Dutch govt close to collapse as cuts talks fail (Lessons for U.S.?)

[No Elephants]

Apr 23, 6:44 AM EDT

Dutch govt close to collapse as cuts talks fail

By MIKE CORDER and TOBY STERLING
Associated Press

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- The Dutch government was close to collapse on Monday, with the prime minister widely expected to resign after top-level talks on an austerity package failed.

The Dutch Cabinet gathered to discuss what to do after Geert Wilders and his Freedom Party, the government's main ally in parliament, walked out of the talks designed to meet European Union budget deficit rules.

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Although the Netherlands has relatively low levels of national debt, its economy is in recession and it is expected to post a deficit of 4.6 percent in 2012 - well over the 3 percent mandated by European rules.

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The package Rutte had been negotiating with Wilders would have slashed foreign aid and hastened a phased increase in the retirement age to 66 from 65. Wilders said he ultimately could not support the package due to provisions for state pension cuts.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_NETHERLANDS_POLITICS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-04-23-06-44-24

Apparently, among industrialized nations, only in the U.S. is the pattern of cut after cut to the 99%greeted with either apathy or with "Thank you, sir. May I have another?"

And I am not sure which of those two responses is worse.