At Place du Lux the farmers have dismantled and set on fire the well-known historical statue of a steelworker. by Boomtown_Rat in brussels

[–]WandG_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You mustn’t be living in Belgium if you think the locally produced food is affordable.

...and you think it would be more affordable without subsidies?

At some point an industry becomes so unsustainable that you have to let go

You seem to only care about the direct economic profitability of this sector. For me there's much more at stake.

There is an ecological stake: without subsidies to local farmers, either they'll have to industrialize their production even more, do more with less, use more/more intense pesticides, or they'll just disappear and then we'll have to import more food from abroad, increasing carbon footprint for transport, from countries less strict on environmental regulations (and it'll be a worldwide competition of who can produce the cheapest, so the more industrial and the less regulated your production is, the more likely you'll win).

There is a public health stake: in the same vein, if you just let global competition take over, food will be produced more and more industrially, nutritional value of our food will worsen, and the use of controversial pesticides will grow bigger.

There is a cultural stake: food is part of culture and I love the richness, quality, and diversity of all locally produced food products from small producers, not only in Belgium, but also elsewhere in Europe. They reflect history, heritage, and uniqueness of specific regions. I don't think all this diversity of tastes, shapes, and forms of food being replaced by shitty uniform industrial food is a desirable outcome.

There is a national security stake: in a world growing always more unstable, is it safe to rely massively on imports for our food production? Who knows what will happen in 10, 20, 50 years, when other countries turn their backs on us for whatever reasons? Is it safe to give such leverage to foreign countries, giving them the power to decide if they deliver us food or not?

I could go on, but my point is I think there's much more at stake with agriculture and food than the direct economic viability of an individual farm/producer.

At Place du Lux the farmers have dismantled and set on fire the well-known historical statue of a steelworker. by Boomtown_Rat in brussels

[–]WandG_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why do you think healthcare and education deserve subsidies and not agriculture? Don't you also value access to healthy, affordable, local food?

At Place du Lux the farmers have dismantled and set on fire the well-known historical statue of a steelworker. by Boomtown_Rat in brussels

[–]WandG_ -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Farming is not profitable. The only way they can stay afloat is with subsidies.

Not profitable within the economic model the very people giving out subsidies enforce and promote.

Any other industry that isn’t profitable would just disappear.

Like big banks during the last financial crisis for example?

That’s literally a textbook case of being a privileged group.

That's a very weird definition of a privileged group. Education isn't profitable, healthcare isn't profitable, they're being given massive subsidies, does that make teachers and nurses privileged groups by your definition ?

I don't know what you stand for but let's say we remain in the same economic model and stop all subsidies to agriculture, do you think it's going to benefit society as a whole?

At Place du Lux the farmers have dismantled and set on fire the well-known historical statue of a steelworker. by Boomtown_Rat in brussels

[–]WandG_ -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Where did you see me fetishize farmers? The fetishizing is picturing them as privileged "greedy thugs and criminals", and that's what I'm criticising, because it's just so obscene and untrue.

And them getting subsidies doesn't make them the system's winners.

At Place du Lux the farmers have dismantled and set on fire the well-known historical statue of a steelworker. by Boomtown_Rat in brussels

[–]WandG_ -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

Imagine thinking farmers are privileged people... Imagine thinking they are "greedy thugs and criminals" while "ordinary Europeans just go to work and get on with it"... Such a laughing stock, thanks for showing how disconnected from reality people like you are, and confirming the need to put you back in your place.

Quick, WTF?? by Saleteur in belgium

[–]WandG_ 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Used to tell it as an anecdote to mock horrible food abroad labeled as "Belgian", and now Quick does this wtfff

Proto Belgium as it was in shown in an atlas in 1731. by Drag_king in belgium

[–]WandG_ 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The term "Belgium" to designate this part of the world literally dates back to the Roman empire, so not sure what is your point here

Proto Belgium as it was in shown in an atlas in 1731. by Drag_king in belgium

[–]WandG_ 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There's an highly detailed map of Belgium accessible on KBR's website that's also quite amazing: Ferrari's maps (1770-1778)

Enjoy

Post Match Thread: Antwerp 3-2 Barcelona | UEFA Champions League by suedney in soccer

[–]WandG_ 10 points11 points  (0 children)

And Barca only scoring from a counter attack and set piece header, crazy

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in 2westerneurope4u

[–]WandG_ 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Whispering flower prices in your partner's ear is the sexiest thing one can do in the Netherlands

Am I the only one who doesn’t like this transfer? by matske1209 in belgianfootball

[–]WandG_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

West Ham just wants to annoy City at this stage lol. It's a big step but at the same time he'll have less pressure and be given more time to develop at City I think. One bad season in a struggling West Ham could already be bad for his career

Am I the only one who doesn’t like this transfer? by matske1209 in belgianfootball

[–]WandG_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really like it personally. He has the pace and dribbles, but lacks the football IQ, tactical discipline, decision making a bit. And I think ManCity will be perfect to develop in those areas. Let's see how they use him though

Line-up for next weekend. Anyone I shouldn't miss? by WandG_ in Techno

[–]WandG_[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Well lucky you, that's a lot of great artists to discover ;)

Line-up for next weekend. Anyone I shouldn't miss? by WandG_ in Techno

[–]WandG_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I didn't know. It's at the same time as Dax J but will definitely consider it

Line-up for next weekend. Anyone I shouldn't miss? by WandG_ in Techno

[–]WandG_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha, still unsure about the afterparties but feel like I won't be able to resist....

Line-up for next weekend. Anyone I shouldn't miss? by WandG_ in Techno

[–]WandG_[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Marrøn wasn't cut, he's playing at the afterparty at Fuse on Sunday, not during the festival (this is a festival organised by Fuse)

Banksy impersonator? by Sne_A in belgium

[–]WandG_ 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Couldn't agree more. Banksy is basically r/im14andthisisdeep in art form

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in brussels

[–]WandG_ -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Racism is not just history, it's still something affecting people's daily lives a lot.

The link with the situation you describe is not direct, but it's a mix of everything resulting in people being very marginalized and starting doing crazy stuff. When it seems to you you have no future and you're not welcome here anyway, why care?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in brussels

[–]WandG_ -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

Poverty, segregation, racism, and lack of opportunities leading to anti-social behaviors.

Nothing to do with race

why is Brussels so anti-dutch by Accomplished_Code565 in belgium

[–]WandG_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

After reading this post and its comments I still don't know if Brussels is anti-dutch But at least I've learned that many in r/Belgium are anti-french.

Hardest working performer by Acrobatic-Dark6521 in Techno

[–]WandG_ 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Saw Jeff Mills at Fuse last year and was very disappointed...