So Belgium...

[Viney]

...has been without a government for some 9ish months now and hasn't imploded. Why is this?

I was watching it on the one show the other day and it seems that even some of its resident people didn't realise they are without a government.

So my questions are...how is the country being run? Do we need anyone to run it? Is it just some bloke with an excel spreadsheet doing the sums and dishing out the cash?

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Viney

So my questions are...how is the country being run?

Its a couple of blokes in a pub, but they haven't left yet.

Too busy with beer and frites.

Maybe we should try it, we'd save a lot of money by getting rid of meddling politicians, who come in and change everything the last lot did, no matter what the cost, good or bad

[Sir Trev]

Originally Posted by Viney

Is it just some bloke with an excel spreadsheet doing the sums and dishing out the cash?

Now that's a job I could do...

In all honesty Belgium as a country has not functioned properly for years, and is unlikely to do so unless it splits in two. I've had both Walloon and Flemish team mates over the years and they're both been very rude about the "other Belgians".

I'm amazed things have rumbled on though for such a long time without a proper government just as yourself Viney.

[TamSV]

Country's are run by the civil service. As their main task is normally to prevent the Government of the day carrying through any of their policy pledges they are probably operating much more efficiently than normal.

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by TamSV

Country's are run by the civil service. As their main task is normally to prevent the Government of the day carrying through any of their policy pledges they are probably operating much more efficiently than normal.

Lot of folk criticise the civil service here, but without govenment meddling this would be lot simipler, as there wouldn't always be a political agenda

If it can work in Belgium

[TamSV]

I'm not saying it's necessarily a bad thing. Politicians make all sorts of daft pledges when they're looking for votes.

Things can run fine without Govt - for a while. It's like if you shoot the orchestra conductor, the orchestra can keep playing no problem. At some stage though, you need a change of tempo or a new tune and that's when you need someone in charge.

I thought TimInBelgium was running things?

How can not having a government make a country that is already s*** any worse.

The place is aptly nicknamed 'the armpit of Europe'

It's a special place, the north hates the south, the south hates the north.

They both want Brussels.

The North hate Holland to the North.

The South hate french to the south/west.

Without Brussels being a centre for the EU and therefore a number of companies European headquarters (read tax breaks) the place would be even deader than it is now. It is in a stagnant stale mate. The fact it has more levels of bureaucracy than an administrative onion is one reason why it can still just about function.

I'm no longer there, but it can be a fun place to be (nothing to do with me being there or not).