Template talk:List of cabinets of the Netherlands

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

After the last elections I was faced with the problem where to put the two new parties. The basic logic for the grouping in the post-77 table follows two strategies:

• Parties that partook in a cabinet (in that table) are placed to the left of the seat-percentage.
• Left-wing parties are placed to the left, the christian parties in the middle and right-wing parties to the right.
• Parties that merged to a new party are preferably placed to the right of that party
• Older parties are placed as far as possible to the right.

By themselves, these rules make sense, but unfortunately they sometimes clash, in which case the first rules should preferably take precedence. I know it's a bit messy, but just try and come up with something better. :)

The first rule causes the major split. To the right of that, there is also sort of a split, between CD and CPN, where the left-right rule starts all over again. So there are really three sections. Not sure if that should be made more visible.

Another issue is when and where to start a new table, because the post-77 one is getting rather large. It might make sense to restart in 2002, the new milennium, the first Balkenende cabinets and the emergence of LPF. But LPF is also a reason to start later, when they disappeared. Also, there is the question what will happen with SP and PVV. I will at least wait until after the present cabinet formation before I start a new table - maybe SP should be moved to the left.

If you wish to make any changes, please notify me at my talk page - this is my 'baby', but I don't look into it too often. What a rotten father I am. :) DirkvdM 14:49, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Use and Beauty

Dirk, we've already discussed this table at lenght on the talk of politics of the Netherlands, but I still have some issues with it:

1. The template is not very useful
   1. The template is not a template at all. It does not fall under the possible reasons to create a template used on wikipedia. It will neither be used recurringly or be used to navigate. What it is, is a way to present a table, and a lot of additional information (like the intricate colour system and order): not a template;
   2. The template is not what it claims: it claims to represent cabinets, but the List of cabinets of the Netherlands gives all relevant information for cabinet, type, length, participating parties, prime minister. Your template appears to represent the composition of the Tweede Kamer and its relation to cabinet;
   3. The template is really clunky and will not be used often.
2. The template is also not very legible:
   1. It is extremely complicated and perhaps not the best way to represent such complex information. Wikipedia is meant to be a way for people to get easy access to information, not a puzzle.
   2. The template is very clunky the mergers of parties, the colour coding, the difference between elections and cabinet falls is all not represented in the best way possible
   3. When it comes to showing the composition of the Tweede Kamer I think the Dutch have done a much better job (see here). This template tries to show less information in a less complicated and cluncky way.

I'd personally prefer to see this templated deleted because it is neither a template, nor about the Dutch cabinets, it will not be used, it is not legible, very clunky and there are superior table around and possible.
And sorry if I have insulted your "baby", but as I remember, putting information up on wikipedia is licensing it for merciless editing C mon 20:17, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

I've already translated it to this wikipedia, see Historic composition of the Tweede Kamer —The preceding unsigned comment was added by C mon (talk • contribs) 20:49, 5 December 2006 (UTC).