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Interesting update. I have to say I detest this new 'Socialist' PM. Although I found his reverse-Atlee quote quite amusing - Atless once said he liked the sense of community and good morals that religion brought but he could never accept all the 'mumbo-jumbo'.

Am I right in asuming that the Liberals won the election and then you placed the SDP in power in order to finally industrialise the Netherlands?

Good luck against Spain, thus is a good chance to test Dutch military might out against a significant opponent and an even better chance to expand your Empire. So what will it be? Cuba or the Phillippines?
 
Was Socialized medicine kicking around in 1871? How would that be implementedin this period? Make doctors state employees with a system of public hospitals?

(This is not disapproval merely curiousity, as an American living in Taiwan, I love the National Health Insurance. No waiting lists, privately practicing doctors, a copay of 3$ US, premium of 15$, doctors with good English and smart cards with all my medical information. I'm surprised more chronic disease patients don't come here. Teaching English is an available job and the money you save on health insurance pays for the plane ticket in two months. )
 
aldriq (1): What is this, Tsarist Russia? :)

aldriq (2): No unfortunately. I guess our success against Spain kept militancy low enough for Liberals and Conservatives to decide not to back them. As of 1876 The only reform enacted by The Netherlands is "Only Landed" in voting franchise.

Communitarian: Didn't you already mention in Kaltorak's AAR that you were planning on giving Abu Dhabi a go?

Enewald: You'll be glad to know that your fellow baby-eaters were crushed in a glorious victory for the efficient non-baby killing machine that is the Dutch Army. ;)

Timmie (1): Yes, you guys use a form of direct PR which doesn't involve constituencies, right? Does that mean that there is no such thing as a local Member of Parliament in The Netherlands?

Timmie (2): Liberals in coalition with Conservatives?! Heresy! As for the SDP, I'll explain why that won't happen a little later...

Tommy (1): Yes, that is a Clement Atlee reference! I thought it was a good way of illustrating how Dekker felt about Socialism, after all they didn't have (modern) Social Democrats back then.

Tommy (2): Not quite, due to the unfair electoral system of The Netherlands circa 1867 the Liberales are virtually incapable of winning an election on their own. When I paused the game back in October, the Royalists (Conservativen for those of you playing at home) were still in power, I got sick of them and their interventionism so I put the SDP in charge, so you're half right. :)

Tommy (3): You'll have to wait and see...

Porkman (1): Notice how I said first European country? Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe several non-European countries (such as Imperial China, Persia and Tokugawa Japan) had a welfare system where the state would provide money to the poor to buy medicine, similar to Australia's Medicare system (where the government partially covers the cost of prescription medicines).

They way I'd envision Dekker's health reforms would be to start with something like Medicare, with maybe a quarter or half the cost of all medicines subsidised (Trinket Health), leading to a better subsidised system, maybe 75% of medicine costs and care (Low Health), leading to partially-nationalised hospitals providing mostly free care like the British National Health Services (Acceptable Health) and finally a fully-nationalised Health sector providing free services to all citizens (Good Health).

Oh and BTW Luxembourg, Denmark, Belgium and the UK all start with some form of Healthcare in Vicky II, why they (and especially Britain) starts with it I'm not quite sure.

Porkman (2): Ah, I see the DPP are in power again. There is no way the party which bravely fought against both the Japanese and the Socialists would elect a leader who would put such a brazenly Japanese and Socialist scheme into place...
 
Yes indeed, we have direct representation in the town councils, provincial counsils and ''the House of Commons'' (at least the Dutch version: de Tweede Kamer). We have local members in the Tweede Kamer, but North and South Holland and Utrecht are over represented in the Tweede Kamer (they have a lot of inhabitants, those provinces, but above the ratio).

And for Conservatives and Liberals, look at our current coalition of VVD (liberal) CDA (centre right / conservative) and PVV (conservative/reactionary/centre right) :D

But some social improvement, game wise, is that useful in any way?
 
Yes indeed, we have direct representation in the town councils, provincial counsils and ''the House of Commons'' (at least the Dutch version: de Tweede Kamer). We have local members in the Tweede Kamer, but North and South Holland and Utrecht are over represented in the Tweede Kamer (they have a lot of inhabitants, those provinces, but above the ratio).
That makes sense though, after all Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht are the largest cities in The Netherlands, right?

And for Conservatives and Liberals, look at our current coalition of VVD (liberal) CDA (centre right / conservative) and PVV (conservative/reactionary/centre right) :D
This is back in the good old days when parties defended their philosophies to the death, Liberals were Left and Conservatives Right, none of this Centre-this, Centre-that like we have these days. The contemporary VVD don't seem to have that much in common with the Liberale Unie, and would probably feel more at home with the CDA. Likewise, the CDA probably have more in common with the VVD then their Anti-Revolutionary Partij forebears. Wilders and the PVV however would feel right at home in the 19th Century, in fact he'd probably be more than happy living in the 11th during the Crusades...

But some social improvement, game wise, is that useful in any way?
Yes, especially healthcare. Healthcare increases population growth, for every one million Dutch people we gain an extra National Focus point which are used for colonisation as well as "encouraging" POP types like craftsmen (you can't directly promote POPs like in Vicky I). This is why I couldn't colonise Borneo and Papua in one go, because I didn't have enough NF points.

The other social reforms aren't as useful, enacting them is only good or lowering militancy.
 
I love this AAR. :D
 
Tanzhang (譚張): ...Dekker and Thorbecke: An Unholy Alliance .. Dekker used excuse after excuse to delay enacting the Liberale's electoral reforms...

pure genius ! ! :D

magnificent update ! !
:cool:
 
They are indeed the largest cities, but if you look at overall population, the province of Gelderland had only one or two ''representatives'' that came from that region while they deserved more based on population figures, so those things are still a problem. This is clearly seen in infrastructural issues. They still fight over a 2nd bridge near Nijmegen (next to A50) + the extending of the A15. These issues are like 40 years old. The money is half of what is used in projects in the West with the A5 etc. but they still fight about the money. And yes, it is worthwile to invest in those regions...

but back to topic :D, healthcare is really the only one you want to reform. What about more expansion in Africa or Asia?
 
They are indeed the largest cities, but if you look at overall population, the province of Gelderland had only one or two ''representatives'' that came from that region while they deserved more based on population figures, so those things are still a problem. This is clearly seen in infrastructural issues. They still fight over a 2nd bridge near Nijmegen (next to A50) + the extending of the A15. These issues are like 40 years old. The money is half of what is used in projects in the West with the A5 etc. but they still fight about the money. And yes, it is worthwile to invest in those regions...
Don't worry, In this timeline The Netherlands has some of the best infrastructure in the world! The Netherlands and France are the only countries to adopt Level 2 Railways and to cover their entire country (and much of their colonial holdings) with them. In 1878 (where I've paused the game) The Netherlands is in the process of upgrading to level 3, trying desperately to catch up with the world's most scientifically advanced nation and world leader in rail technology, Hannover.

but back to topic :D, healthcare is really the only one you want to reform. What about more expansion in Africa or Asia?

Well, It's going slower than I'd like due to the war with Spain (garrisoning provinces which you are colonising quadruples colonisation speed, obviously the troops needed for that will be fighting the Spanish). But I can assure you that colonial efforts are continuing in both Asia and Africa, albeit slowly.

Dear readers, I can't tall you when the next update will be completed, but I can tell you I'm working on it. It may take some time, I'm sorry if it does so.
 
Well, haven't read this in a while. But the politics are looking good. and i saw something pretty important before


Gratz with the win in the AAR contest!
 
Congratz on the contest, Tanzhang!

Also, I think that the Philippines should be granted its independence after the war w/ Spain is won.
 
This.

This was the best chapter ever.

All right, so I'll probably just burble unintelligibly if I don't restrain myself, so - first thoughts are that Dekkar's leap to Socialism makes me both want to go 'called it' and squeal in semi-childish glee. Mind, it's still a very tame socialism as opposed to the radicalism the SPD poses, but it should prove an excellent tool during these crisis years. Multa tuli looks incredible. It's title is a reference to Dekkar's penname, right? Also, the play itself reminds me of someone... Bertolt Brecht, maybe? Or is it something straight from your brain? Either way, I'd see it in a heartbeat. Also, would be up for hearing more about Dekkar's stay in Frederikstad at some point- just because the Formosan sections always grab me.

This deadlock, though? Nothing good can come of it. My bet is that it all descends into fisticuffs!

Tanzhang - That's one of the possibilities! ;) I'm all aglow with the possibilities, although truth be told I probably'll end up starting several games beforehand to get a feel how the various options at stake play - I'd hate to start the 'very quick failAAR by Communitarian!'.

Actually, scratch that, that sounds rather hilarious, heh. :)

Also - hearing that the Netherlands has good infrastructure warms the bottom of my heart. When the end of game rolls around, I'm fully expecting public transport and a cars-optional society that has a detailed network of trains, buses, and trolleys. :D Infrastructure brings happiness.
 
Tanzhang - That's one of the possibilities! ;) I'm all aglow with the possibilities, although truth be told I probably'll end up starting several games beforehand to get a feel how the various options at stake play - I'd hate to start the 'very quick failAAR by Communitarian!'.

Actually, scratch that, that sounds rather hilarious, heh. :)

I'd read it. :p
 
Tanzhang (譚張): ...Thank you! It took quite a while to figure out and write so I'm glad you think it's magnificent :)

it was easily apparent that considerable effort went into that update ! ! :cool:
 
Hello Readers! Firstly I'd like to wish you all a happy, safe and prosperous 2011 and to say thank you for your dedication, patience and most of all, your comments during this rather long interlude between updates. I apologise for taking so long with this one, but due to personal reasons writing was the last thing on my mind these past two weeks not to mention Christmas and New Years celebrations taking up the rest of my spare time.

I'm just about finished with the next chapter (about 60% done) so it should be up by tomorrow fingers crossed. In addition to featuring the long awaited liberation of Spain the next chapter features a little section on King Frederik's two young princes, each playing a role in the aforementioned war. With all the focus given to the Prime Minister and elections in recent chapters I felt it was time to return to writing about the monarchy. I'll also write a little about the Home Front and what happens to Spain and Hedjaz after the war, including the closest I'll ever get to acceding to hoi2geek's incessant nationalist demands (No, not independence for the Philippines).

Bonecracker: Thank you.

HoI2geek: Thank you. That's actually one nation I may actually consider considering to release (yes, that's considering to consider :)) sometime during the game's timeline (ie. 1900 at the earliest). For the time being the Philippines will stay a Dutch colony however and unlike real life, they just may grow accustomed to colonial rule.

Mr. Sometimes: That outcome is far more likely. :)

Communitarian (1): Turning Dekker into a crusader for social justice was a very easy piece of characterisation as he sort of was one historically. Having a 19th Century socialist party come to power in an electorate composed entirely of aristocrats and capitalists however, was quite a stretch. The only remotely plausible solution was to have Dekker rewrite the history of Social Democracy.

Another problem is that The Netherlands didn't have (m)any prominent socialists during the 19th Century and of the few (Niewenheis, who Tommy used in his AAR) they did have, they weren't aristocrats and thus couldn't sit in King Frederik's Ridderkamer.

Communitarian (2): Yes, Multa tuli is a reference to Dekker's real life pen name. The play was inspired by Sean O'Casey's Dublin Trilogy. Unfortunately I don't think Dekker will be returning to Formosa anytime soon.

Seek75: Yet your stance on whether or not you'd read my AAR is suspiciously absent...

GhostWriter: Thank you, it certainly did.
 
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