Ideology
The party's main issue was the increasing government interference and the institutionalization of farming. Yet it was more than single issue agrarian interest party. It saw itself as a conservative party which championed political and economic freedom in general, on basis of national and Christian values. It had a strong populist, anti-establishment appeal. Although some members had been active with fascist or national socialist organizations before 1945 the party rejected racism and fascism.
The party had strong nationalist message: the party was in favour of the Dutch monarchy, opposed European integration, wanted a strong defense, and believed that law and order should be maintained.
On economic matters the party was very conservative. It wanted to protect private property and encourage private initiative. It sought to reduce government influence on the economy and taxation. It felt that the welfare state should be reduced to a minimum, agricultural subsidies should be cut, and that the agricultural sector would be able to support itself if the government interfered less.
Read more about this topic: Farmers' Party (Netherlands)
Famous quotes containing the word ideology:
“Commerce is greedy. Ideology is bloodthirsty.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
“We must conclude that it is not only a particular political ideology that has failed, but the idea that men and women could ever define themselves in terms that exclude their spiritual needs.”
—Salman Rushdie (b. 1948)
“Every sign is subject to the criteria of ideological evaluation.... The domain of ideology coincides with the domain of signs. They equate with one another. Wherever a sign is present, ideology is present, too. Everything ideological possesses semiotic value.”
—V.N. (Valintin Nikolaevic)