billion annually, given the large impact on public health, social welfare, crime reduction, and administrative efficiency. The actual savings would depend on the successful implementation of the reforms and the effectiveness of each initiative in addressing the core issues.

If the reforms are upheld and the assumptions hold true, the Netherlands could be debt-free or have minimal debt within approximately 35 years.

These reflections I had emphasize the importance of tackling core issues rather than focusing solely on symptoms or empty rhetoric. By addressing fundamental problems with thoughtful, comprehensive reforms, we could see substantial long-term benefits for society. The approach outlined here suggests a vision for governance that aligns with the principles of the Sovereignty Goddess, aiming for a just, prosperous, and well-governed nation. Something I also thought about further in the video below;