From small beginnings comes great things.
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From small beginnings comes great things.
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When I first came to the Netherlands to study for my master's degree, I went to a lecture on public health management and communication. It was about the wording of government agencies such as the Public Health Agency when they carried out health promotion and publicity to the public.
What impressed me was the content of the word "free".
Professors on stage who specialize in social and public communication keep stressing that the government must never use the word "free". Because the government is not a productive business institution, every cent of its money comes from taxes paid by its citizens. The government's services to citizens have been taxed in advance by the people, so how can it be "free"?
The words "provide" and "give" are also used by the government with care. The reason is the same as above. The government can deploy products and provide services by cooperating with enterprises or other institutions. This is not provided or given by the government itself, so such words cannot be used, but “organization”, “mobilization” and “planning” are used. such words.
for example.
In the "National Immunization Program" for immunization against epidemics, the Dutch public health department has carefully stated that this operation is "no payment". They carefully avoided the commercial word "free." Because the National Immunization Program was originally a public health program with taxpayer dollars. Everyone has paid their taxes, and it would be inappropriate for the government to say that it is "free". "No payment" is much better, indicating that in addition to the tax already paid, there is no need to pay a second time.
It is conceivable that the public health department of the Netherlands does not speak in such a way as "vaccination is provided free of charge by the state". This is illegal. If it is wrong, the government will be accused. The government's inappropriate way of doing things and public communication is the most prone government defendant case in the Netherlands.
At first, I thought it was just "words", but later I understood that the relationship of checks and balances and respect between the public power and the people is nothing more than determined by the words and ways of doing things. At the same time, isn't the etiquette and communication between people the same as grasping the proportions of communication in small places?
Conversely, when it comes to the responsibilities and obligations of the public, the Dutch government's wording and orientation of powers and responsibilities should not be overlooked.
For example, paying taxes is the concept and primary obligation of every citizen. The government has spared no effort to confirm citizens' sense of identity in all aspects, and the wording is even more precise.
Once when I was choosing a car, a light and fuel-efficient car caught my attention. The salesperson of the depot told me that because of the car's eco-friendly and lightweight performance, there is no need to pay monthly road tax, which is an advantage of buying this car. I was afraid that the salesman would fool me, so I called the Dutch vehicle and traffic tax department to check.
The phone was connected, I explained the whole story, reported the model of the car, and asked if the road tax could be waived.
The tax official's kind and calm voice came from there: "Ms. Wei, every car owner in the Netherlands has to pay road tax, which is a citizen's obligation..."
Hearing this, I thought to myself, hell, I was really deceived by that salesman.
The tax official's voice continued to come steadily: "The car you just mentioned needs to pay road tax, and the monthly road tax payment is 0."
When I first came to the Netherlands to study for my master's degree, I went to a lecture on public health management and communication. It was about the wording of government agencies such as the Public Health Agency when they carried out health promotion and publicity to the public.
What impressed me was the content of the word "free".
Professors on stage who specialize in social and public communication keep stressing that the government must never use the word "free". Because the government is not a productive business institution, every cent of its money comes from taxes paid by its citizens. The government's services to citizens have been taxed in advance by the people, so how can it be "free"?
The words "provide" and "give" are also used by the government with care. The reason is the same as above. The government can deploy products and provide services by cooperating with enterprises or other institutions. This is not provided or given by the government itself, so such words cannot be used, but “organization”, “mobilization” and “planning” are used. such words.
for example.
In the "National Immunization Program" for immunization against epidemics, the Dutch public health department has carefully stated that this operation is "no payment". They carefully avoided the commercial word "free." Because the National Immunization Program was originally a public health program with taxpayer dollars. Everyone has paid their taxes, and it would be inappropriate for the government to say that it is "free". "No payment" is much better, indicating that in addition to the tax already paid, there is no need to pay a second time.
It is conceivable that the public health department of the Netherlands does not speak in such a way as "vaccination is provided free of charge by the state". This is illegal. If it is wrong, the government will be accused. The government's inappropriate way of doing things and public communication is the most prone government defendant case in the Netherlands.
At first, I thought it was just "words", but later I understood that the relationship of checks and balances and respect between the public power and the people is nothing more than determined by the words and ways of doing things. At the same time, isn't the etiquette and communication between people the same as grasping the proportions of communication in small places?
Conversely, when it comes to the responsibilities and obligations of the public, the Dutch government's wording and orientation of powers and responsibilities should not be overlooked.
For example, paying taxes is the concept and primary obligation of every citizen. The government has spared no effort to confirm citizens' sense of identity in all aspects, and the wording is even more precise.
Once when I was choosing a car, a light and fuel-efficient car caught my attention. The salesperson of the depot told me that because of the car's eco-friendly and lightweight performance, there is no need to pay monthly road tax, which is an advantage of buying this car. I was afraid that the salesman would fool me, so I called the Dutch vehicle and traffic tax department to check.
The phone was connected, I explained the whole story, reported the model of the car, and asked if the road tax could be waived.
The tax official's kind and calm voice came from there: "Ms. Wei, every car owner in the Netherlands has to pay road tax, which is a citizen's obligation..."
Hearing this, I thought to myself, hell, I was really deceived by that salesman.
The tax official's voice continued to come steadily: "The car you just mentioned needs to pay road tax, and the monthly road tax payment is 0."
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