Welfare system

In European and other economically-advanced countries, the welfare system is aimed perfectly, especially for people who have passed the age of 60. I happened to ride free of charge in buses and on the subway in Uncle Sam's country in 1993. I was then 68 years old.

An Indonesian woman who's Dutch husband died a few years ago now receives her husband's pension. She was wise enough to move to her motherland Indonesia, as she can enjoy life better than in Holland, where the cost of living is much higher.

Another story I heard from a Dutch lady repatriated to Holland after the war ended concerned the excellent Dutch from-cradle-to- grave welfare system. Young people, who were repatriated from the present and former overseas colonies and acquired Dutch citizenship and enjoyed the Dutch welfare system could easily put together enough money to buy a car, if, for instance, six people who are unemployed get the government's dole money.

The Dutch lady said as an after thought: "We citizens work ourselves to the bone to pay our taxes and those lazy bones loaf away their time riding in a car bought with their dole money."

A. DJUANA

Jakarta