Rexje | In-Depth Articles on Societal Issues

The lottery illusion: how governments turned gambling into a moral betrayal

Lotteries have long been sold as harmless entertainment, a glittering fantasy where ordinary people can win unimaginable wealth with the purchase of a simple ticket. Yet behind the smiling faces of winners and the feel-good advertising campaigns lies a mechanism of exploitation, often orchestrated not by private companies but by the very institutions tasked with protecting citizens: their governments. State-owned lotteries represent one of the most cynical contradictions in modern governance. They are marketed as a public good, funding education or healthcare, while in reality functioning as regressive taxes on the poor and a moral failure of public policy. The…

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Energy

The polluting and destructive impact of offshore wind farms

The promise of green energy is enticing: a clean future, less CO₂ emissions, and independence from fossil fuels. But behind the polished façade of so-called….

Society

“Fake news,” “propaganda,” and “misinformation”: the hollow cries of powerlessness

In recent years, public discourse has undergone a fundamental shift. Where people once clashed over ideas, they now clash over labels….

Health

The marathon problem: why humans are not designed to run 42 kilometers

Marathons have become a global symbol of perseverance, discipline, and triumph over limits. Every year millions of people push their bodies through 42.195 kilometers of….

Politics

The illusion of independence: how post-Brexit Britain thrived economically yet remains under global control

When the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in 2016, it was widely portrayed as an act of national self-destruction. Economists, politicians, and….

Society

The paradox of progressivism: how global equality movements undermine women’s rights

Progressive politics has long claimed to be the vanguard of women’s liberation. It speaks of equality, inclusivity, and freedom of identity as the hallmarks of….

The AI bubble: risk, reward, and lessons from history

Technological revolutions have always attracted both fascination and speculation. Every period of breakthrough , from railways in the 19th century to the internet in the….

Education

Universities as political factories: ideology and indoctrination in modern academia

Universities once presented themselves as sanctuaries of free thought, where debate flourished and diverse perspectives were encouraged. Over the last half-century, however, their mission has….

Profile

Christine Lagarde: convicted of corruption, left unscathed at the top

Christine Lagarde is often presented as a symbol of female power in the financial world. Yet her career tells a different story, one in which….

Technology

Why petrol cars still leave EVs behind

Over the past decade, the electric car has been presented as the ultimate solution to climate change and air pollution. Governments are investing billions in….

Taxes

The illusion of inheritance tax: why it serves only the state and the ultra-rich

Inheritance tax is presented as a tool for fairness. Politicians claim it prevents dynasties of wealth, ensures everyone contributes, and promotes equality….

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Politics

Gaza and the world: why some conflicts receive all the attention while others are forgotten

The modern world is flooded with images, numbers, and narratives of conflict. Yet what stands out is how selective global attention truly is….

Economy

The euro: a failed experiment with lasting damage

When the euro was launched at the turn of the millennium, it was hailed as a great leap toward European unity. A single currency for….

Crime

Migration and crime in Western democracies: Overrepresentation of migrants with different cultural values

In recent decades, Western Europe and North America have undergone unprecedented demographic shifts due to mass migration. Much of this migration comes from Islamic-majority countries….

Health

The real foundations of health: how hygiene, living standards, food and better healthcare diminished disease

For most of human history, disease shaped the rhythm of life. Cities were ravaged by cholera, families were torn apart by tuberculosis, and even minor….

Politics

The global myth of democracy: why no state truly deserves the label

No political concept carries more weight in the modern world than democracy. Nearly every government claims it, regardless of how power is actually organized….

Society

When diversity becomes dogma: the hidden coercion of inclusivity

For decades, “diversity” and “inclusivity” were framed as harmless ideals, associated with tolerance and fairness. The promise sounded noble: a society that accepts everyone, where….

Migration

Migrant overrepresentation in crime statistics in Western Europe

The relationship between migration and crime is one of the most researched, yet also one of the most sensitive topics in Western democracies. Politicians, academics,….

European-Union

Brussels’ flood agenda: how EU policy causes disasters while blaming the climate

The European Union likes to present itself as the guardian of nature and protector of biodiversity. Under this banner, a range of environmental policies are….

Government

Why government employees should not have the right to vote

Government employees play a central role in maintaining the structure, stability, and functioning of the state. They implement policy, enforce laws, manage budgets, regulate industries,….

Government

The civil servant state and the detoriation of freedom and democracy

In modern Western societies, the size of the government apparatus has grown exponentially over recent decades. Where governments once focused on maintaining order, collecting taxes,….

Technology

Beyond the fad: how 3D printing found its place

The idea of building objects layer by layer instead of cutting, molding, or casting them has always carried a certain futuristic appeal. In 1983, Charles….

Migration

Skewed Influx: Why an Overrepresentation of Young Men Among Asylum Seekers Threatens Stable Societies

In public discourse, asylum migration in Europe is often portrayed as a noble moral duty, a necessary response to human suffering. The media typically show….

European-Union

100 ways the EU has made life worse for Europeans

The European Union was once presented as a project of peace, cooperation, and prosperity. Advocates portrayed it as a guarantee against war, a motor for….

Business

The delivery illusion: Delivery giants like Just Eat Takeaway, Deliveroo, and Uber Eats keep losing money yet keep expanding

In theory, companies exist to make profit. Yet in the modern economy, some of the biggest names in the food delivery sector, Just Eat Takeaway,….

Migration

Overcrowded and unaffordable: how mass immigration fuels the housing crisis in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is a small country, both in geography and in the capacity of its infrastructure. Yet it has one of the fastest-growing populations in….

Health

The care cartel: how the modern care industry profits from human suffering

Across the Western world, the term “care industry” evokes warm imagery. It suggests compassion, public service, and social solidarity….

Culture

The myth of multiculturalism: why integration must come before accommodation

Multiculturalism, the idea that diverse cultures can coexist equally and harmoniously within a single society, has long been upheld as a moral virtue in liberal….

Science

The illusion of objectivity: how data and statistics are weaponized to serve ideology

In an age that prides itself on scientific rigor and evidence-based policymaking, statistics have come to embody a unique form of authority. Numbers appear clean,….

Climate

Green words, hollow core: how “sustainability” became a cult of optics

In recent decades, few words have been repeated as frequently as sustainability, green, eco-friendly, and carbon neutral. These terms have penetrated everything from corporate strategies….

Philosophy

Balance: the invisible axis of all things

Balance is a word that appears everywhere, in conversations about health, work, politics, art, nature, and morality. But what is balance, really?…

Migration

Everything free for asylum seekers, the bill paid for by citizens.

In many Western countries, asylum policy has in recent decades become one of the most controversial topics in public debate. Governments often present shelter and….

Migration

Asylum centres and their destructive impact on cities, towns, and communities

In public discourse, asylum seekers’ centres (AZCs) are often presented as symbols of compassion and international responsibility. The narrative goes that sheltering people fleeing war,….

Climate

Climate alarm or selective narrative? A critical look at the “rise” in extreme weather

From newsrooms to parliaments, a growing chorus warns that we are living through an era of environmental collapse. Headlines scream of apocalyptic heatwaves, catastrophic floods,….

Society

Outdated democracy: why Western voting systems no longer serve the people

The idea that democracy is the pinnacle of governance has remained largely unchallenged in the West. However, the current form of Western democracy is increasingly….

Migration

Immigration and its impact: mainly negative for Western societies

Migration has always shaped cultures and economies. In today’s globalized era, however, the scale, speed, and policy frameworks surrounding migration have changed the equation….

Energy

The renewable delusion: why “green” energy isn’t as clean or superior as claimed

The term renewable energy implies a kind of perpetual motion fantasy, a source of power that never runs out and causes no harm. Solar panels….

Climate

The climate creed: how environmentalism mimics religious orthodoxy

In modern societies that have largely abandoned organized religion, a vacuum of meaning has emerged. Traditional belief systems, once central to people’s understanding of the….

European-Union

The EU Illusion: How a False Union Weakens Real Nations

The European Union is a political construct without precedent. There is no other entity in the world that presents itself as both a supranational power….

Climate

How much CO₂ really affects global warming: human influence versus natural forces

The belief that carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the dominant driver of global warming has become a foundational claim in modern climate policy and public discourse….

Society

The real impact of asylum seekers: why the “small part” narrative distorts the true picture of migration

It is often repeated in political discourse and media reporting that asylum seekers form only a small fraction of total migration flows, frequently stated as….

Economy

Inflation is theft, how governments and central banks quietly rob their citizens

Inflation is often presented as a natural, even healthy part of a functioning economy. Central banks, economists, and political institutions regularly claim that a moderate….

European-Union

The questionable practices of the European Investment Bank: a shadow giant under scrutiny

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is often hailed as the EU’s financial engine for progress. It funds infrastructure, green projects, and economic cohesion programs across….

Government

The hidden cost of war, how defense contractors bleed taxpayers dry

Military spending is often justified in the name of national security and technological advancement, yet beneath that guise lies a powerful system designed to funnel….

Government

The Hidden Power of Dutch Ministries: How Top Civil Servants Undermine National Interests and Dutch Citizens

On paper, the Netherlands has a democratic system in which the government, made up of ministers, is responsible for running the country. Ministers are formally….

Psychology

The messiah complex: the rise of false saviors and the decline of individual freedom

Throughout history, individuals have claimed to possess a unique moral authority to save humanity from itself. Religious leaders, prophets, and revolutionaries alike have often portrayed….

Society

The war on cars: how mobility is sabotaged in the name of equality

The car, once a symbol of freedom, prosperity and personal autonomy, is under sustained ideological attack. Cities are banning vehicles from their centers, narrowing roads,….

Technology

Signal: The Curated Image of Privacy and The Uncomfortable Truth

Signal is widely regarded as the crown jewel of privacy messaging: open-source, non-profit, end-to-end encrypted, and free of advertising or corporate surveillance. At a time….

European-Union

The EU’s 2040 CO₂ target: a destructive crusade of control, taxation, and authoritarian hypocrisy

The European Union has once again revealed its authoritarian ambitions under the guise of environmental protection. Its latest goal, a 90% reduction in CO₂ emissions….

Politics

The decline of the Netherlands driven by consensus and compromise as core traits of Dutch officials

The Netherlands, once praised for its pragmatic governance, has increasingly become a bureaucratic stronghold where incompetence is not punished but institutionalized. Instead of selecting officials….

Economy

Invest-NL: Innovation Engine or Taxpayer Sinkhole?

Invest-NL was launched with grand promises: to turbocharge innovation, accelerate the green transition, and fill funding gaps in markets deemed “too risky” by private investors….

The Cost of AI Mega-Factories: Energy Guzzlers, Water Wasters, and Taxpayer Burdens

Beneath the dazzling surface of artificial intelligence, the chatbot interfaces, real-time translations, algorithmic medical breakthroughs, and predictive analytics powering everything from logistics to law enforcement,….

Society

The Rothschilds: Power, Money, and Myth.The Legacy of the World’s Most Controversial Family

No family in modern history has been more associated with power, wealth, and mystery than the Rothschilds. For over two centuries, this European banking dynasty….

Culture

The Netherlands: A Nation Under Pressure.

The Netherlands, once admired for its balanced welfare system and high quality of life, is becoming a state that prioritizes the needs of newcomers,migrants, expats,….

Biology

Fish Need Oxygen Too, It Is Just Different

When most people think of breathing, they picture lungs expanding and contracting, pulling air into the body. Breathing is often thought of as something that….

Culture

The illusion of expertise: how fake coaches and influencers profit from empty promises

In a digital age where algorithms reward attention over authenticity, an entire industry has emerged around the illusion of success. Self-proclaimed “coaches,” “mentors,” and “influencers”….

The paradox of progressivism: how global equality movements undermine women’s rights

The AI bubble: risk, reward, and lessons from history

Universities as political factories: ideology and indoctrination in modern academia

Christine Lagarde: convicted of corruption, left unscathed at the top

Why petrol cars still leave EVs behind

The illusion of inheritance tax: why it serves only the state and the ultra-rich

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