Its Good to be on the Dole in Belgium!

Such a life. Socialism makes it sooooo easy!
Read this carefully. This guy has been porking anything that moves, and Belgium tax dollars are paying for it.

[quote]
The Belgians call Régnier, a stocky, balding man with a fringe of beard, the “Marcinelle bull.”
Father of Thirty Says “Give Me a Break”
From the desk of Paul Belien on Sat, 2006-12-23 22:12

Serge Régnier (as some readers may remember) is a 47-year old Belgian with three wives and thirty children. In 1986 Régnier married Christine Wuest (who is now 38). They have fifteen children, between 19 years and 11 months old. A couple of years later, Christine’s homeless sister Karine Wuest (now 35 years old) came to live with the couple. Soon she fell in love with Serge. Christine consented in her husband taking her sister as a second wife. Serge and Karine have six children, between 10 years and 10 months old.

All that time, Serge had been meeting his former girlfriend Judith De Leenheer (now 38 years old). When Judith’s marriage broke up – which was not altogether surprising since all her children were Serge’s rather than her husband’s – Serge asked his two wives whether they would mind taking her in. They did not mind. Serge and Judith have nine children, between 18 years and 10 months old. They all live together in Serge’s house in Marcinelle, a town in Wallonia, the French-speaking South of Belgium.

Non-Belgians wonder perhaps how he provides for his large family. Here is the answer.

Régnier applied for and received the status of an invalid from Wallonia’s generous welfare authorities. He consequently receives a welfare check of over €1,000 a month. His three wives are all unemployed. Hence, they each get €800 in unemployment benefits. On top of this the family receives €4,000 in child allowances. This makes a grand total of more than €7,400 a month ($9,700 or £4,960) – all of it provided by Belgium’s taxpayers. All the money matters in the household are taken care of by Serge. His wives are only interested in children. They have told the press that they each hope to have another baby in 2007.

Ten years ago Belgium was shocked by the paedophile murders of Marc Dutroux, another Walloon. Dutroux also lived in Marcinelle. He had installed dungeons in his cellar, where for many months he imprisoned little girls whom he had abducted, and kept them as his sex slaves. Dutroux raped and finally murdered them. He, too, had been recognized as an invalid. The welfare officers granted him, and his wife and accomplice Michelle Martin, to cash a monthly check of €2,000 in welfare benefits. The reason why Dutroux was granted invalid status was because he was said to have suffered psychological damage during a previous spell in prison (for raping underage girls and boys and torturing an elderly lady), which made it impossible for him to work for a living. I do not know why Serge Régnier is unable to work for a living, but it certainly is not a lack of virility.

Indeed, last Tuesday the Belgian paper Gazet van Antwerpen wrote that there are marital problems in the Régnier household. His three wives complain that their husband is often away from home, while they do not know where he is. They suspect there is a fourth woman. “We are partners, friends. There is no jealousy here, at least not between us three,” they told the paper. But while four is a marriage, five is a crowd. The wives are also increasingly frustrated because Serge does not seem prepared to give them another baby yet. “Judith, Karine and I each want three more children,” says Christine. “So did Serge a few months ago, but suddenly no more. What must we make of that?” she asks. Régnier, however, denies he is cheating on his wives. “They will get their children, but not for the moment,” he says.

The wives are also cross because Régnier often withdraws into his room, locking the door. He is the only one to have a room of his own in the house. There he has a television set and a small fridge. The women complain he sits there watching football and drinking beer, while they cook, wash and iron and take care of the children. Régnier ignores their complaints, and tells the journalist: “I do not know whether you are married but if you have one wife you can imagine what it is like to have three.”

A story like Régnier’s is probably only possible in the south of Belgium, where a man can spend his life in idleness while the taxpayers provide him with enough income to sustain three women and thirty children. Wallonia is a Socialist stronghold which is subsidized by Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern half of the country. Belgium is a country in which any major government decision requires approval in both Flanders and Wallonia. The Constitution stipulates that every major change requires a majority in both parts of the country. This has doomed the country to inertia and it has inevitably led to the corruption of Wallonia.

The utterly corrupt Parti Socialiste, although only of no importance in Flanders, has become the most influential party in Belgian politics; as the largest party in Wallonia, it can obstruct any policy it objects to. Since no government in Belgium is formed without the approval of a majority in both Flanders and Wallonia, the Francophone Socialists have ensured themselves of an almost permanent reign. They proceed to buy voters by promising them a permanent flow of Flemish taxpayers’ money to Wallonia.

In Flanders, which has a strong freemarket culture, there is a large political majority to change the present welfare system. The Flemish want to lower taxes and to reform social security to reduce abuse. But Wallonia blocks all reforms and the Walloon Socialist party guarantees voters that, as long as they support the Socialists, money from Flemish taxpayers will keep flowing to the nearly 50% of the Walloons who are employed or subsidized by the government, including “invalids” like Serge Régnier.

In 2006 the 6 million Flemings subsidized the 4 million Walloons at a rate of €11.5 billion (an enormous amount of money compared to the €14 billion which is the U.S.’s annual spending on foreign aid). Among the frustrated Flemings there is a growing call for secession from Belgium. This has begun to worry the Belgian establishment. This became particularly apparent after a hoax television news item last week in which the end of Belgium was announced.

When Caroline De Gruyter, a journalist from the Netherlands, visited Wallonia five years ago she was amazed to meet several families that had been on the dole for three generations and did not have a single relative who was officially employed. The families liked it that way. They all voted for the Socialist Party, because it guaranteed that Flemish money would keep flowing to Wallonia. They described the attitude of Flemish nationalists “who do not want to pay taxes to support the Walloon jobless” as “unsocial behaviour!” One of the things that struck De Gruyter was that they admitted to having no shame. It prompted her to call them “a Community beyond Shame.”
brusselsjournal.com/node/1775[/quote]

Yeah…“socialism”…thats the answer…:unamused:

Yeah, this aspect of solcialism doesn’t work, for sure.

But do try to see the bigger picture, TC. If you like, I could draw one for you to colour. :slight_smile:

[quote=“Stray Dog”]Yeah, this aspect of solcialism doesn’t work, for sure.
But do try to see the bigger picture, TC. If you like, I could draw one for you to colour. :slight_smile:[/quote]Color does not have a “u” in it.
If you are one to try and justify such behavior as this…then bubba…you don’t have much to say about anything.
And I’m not even going to comment on your spelling of “solcialism” as I make mistakes also.

Erm … you’re disagreeing with someone who’s agreeing with you, guys. :laughing:

It’s not your fault; it’s not easy to see anything when your head is so far up your own arse. :wink:

Oh dear. There is a world beyond those borders, my friend. Don’t fear it; embrace it! :wink:

In Australia the government pays women about 60,000 NT per baby.

Subsequently there are suburbs full of single teenage mums pumping out children every 9 months to get the nice payment…

2 days later, they have a nice new mobile phone, new rims for their car and or something else beneficial like that…

And to make things worse, the government there is going to increase the payment to almost twice as much soon…

Brilliant :stuck_out_tongue:

This story is not “probably” but ONLY possible in the South of our country.
It is not a stand-alone case. Must be hundreds of them, but the difference is that this guy is Belgian. Not a 2nd of 3rd generation Maghreb local as they are practicing this for so many decades.
No surprise in this story.

Even though it’s a funny story I think it’s probably made up. The guy writing this is a separatist politician: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Belien

No, it’s not a made up story … I’ve known a family with only one mother and she had 14 children and neither she or her husband worked … and every year they had a new born … they must have gotten over 100,000 NT$ a month … it’s like 16 years ago I saw them last, so maybe by now they have 20 children or so …

I’m so scared our culture is being swamped by outsiders, coming stealing our women, influencing our value systems, trying to involve themselves in the society and polity of the place they live, that I’ve gone to do something similar in Taiwan.

Seriously, in the 50s and 60s people were scared of Afro-Carribeans, Indians and Pakistanis swamping the country. Now curry is our de-facto national dish. No-one forced us to all take on the Indian caste system or become Muslims, Hindus or Rastafarians. We got some good culinary, musical and other cultural influences though. There’s not too much to be afraid of if we’re strong and self confident. We can take on the good, and reject the bad.

I can’t speak for specific cases, or for Belgium in general, and wouldn’t try to deny some such cases exist, but as mentioned above, cases like these are often dug up by the politically motivated. The Daily Mail loves this kinda shit, so much so that it has a long long history of making them up.

As for socialism, why do some Americans seem to labour under the assumption that more generous welfare or healthcare systems as we have in Europe amount to socialism. I thought it had more to do with the common ownership of production, distribution and exchange. It was Liberals, not socialists who kicked off the welfare state in the UK. Note, I’m not defending paying people to live off the state for long periods if it is possible for them to support themselves.

And thanks to the British Empire and 1 billion Indians, colour does have a u in most places that English is used as a lingua franca, official language or second language. Including the UN, but I don’t expect TC to be very impressed by that!

Fruitloop -
uhh…so…whats your opinion on this guy in Belgium with 3 or 4 wives and 30 or so children?
The story is from a Belgian site about a Belgian problem. And it looks like the socialist parties in that area of Belgium are what has allowed things such as this to become common place in this area.

And whats the crack at my being “impressed” all about? :loco:

No offence meant mate. Not a cheap crack (though the stuff about colour on the end is light hearted), just not sure that you’re the greatest fan of the UN.

Is this particular case a problem? Yes, I think so. Like I said, I’m not defending it. I just get a little skeptical when cases like these are used to attack the whole welfare system by those with political motivations - hence the comment about the Daily Mail.

[quote=“fruitloop”]No offence meant mate. Not a cheap crack (though the stuff about colour on the end is light hearted), just not sure that you’re the greatest fan of the UN.
Is this particular case a problem? Yes, I think so. Like I said, I’m not defending it. I just get a little skeptical when cases like these are used to attack the whole welfare system by those with political motivations - hence the comment about the Daily Mail.[/quote]FruitLoop -
Thanks for the extra comment. You are correct that I am not very impressed with much if what is UN “activity.” I am of the belief that an international agency such as what the UN was envisioned to be should exist. I just have seen too much corruption, crime and malfeasance to be happy with what the reality of it has come to be.
As to the Belgium/Walloon case shown here, I must defer to some of the others here, some of whom are actually Belgian with 1st hand knowledge of this, for an opinion.
Its true that I am not a fan of “socialism” in its governmental forms. As for private groups or individuals deciding to tred that path - IMO, thats their right / priveledge to do so if its done with respect to whatever the laws of the land allow. Here we see tax monies that could have a better over-all societal use being pumped out for this mess. And it has been going on for generations. Not good…IMO.

Personally TC, I’m dissappointed at the incredible legnths that you will go to to have a stab at Europe and at socialism.I, Tainan Cowboy fully acknowledge that there is a “U” in the spelling of “colour.”
While I like neither, I don’t go out of my way to belittle other countries to make myself feel big and proud.I, Tainan Cowboy fully acknowledge that there is a “U” in the spelling of “colour.”
I certainly wouldn’t do this whilst ignoring threads such as those investigating some issues such as prison populations in the States, bad police enforcement and corruption etc, etc.
I, Tainan Cowboy fully acknowledge that there is a “U” in the spelling of “colour.”
Of course, it’s easy to ignore home grown issues and tackle some of those originating in other countries - then the problems simply vanish. :unamused: I, Tainan Cowboy fully acknowledge that there is a “U” in the spelling of “colour.”

Nice one.

Glass houses, stones, and all that.

[quote=“Dangermouse”]Personally TC, I’m dissappointed at the incredible legnths that you will go to to have a stab at Europe and at socialism.[/quote] DM - Not ‘Europe’ or the UK by any means. If I were not here I would most likely be located in the south of Spain. So the ‘Europe’ part is just not right. Don’t expect me to go butt-up for socialism or paint it with a fairy-tale brush. You know first-hand what it creates; as well as the mobs on the streets that poor immigration policy and lack of cultural assimilation allows.[quote=“Dangermouse”]While I like neither, I don’t go out of my way to belittle other countries to make myself feel big and proud.[/quote]Again, certainly not my intention to do either. Beg pardon if it appears to you that this is the case. I complain about “welfare” inequities in the US also. These just don’t pop up on Forumosa.com very often, if at all.[quote=“Dangermouse”] I certainly wouldn’t do this whilst ignoring threads such as those investigating some issues such as prison populations in the States, bad police enforcement and corruption etc, etc. I, Tainan Cowboy fully acknowledge that there is a “U” in the spelling of “colour.”[/quote] Look at the context in which I made that post…and who it was directed to. That should put things in a more correctly viewed perspective. Some posters feel it to be their ‘moral’ duty to make a flame response to almost anything and everything I post. I guess it helps their post count if nothing else.[quote=“Dangermouse”]Of course, it’s easy to ignore home grown issues and tackle some of those originating in other countries - then the problems simply vanish. :unamused:
Nice one.[/quote]Sorry there, my “home” is and has been the world for a great many years. Currently its on Taiwan of all places. I am from the USA and am quite proud to have that as fact. I vote in USA elections when possible and this, as I live out-of-country, is about the best I can do, aside from my work, to tackle “home grown issues.”
So don’t go too defensive on me; I’m not anti-Europe and particularly not anti-Britain. But its a bad policy to refuse to see and address problems at their root. Just wind up having to deal with a much worse problem later.
As is being shown daily.

Well, that’s just it. I’m saying it seems a prety one sided affair - I don’ see any criticism of US policies at home or abroad for that matter) by you or the likes of Fred Smith Et Al and yet here seems to be a core of posters here who can offer criticisms about their own countries and offer criticism in posts which aim to trumpet the US in all it’s glory, usually started by a right winger.

[quote]I’m not anti-Europe and particularly not anti-Britain. But its a bad policy to refuse to see and address problems at their root. Just wind up having to deal with a much worse problem later.
[/quote]

Why not, I currently am. I’m ashamed of my stupid government and most of it’s policies.

But I do agree that probelms should be addressed at their root. However, the case you mentioned in Belgium seems to me to be a one off affair, not an all encompassing problem of a welfare state. The case in question seems to be the cause of some psychological probelm with the person concerned rather than a problem borne out of a welfare state.

Belgium has a huge problem when it comes to welfare and dole … there are about 450,000 officially unemployed and about 200-300,000 that are in ‘pre-retirement’ and also drain the coffres … many are unemployed for more than 10 years because it’s so easy to stay that way and moonlight a little here and there … as head of the family it’s hard to get thrown out of the system and when they throw you out you go on real welfare …

And I have to say that the majority of the cases are in Walloon and Brussels …

Belgium has one of the lowest active populations in Europe …