Belgian Firefighters Angry Over Austerity Unleash Water Hose Attack on Cops
- Posted on February 13, 2012 at 10:48am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Need an example of how bad things are getting in Europe regarding their fiscal issues? Besides the Greek riots, we now have video of Belgian firefighters so angry with austerity measures that they turned their water hoses on the police.
The Telegraph explains:
Several hundred Belgian firefighters have broken through police lines in Brussels and hosed down the prime minister‘s office in protest at the government’s tougher retirement plans. The firefighters want to keep their early retirement age at 58, arguing their arduous job does not allow them to work into their 60s. Such demands run counter to government plans to have the overwhelming majority of people work two years beyond 65 so it can afford an ever-increasing pension bill as Belgium’s population ages.
In protest Friday, the firefighters were willing to hose down their public safety counterparts who were protecting the parliament:
Bloomberg News reports the Belgian government “needs to find as much as 2.5 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in spending cuts or new revenue in order to meet its budget-deficit target of 2.8 percent of gross domestic product.” (H/T: HuffPo)
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Comments (75)
hauschild
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 2:02pmAh, those damned Beligians – their methods are barbaric!!!
Report Post »thegodfather
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 1:25pmOWS mopes see this and wonder…”hey…how can WE get firehoses”?
Report Post »FederalistFireman
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 1:48pmIf you have a fire or any other emergency at your house, do you really want a crew of senior citizens getting off a rig? I’m 42 and, at times, I hurt. I can‘t imagine doing this until I’m 60.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 2:36pmFederalistFireman, that’s life.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 5:13pmWhat a bunch of hosers….
Report Post »nvestnbrass
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 5:26pmFederalistFireman
Report Post »I am 49. I crawl under houses in attics and on rooftops every single day of my life. I carry heavy equipment into these tight spaces sometimes dragging it for many yards in a 100 degree attic or a 20″ crawl hole. I carry explosive gases as well as oxygen depleting gases with me. I lift 100 pound cans onto rooftops with a rope. I climb extension ladders repeatedly in a single day.. I plan on doing this until I die. I am an Air Conditioning repairman. A day as a fireman would be a break for me.
Jaycen
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 5:41pmUnion workers – do some basic math.
If it takes 5 workers to pay for your retirement, how many people will it take to pay for theirs? 25. How many to pay for those people? 125.
Where will all these workers come from? No where.
How likely is it that you will live in the luxury and comfort you’ve been promised? Not at all.
Who’s best equipped to save for your retirement? Who’s in the best position to choose how your money should be spent or saved for your golden years? Who could best decide how long you’ll work in a dangerous and arduous position before relaxing at home or working in a less demanding job?
Report Post »Marengo Ohio Patriot
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 5:52pm@federal
Report Post »then find another job!
WAH……….
Walkabout
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 12:37pm“The firefighters want to keep their early retirement age at 58, arguing their arduous job does not allow them to work into their 60s.”
People are staying healthier until later in their lives.
But let us take them at their word. There is some truth to it. Why can’t the older workers keep their pension but retire at 65. In the meantime they can be dispatchers, inspectors or administrative support.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 1:03pmOr support themselves in the private sector until the age of 65.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 1:28pmWhy can’t the taxpaying Belgian public kill these morons for theft of tax dollars and the misuse and waste of public resources? The were using the TAXPAYERS’ trucks and water hoses against the taxpayers. If it were the police who tuned on the gov’t or the citizenry with their taxpayer provided weapons and vehicles, the citizens would be left with no option but violent upheaval and death to all police attacking citizens and their government.
It shows how arrogant and selfish these “public servants” really are.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 2:00pm@SGTB
Report Post »All of Europe is Socialist… bent Left, Communist, or Right, Fascist… and this and every other Division (even Language) is found in Belgium. So, every conflict there… is not about a Single Issue… but a List…
Walkabout
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 12:30pmWe gear chafes. I would beat down those firemen in a heartbeat.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 12:29pmDoes early retirement at 58 work with life expectancy of 79? That is a 21 year retirement. A person doesn’t start earning money until age 18.
Can you earn no money for 39 years approximately 1/2 life & still have the same standard of living as in your 20s thru 50s? Or are you living on someone else’s dime (back)? How productive is a person?
If they live on only 1/2 their income form their 20s thru 50s then the answer is yes. If not, it is a generational Ponzi scheme marketed by politicians to get in a position of power so they can live the sweet life of luxury.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 12:34pmAll public work sectors should have their retirements readjusted, including the military’s. These people spend half of their work life on retirement, and can collect Social Security on top… including a bonus for dependents under the age of 18.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 1:35pmALL gov’t supported retirement is a Ponzi scheme. The worst is soc.sec. The original benefactors NEVER paid into the system and the surplus from every year was converted to federal bonds (aka, spent on gov’t debt with the promise the next gen. would pay it back) and unless they FICA rates or income tax rate skyrockets before 2018, the system will collapse and austerity measures will be enacted or the entire system will collapse. The problem is that people are voting themselves a retirement check and signing their children’s names on the bill.
99% of old people suck. They also believe in enslaving their children and grandchildren for personal gain. My grandparents belong to this group and you can bet that I have let the life long Democrat and USPS lobbyist know exactly how I feel.
Report Post »Carlinpa
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 12:20pmI second Sue Dohnim “What is austerity, the failure of socialism in a culture of entitlement and dependency” Do they teach math in greece anymore? It’s a plain as day, they’re broke and need to borrow money ( like us) to stay afloat and still don’t want to work longer or reduce their benefits to save their country? Greece has gone from ” We are Spartans!” , to “We are Slackers!”
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 12:36pmIt’s the international banking Ponzi scheme controlled almost entirely by the Jewish mob.
Report Post »Sue Dohnim
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 1:29pm@THE_JERK
IMO, labeling it Jewish is a grave error. Marxism is in effect a strategy of lies, deceit and theft perpetrated by MAN living off the labor of another MAN. The exploitation through State power, it is a MOB, a global MOB of elites, politicians, intellectuals, academics, bankers, public union (leaders), royalty, oligarchs and other authoritarian ideologies whose sole propose is to oppress and exploit the masses enabled by the State. Ironically, the Liberals in their child like mindset do not understand that it is the very Statism they promote that is the cause of the enslavement and oppression. It is NOT a jewish thing. It is MAN controlling MAN.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 2:42pmFrom Moses Hess to Karl Marx to Saul Alinsky they’re Jewish, as was the Menshevik Party of Russia and much of the leadership of the Bolsheviks… and like Soros… so were the financiers. Commune-ism is kibbutz-ism is communism. The tie to ethnic Jews is way beyond probability; and there are many books, articles, that make the case.
Report Post »tzion
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 3:01pm@JERK
Report Post »So what? Blacks commit more crimes in America than whites. Are they inherently uncivilized or is there some deeper reason or issue that is causing this? It wasn’t only Jews who joined the Bolsheviks, the largest groups were the lower class workers like farmers and factory workers. Jews in Russia had been treated as second class citizens for some time but were also well educated and literate, something many other lower class groups in Europe lacked. That’s why they often became leaders of such movements. Ever see Fiddler on the Roof? There’s a character called Perchik I believe who demonstrates what a Jewish socialist was like in Russia with very good accuracy.
Sue Dohnim
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 3:07pm@THE_JERK
I well understand the correlation, that is not, however, causation… It is NOT “Jewishness” that causes it. It is evil toward fellow man and that is everywhere. Perhaps subtle but crucial distinction.
Report Post »Sue Dohnim
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 12:00pmThe take away is: in austerity everyone turns against each other, the firefighters turn against the police, What is austerity, the failure of socialism in a culture of entitlement and dependency. The (socialists) Keynesians created and promoted the current corrupt ponzi debt financial system to benefit the Elites and extort wealth from the masses. Now, as that debt ponzi is exposed and collapses, there must be pain. Government promises must be broken, ironically the utopia of equality and socialism devovles into anarchy. It is far too easy for politicians to print and promise than impose austerity, so the ponzi debt system will collapse on its own eventually. There isn’t enough money in the world to keep the revolving debt obligations going.. No matter who is elected President, they will not be able to fix this thing. Even a balanced budget would cause economic instability as the rollover debt exponentially grows, it is a print and expand debt or die at an ever increasing rate. No politician can fix this 100 year encroachment of economic, ideological and physical Socialism and control.
Forget about ignorant liberals, become as self reliant as you can. Time is running out.
If you walking in the woods with an ignorant Liberal, and you run into a bear that begins to chase you. You don’t have to outrun the bear, you only have to outrun the ignorant Liberal or shoot the bear.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 5:23pmI could fix the problem today.
Report Post »Turn off the fed’s computers. Exile all members of the fed. burn their records. Declare all debts null and void. Recall all currency and re-issue actual dollars at the gold standard rate and start over.
poker4livin
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:57amThey were chanting ” me me me now now now, future generations your our cash cow!”
Report Post »UBETHECHANGE
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:51amUnions are a cancer in the world and their cushy benefit packages and pay is a powder keg/ponzi scheme waiting to come crashing down. Nothing is guaranteed in life you greedy jerks! Abolish all commie unions worldwide! Free the taxpayers from commie union extortion!
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:40amI wish they would spray all of those idiot photographers. I am so sick of the press getting into the middle of everything like the occupy protests here. for every protester there is about 5 camera men snapping pics of their every move.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:46amYhea , I hear they want to retire @ 26.
Report Post »FlatFoot
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:35amAs the Marxist/Socialist EU implodes and fast approaches the precipice at the edge of the abyss they’re about to fall into, President Barack Hussein Obama and his endless clown-car cavalcade of Defeatocrats that Dictate this country race at full speed ahead to beat down a path to our own Marxism/Socialism abyss so that we may all be equally as poor and equally as desperate to destroy ourselves as the EU is and does.
The ‘exceptionalism’ and ‘success’ of the United States of America is something to be abhorred, loathed, and reviled — and to be utterly and finally destroyed — if President Barack Hussein Obama and the Democrats on the dais get their most fervent wishes granted.
Report Post »KevINtampa
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:40amHere here.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 12:00pmAxelrod, Sunstein, Stern, Emanuel, Lew, Orszag, Zients, Plouffe, Summers, Berwick, Bloom, Kagan, Bernanke, Ross, Sutphen, Steinberg, Berstein, Shapiro, Shapiro, Lynn, Simon, Gensler, Sperling, Borrin, Feinberg, Ginsburg, Breyer … on and on… all following the teachings of Hess, Marx, Alinsky, Piven… via the financial support of Soros… are fundamentally transforming this nation.
They are all ethnic Jews, no different from an Italian mob. All are avowed socialists/communists/kibbutz-ists.
Report Post »tzion
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 3:16pm@Jerk
Report Post »Conveniently ignoring Obama, Clinton, Bill Ayers, Rev. Wright, Van Jones etc. as usual. None of them are Jewish and all are destroying this country. Yet despite that you never criticize or denounce them because they aren’t “ethnic Jews”. That’s called having a double standard Smack which is a common symptom of racism and racial prejudice. I do not and won’t defend any of the people you listed so long as I am convinced they are doing exactly as you said. But I will oppose your baseless insinuations that their Jewish background is somehow responsible and that all Jews are not to be trusted as a result. I will also stand against your attempts to make it seem as though no non-Jews are involved. Facts are true Smack but the truth is more than just facts.
Zenzazin
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 9:14pm@the-Jerk – seriously man, your anti-semitism is both pathetic and disgusting.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:31amEntitlement air heads…they put the proverbial gun to their own heads by taxing the hell out of the poor and middle class…and they think they have a righteous stance…AMAZING. and to be repeated elsewhere…
Report Post »Doodidle
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:55amI wonder what will happen when the government tell the police they have to work an extra 2 years as well….. I bet they will be in front of the firemen again, just this time their shields and tickle sticks will be pointed at parliment. The world is on fire, hope everyone brought marshmellows or some hotdogs atleast
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:23amSetting the stage for Jihad.
We in America can learn from this Jihad, being waged and orchestrated by The House of Saud, or we can continue to tell ourselves that the threat posed by Islam emanates only from the “radicalized” ones.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:34amThis is not jihad. This is the predictable out come of all welfare states. Commonsense tells you this. All welfare states eventually hit a critical mass where the takers, leaches, suck more out than can be produced. It is as inevitable as death and taxes. All welfare states fall, which is why no one should ever be able to take from another via force of government.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:23am.
I wonder what would happen if the OWS crowd tried this here?……….
Nothing I bet. Obama won’t allow it…….
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:41amThe cops here in Tampa are ready….just watch
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 3:11pmI doubt OWSers would go near water. It reminds them of bathing.
Report Post »BLACKDIAMONDSKIER
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:14amHere is some food for thought.
Executive Orders
10990- Allows the government to take over all modes of transportation and control of highways and seaports.
10995- Allows the government to seize and control the communication media
10997- Allows the government to take over all electrical power, gas, petroleum, fuels and minerals
10998- Allows the government to seize all means of transportation, including personal cars, trucks or vehicles of any kind and total control over all highways, seaports, and waterways.
10999- Allows the government to take over all food resources and farms
11000- Allows the government to mobilize civilians into work brigades under government supervision
11001- Allows the government to take over all health, education and welfare functions
11002- Designates the Postmaster General to operate a national registration of all persons
11003- Allows the government to take over all airports and aircraft, including commercial aircraft
11004- Allows the Housing and Finance Authority to relocate communities, build new housing with public funds, designate areas to be abandoned, and establish new locations for populations
11005- Allows the government to take over railroads, inland waterways and public storage facilities
11051- Specifies the responsibility of the Office of Emergency Planning and gives authorization to put all Executive Orders into effect in times of increased international tensions a
Report Post »BLACKDIAMONDSKIER
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:16amSorry I got cut off. Here is the rest.
11051- Specifies the responsibility of the Office of Emergency Planning and gives authorization to put all Executive Orders into effect in times of increased international tensions and economic or financial crisis.
11310- Grants authority to the Department of Justice to enforce the plans set out in Executive Orders, to institute industrial support, to establish judicial and legislative liaison, to control all aliens, to operate penal and correctional institutions, and to advise and assist the President.
11049- Assigns emergency preparedness function to federal departments and agencies, consolidating 21 operative Executive Orders issued over a 15 year period.
11921- Allows the Federal Emergency Preparedness Agency to develop plans to establish control over the mechanisms of production and distribution, of energy sources, wages, salaries, credit and the flow of money in the U.S. financial institutions in any undefined national emergency. It also provides that when a state of emergency is declared by the President, Congress cannot review the action for 6 months.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:34amI reading thru this. The Gubbermint controls this ALL right now. But now it’s on paper.
Report Post »poker4livin
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:59amYeah but those guys are smart, there just doing it for our benefit…right?
Report Post »JP4JOY
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 12:05pmAccording to the Executive Order Disposition Index these EO’s you listed were issued by JFK. We are now well into the 15000 numbers. Guess our heads will collectively explode if we read them all.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 12:12pmBLACKDIAMONDSKIER
Report Post »Where did you find this??
please provide a link(s).
BLACKDIAMONDSKIER
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 12:53pmhttp://www.archives.gov/federal-register/executive-orders
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 5:31pmAnd these executive orders are non binding violations of the constitution.
Report Post »Of course, the only rights you really have are the ones that you are willing to fight and die for. So when they come for your car, your gun, your farm, make sure you offer them a lead sandwich to ease their appetite. Makes sense that the they will probably use your tax forms to see who has farms worth taking, anybody claiming deductions for their farm business beware.
COFemale
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:11amI see nothing wrong with 60 as a retirement age for firefighters. Although, I could see their point about running up stairs even at 58, much less 60. I am 60 and I could say for sure, I’ve slowed down and could not run up stairs. I could see upping the age, but those 58 to 60 stay on the ground and handle ground level duties.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:38ammy thoughts exactly that was going to be my same post. They have a physical job which endangers their lives and the lives of others if they are not in outstanding physical form. they need to be retiring this is just foolish to consider keeping them going. even from a fiscal standpoint when you consider the additional cost of health insurance and accident cost. I am 30 and my knees have started swelling etc I cannot imagine what some of these guys “war wounds” are doing in their 50′s.
Report Post »JBaer
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:10amHow juvenile!!
Report Post »Scare_Libs
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:04amWe as Americans need to learn the term austerity.
Report Post »Our govt. should learn from what is going on there, but my fear is, they are so arrogant, it will happen here because their egos are so fat and it will be too late. Sad stuff……we had it all!
13th Imam
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:10amConservatives know what Austerity means. We are the 53% that have been living in Austerity, while the 47% live off of the 53%. Soon, the 47%ers will be living in Austerity, and the well armed 53%ers will stop being stolen from.
Report Post »YouAreMistakenSir
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:16am13th Imam:
Report Post »Where are you getting your numbers?
13th Imam
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:27amLook it up yourself
Report Post »duskerhu
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 12:58pmRight on, my Imam!!!
Report Post »DesertRose1960
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:02amBelgium is basically a “failed state” and has had trouble setting up a government for years. There are deep splits between the Walloons and the Flemish. It took 18 months to set up an official government after elections in June, 2010. It doesn’t surprise me that there would be riots. There is very little comparison to problems in the U.S. Just because someone’s house catches fire in one town, does not mean my house in another town will catch fire.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:11amA failed SOCIALIST State. Much like the direction of the DEMOCRATS course for America.
Report Post »nelbert
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 11:00amIs this seriously only over the mere extension of two years to the retirement age?
Report Post »SmallGovBigGuns
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 10:59amGood idea idiots. Spray the gov employees (cops) because your dumb country runs such bad debt that 1/5 firefighters lose their jobs.what are you solving.
Report Post »flasho
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 10:56amComing to a city near you.
Report Post »flasho
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 10:55amComing to a town city near you.
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 10:55amshoot them.
Report Post »tomloy
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 10:50amthis unrest will hit the US once the federal government starts cutting its budget.
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