What sequence of events could have led to such a thing?
Well, to start, Maastricht mayor Gerd Leers first recorded a song of his own (mp3) with a well-known regional punk band to emphasize his case for the regulation of marijuana growth and distribution; in Leers' opinion, Holland's drug policy is inconsistent and in fact harmful to his town, visited by an estimated 1.5 million "drug tourists" annually, mainly from neighbouring Belgium and Germany.
His point being: while possession (in small amounts) and retail of marijuana are famously "forbidden but not penalized" in the Netherlands, cultivation and wholesale are still illegal. This means that the sort-of-legal weed retailers still have to deal with illegal, in fact criminal, suppliers: the stuff has to come from somewhere.
Leers would like to see this process regulated by government, as the current discrepancy in policy, in Leers' view, causes a disproportionate strain on Maastricht's police forces, who by law have to crack down on growers/wholesalers regularly.
Donner disagrees, and takes to the mic to voice his pursuit of a more repressive drug policy. The kicker? Mayor Leers and minister Donner are members of the same political party. Of course.
By the way: Leers blogs, and Donner podcasts. (both in Dutch)
Since there are more literal translations of the words to both songs out there already, here's my attempt at a more interpretative (but still quick & dirty) translation:
Mayor Gerd Leers & De Heideroosjes - "Dat is toch dope man"
DE HEIDEROOSJES:
The government says: "you can't smoke weed, but we won't take you to task" Shops can sell it, but where it comes from - don't ask! You can smoke it, but cultivation is prohibited I think that's strange - how can something that doesn't exist be legally distributed?
CHORUS: Man, isn't it dope? That you can just light up a joint As long as the grower remains unseen Wee-duh-wee-duh-wee-duh-weed
So now, don't be such a hypocrite Half-assed tolerance won't solve anything Would that I ruled things 'Cause this uptight policy just stinks
It shouldn't come as a surprise That alcohol is a hard drug in many people's eyes It's been legal since day and age, hasn't it? So why go ballistic over CAN-NA-BIS!
This policy rewards the criminal alone I haven't got a degree in this, but this policy I call stoned!
CHORUS
MAYOR GERD LEERS:
My name is Gerd Leers, Maastricht mayor; my creed Is to get get more kiddos off the weed Eight thousand kilos coming in each year More than a million come to obtain it here
Illegal growers we cannot control Repression is no option, no law can meet that goal
I say: regulate, and pass legislation To cut down on costs inessential to this nation
Then police and growers won't have to play catch And to the strength of the stuff rules can be attached
Let's go to work with a clear policy We'll put it to the test, and then we will see
DE HEIDEROOSJES:
CHORUS
Legalise and regulate Wee-duh-wee-duh-wee-duh-weed
-----------------------------
Minister of justice Piet Hein Donner (aka "The Don")
In this land of sixteen million Everyone has their own intention Where everyone wants to try But no-one wants to be patronised
In this land of the sixteen million wise I ask: what do you intend to surmise? The joint, the blunt, it brought us to fame But the downsides, they never get named
CHORUS: This is Donner of Justice, speaking Together with police we are working So throw that dope in the dump 'Cause an addict Netherlands Is something I'd rather not be seeing
All that blow's just gonna make you slow So don't go being lame and stealing the show Don't take drugs so lightly, get a clue Be prepared for once, to learn a thing or two
Regulation will prove an unacceptable cost It'll turn sour what sweet once was With criminals lurking everywhere you look It doesn't seem the way to go in my book
More and more seedlings under lamps' glow Well the back door, I say, shall remain closed! As confused as policy may sometimes seem In this matter, firm I must be
CHORUS
Everywhere you look you see the rubbish growing Home-growing's getting out of hand And all the while the prisons are overflowing All because of this simple hemp plant
Only a few enjoy the money they gross The rest of them are pale as ghosts So those attics will have to be cleaned out It's not something I'd feel right being silent about
Yes, we want the drugs off the streets We're done talking, now let's be concrete Dope smokers, you'd better take note! posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 3:44 PM on February 27, 2006
Fantastic post! Thank you for the translation. posted by adrianhon at 3:51 PM on February 27, 2006
holy smokes! awesome tuneage, dude! posted by 3.2.3 at 4:11 PM on February 27, 2006
Nifty indeed. posted by Wolfdog at 4:23 PM on February 27, 2006
awesome. The ultimate EuroVision contest. posted by ruelle at 4:33 PM on February 27, 2006
Well while it wasnt rap, didn't Ashcroft have an album out while he was AG? posted by SirOmega at 5:30 PM on February 27, 2006
I love my dutch heritage. posted by Eekacat at 7:14 PM on February 27, 2006
I'm finding this awesome only until my coworkers find it and start making fun of Holland & me. posted by easternblot at 7:51 PM on February 27, 2006
Also: the Heideroosjes are still around? I'm so out of the loop... posted by easternblot at 7:52 PM on February 27, 2006
why can't american politics be more like this? this makes me want to move there.
maybe i would have backed the iraq war if bush had a rap battle with the UN. posted by teishu at 9:37 PM on February 27, 2006
And it's Donner of all people! The guy is the most archaic, calvinist regent out there. He looks and talks as if he was teleported from a previous century. And now a rap song?
By the way: for those concerned about your environmentalist image: forget hybrid cars, this guy still rides a bike to work, even when visiting the queen. posted by swordfishtrombones at 11:27 PM on February 27, 2006
Meh... go back to cartoons. posted by wfrgms at 12:15 AM on February 28, 2006
Yes. Yes, that makes sense. posted by jrengreen at 3:44 AM on February 28, 2006
Just wacky! posted by OmieWise at 6:19 AM on February 28, 2006
Well, to start, Maastricht mayor Gerd Leers first recorded a song of his own (mp3) with a well-known regional punk band to emphasize his case for the regulation of marijuana growth and distribution; in Leers' opinion, Holland's drug policy is inconsistent and in fact harmful to his town, visited by an estimated 1.5 million "drug tourists" annually, mainly from neighbouring Belgium and Germany.
His point being: while possession (in small amounts) and retail of marijuana are famously "forbidden but not penalized" in the Netherlands, cultivation and wholesale are still illegal. This means that the sort-of-legal weed retailers still have to deal with illegal, in fact criminal, suppliers: the stuff has to come from somewhere.
Leers would like to see this process regulated by government, as the current discrepancy in policy, in Leers' view, causes a disproportionate strain on Maastricht's police forces, who by law have to crack down on growers/wholesalers regularly.
Donner disagrees, and takes to the mic to voice his pursuit of a more repressive drug policy. The kicker? Mayor Leers and minister Donner are members of the same political party. Of course.
By the way: Leers blogs, and Donner podcasts. (both in Dutch)
Video link (wmv) constructed from NOS news footage of Donner
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 3:40 PM on February 27, 2006