"We are here for the Netherlands, we are here for the people"

In my previous posts, I discussed the potential for counter-jihad movements in Canada. I later expanded the subject to discuss how grass roots efforts that deal with Muslims' increasing power could be channeled into a broader political spectrum.

Geert Wilders is the quintessential leader of grass roots sentiments, who is also the leader of his political party, the PVV, in the Netherlands. Below are excerpts from his speech in Almere, one of the municipalities his party is predicted to win when elections are held this week, after the recent fall of the Dutch government. The English translation is provided by Gates of Vienna.

The Party for Freedom (PVV) has a breakpoint for negotiations for a Cabinet. We say: it is good to talk with us. We are here for the Netherlands, we are here for the people...

People, you know the PVV to be a caring party. We see that the backbone of the Netherlands is formed by the teacher, the nurse, and the policeman. All people who ensure that the Netherlands will be able to keep going.

In recent months, Raymond de Roon [PVV's justice spokesman in Parliament] has been meeting with quite a lot of people in this city. And those citizens over and over told our candidates: provide lower taxes for us; bring down those burdens! What they earn themselves, they also want to keep themselves. And thus the PVV is also setting to work on that right here in Almere: lowering the property tax, cutting the parking fees in half, and throwing out the sewage and waste disposal tax...

The Party for Freedom has been pursuing a marvelous campaign in recent weeks...Look, that is true PVV policy. Not counting policy reports, but helping citizens...

And I still have other good news for you. I heard from our party leaders in Almere and the Hague [the other city where the PVV joins the municipal elections], Raymond de Roon and Sietse Fritsma, what the main effort will be for the [coalition] negotiations in Almere and the Hague after March 3 [the municipal elections]: That will be a ban on headscarves in municipal bodies and all other institutions, foundations, or associations, if they receive even one penny of subsidy from the municipality.

Dear people, we here in Almere will go against the flow for a great result on Wednesday [the municipal elections]. I am convinced that not only in the Netherlands, but also in Europe, many will be watching the PVV. You can make the difference. You can let this be known to the entire Netherlands on Wednesday: Almere chooses the PVV. Almere chooses for the future.

And you then will also do something else. With a resounding victory, you will lay the basis for the success of the PVV in the general election — when on June 9 hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions of people throughout the Netherlands will vote for the Party for Freedom.

From his sequestered life, shielded by body guards, Wilders is able to speak to the grass roots of Dutch society, securing votes and a new way of dealing with the crippling politics that has resulted in an erosion of his country.

This is how grass roots movements should work.