The financial crisis is creating so many problems for self-employed people in the Netherlands that more and more of them are requesting help from food banks.
The Dutch Food Bank agency says the incomes of many self-employed people, working without personnel, have declined so rapidly in the last few months that they don't even have money for food and drink.
The problem is, says the agency, greatest in the Randstad. This is the area in the western Netherlands consisting of the cities of Rotterdam, The Hague, Amsterdam, Utrecht and their surrounding areas. The agency says dozens of people a week are asking for help.
The agency adds that while there are still enough supplies to hand out, it is becoming increasingly harder to maintain high stocks because many food suppliers are donating less and less.
Photo of food bank sign by miek37 (flickr)
Photo by miek37 (flickr)
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The entrepreneurial segment of an economy can be and becomes highly vunerable during times of great economic stresses. The situation now facing an over demand upon food banks, may very well require a government sponsored food coupon system of rationing, so that suppliers to food banks will be encouraged to increase their contributions. What has begun as a global crisis since the Great Depression may now demand wartime measures to cope with under these circumstances.
David Berridge, the Dutch government can help these desperate people the same way they help those who are constantly on welfare. The food banks are a great way to help people and the biggest food bank is the Dutch government. If they can give away free food, a place to live, and other forms of welfare, they can surely help it's citizens who normally have jobs and are productive citizens with their needs during critical times. They don't need to go into wartime measures. They need to cut back on giving help to other nations first. The money they don't spend on other countries can feed and take care of every Dutch citizen. After they have taken care of their citizens first, they might want to help the hungry in other countries. I don't mind helping the hungry of the world but you can bet I can not help anyone else if I can't help my people first. Again, the Netherlands shouldn't have one family freezing in the cold and starving for food especailly when it has so much. This applies to the US, Canada, and any country that cares about the welfare of it's citizens.
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