The political program of the desirable future
The 41st Amsterdam Alternative newspaper is a special edition, related to the Amsterdam municipal elections of Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Please note that this is not a voting guide, because in this special we pay no attention to the programs of the existing political parties. Rather see it as a first step towards the political program of Amsterdam Alternative. A pilot project, because we are not (yet) a political party, so unfortunately you can not (yet) vote for Amsterdam Alternative. This paper is an inspiration document in which we write/think/philosophize about a desirable future for everyone, and maybe even a harbinger of something we will work on in the coming years.
The failed ‘new spring’
For the past four years we have lived in the Amsterdam of the supposedly most leftist and progressive coalition ever. Together with D66, SP and PVDA, GroenLinks forged beautiful plans and in 2018 presented a coalition agreement called ‘A new spring, a new sound,’ which many called ‘unmistakably progressive.’ Because of the promising words about equality of opportunity, participating without debt, care, inclusiveness, safety, sustainability, balance, innovation, democratization and the invaluable value of art, expectations were high. Amsterdam would finally become a just city for all.
But unfortunately it didn’t work out that way. Little has come of all those beautiful progressive intentions: The ADM terrain was evicted. Lutkemeer evicted and almost destroyed.Blackstone took over part of our housing market. Part of our social housing was demolished or sold. Less green in Amsterdam. More milionairs and poverty. More hotels. Less grip on the housing makter where more grip was promised. Investors bought houses and turned them into expensive rental houses. Social rent for social projects was promised but not realized. It looked as if a large number of community centers and libraries might be closed. Our waste disposal facility has been sold to a Chinese multinational. The money supply for incubators has been largely turned off. The triangle of the mayor, chief of police and public prosecutor is acting disproportionately hard against squatters, although no evictions would be implemented if this would lead to vacancy. And so on...
Belief in the future
In this newspaper you will find a series of articles on the ‘big’ issues, the hot topics. In all articles we evaluate the current situation and at the same time look at the desirable future. No pessimistic stories about a dark future in which the rich trample the poor even more, but a future with hope. For young and old, but also for future generations. A future based on freedom, equality, balance with nature, diversity, solidarity, respect and above all the belief that change is possible. At the moment our belief in the future is stuck. We no longer seem convinced that we can detach ourselves from the powerful, rotten system that forces us to believe in the workings of the market, in the lies of our representatives, in the salvation of technology, in the importance of consuming, in the value of gold and crypto, and in many other nonsensical things. We adhere to these things because we have to, but deep down we feel that it is not right. Let’s regard this paper as the end point of the belief in the money and consumption driven society, and as the starting point of the belief in a desirable future.
Movement
Amsterdam Alternative was founded in 2015 as a collective project of a number of free spaces in Amsterdam. At first it was a small group that would support each other through exchange of knowledge and experience, later on a bi-monthly free newspaper was established, discussion evenings were organized, and the initiative was taken to create Vrij Beton and the AA Academy. We are always moving forward and getting bigger. Growth has never been a goal in itself, but it happens because many (especially young) people believe in our vision, and we are very glad to see that.
Amsterdam Alternative is – as some people mistakenly think – not only about free spaces and squatting, but also about the climate, housing, inclusion, art, economy and other important issues. Amsterdam Alternative is not only about sending information, but also about discussing, listening, learning, experimenting, taking action and working together. We promote doing (hands on), because doing creates movement and movement creates change. In that sense, you could say that Amsterdam Alternative is a movement that encourages movement. To strengthen these movements we want to expand. We want a number of permanent spaces in the city, collective premises from which we can work, a space for weekly independent discussion evenings and other public functions. But also an expanded Academy, expansion of our media channels, an emergency fund to provide assistance, an activism department and maybe eventually a political party as well.
Debt and culpability
For inspiration, I’ve been looking at the political programs of various parties this past week, both at the national and municipal level. Whole tomes full of fancy words, action points and promises, which are probably read by less than 5% of the population. All of them bulge with the prospects of a safe, healthy and prosperous future. And all of them are firmly convinced of their own righteousness. In most cases the programs have been elaborated to the smallest detail in order to please every potential voter in one way or another. Politicians know full well that people ultimately choose the party that is best for them. People do not choose out of idealism for a better world, but with an eye on their wallet and out of fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of sharing, fear of giving in, fear of losing purchasing power, and so on. And where there is fear, the one who could be accused for that fear is hunted down. It is easy to point the finger, because then you can blame problems on someone else. But that is where we go wrong. Everyone is to blame, politicians, businesses and voters alike. It would be quite a step if we could all recognize and acknowledge this. But in the end, it’s not about who is guilty, it’s about how we can solve problems together. Responsibilty! We should perhaps even remove the concepts of guilt and blame from the political debate, because they stand in the way of a constructive conversation, and are at the root of much misery in society.
We are allowed to make mistakes. As long as our intentions are pure, and in the service of the right goal.
An ode to doubt
Our political system is set up in such a way that we go to the polls every four years. From a democratic point of view this is of course very nice, but the consequence of this system is that it gets in the way of long-term thinking, and that politicians start functioning and thinking in cycles of four years, scoring points in order to be re-elected. As far as we are concerned, the focus on the long term is essential, not quick successes but really good results. And this is why we are trying to develop a collective strength that can eventually get even the most entrenched systems moving. With the emphasis on the collective, because in our view it’s all about working together, listening to each other and being on top together.
Part of having and developing a long-term vision is recognizing that we don’t know all the answers. No one holds the truth. Even the intellectual wise guys who think they are very smart don’t know everything. Thinking you know something is very different from really knowing something or doing something, motivated by financial motives, the lobby of multinationals or your own ego. Come out for your ignorance, it is not a problem. We are allowed to hesitate between different options. We are allowed to make mistakes. As long as our intentions are pure, and in the service of the right goal. In political programs there is no place for doubt, because doubt is associated with weakness. But doubt is also a strength, especially if you dare to adjust, dare to make changes if something is not working. Precisely for this reason, we will not make any promises in our pilot program, we will not formulate any specific action points and we will not provide irrefutable evidence. Amsterdam Alternative embraces the power called doubt.
It is beyond doubt that a world based on the pursuit of infinite growth, abundant consumption, infinite energy use, profitability thinking, and the deliberate drive for conflict and division is unsustainable. It doesn’t work, because that’s how we strip the world of passion, love, and intuition. We break with our nature and the natural world. So-called playing it safe is useless. We cannot and should not stand still while the world moves. No nostalgia, no going back to the old normal, but moving on, changing, adapting ourselves, scraping, trying new things, reinventing the wheel, and at the same time listening to our hearts and putting first what is really important.
Joint work of art
As you will see in this paper, this is not a traditional political program. No bullit points, no promises and no action points. Rather, it is a painting. A joint work of art, in which we try to paint a picture of the future. Not the one and only truth, but an impetus for movement. To get away from traditional politics, the culture of compromise, the profit motive and the tradition of weak excuses for unfulfilled promises. A collective work of art is not a compromise, but a work that has come about by combining different forces and talents. A collective force, a collective imagination. Something new that could never have been made by one individual. Surprising, because it may unite multiple opinions and viewpoints, fuse multiple truths. Maybe we should approach our future as a collective work of art. Living from passion and feeling, thinking from equality and balance with nature. Moving away from the business approach. Life is not a business, but an adventure.
Join us
A lot of ambitious plans. Probably completely unrealistic in the eyes of some, but that doesn’t stop us believing in it. We stand tall and move forward. No rush, our focus is on the long term.
To continue thinking, building and moving forward we can use everyone’s input and energy. The movement, the collective power cannot exist without motivated people, so therefore herewith a call to everyone who feels attracted to our thoughts. Join Amsterdam Alternative! We are looking for writers, thinkers, photographers, politicians, freethinkers, real estate agents, architects, foresters, inventors, psychonauts, artists, farmers, musicians, drivers, bankers, lab technicians, data analysts, potters, pilots, osteopaths, brewers, builders and other friends.
Sign up as a member of the society.