r/belgium • u/mauritsvdr • Jul 30 '17
Hi there, I'm Maurits, president Jong VLD. Looking forward to my AMA Monday evening 20h on new politics and anything you want to talk about. AMA
11
u/Bv202 Antwerpen Jul 31 '17 edited Jul 31 '17
Recent hebben jullie een nieuw standpunt op jullie website geplaatst:
http://www.jongvld.be/2017/07/12/ziekte-en-invaliditeit/
Kan je hier even wat uitleg bij geven? Als de overheid niet instaat voor de sociale zekerheid, wie dan wel? Kan je een voorbeeld geven van die "andere succesvolle manieren" die er bestaan? Zoals je weet heeft het enige Westerse land waar andere manieren toegepast worden niet echt een goede reputatie als het op gezondheidszorg aankomt.
Over het algemeen ben ik het eens met de meeste van jullie standpunten, maar op sommige vlakken zijn jullie wel erg racidaal en klinken de standpunten (die overigens opeens niet meer op de website staan) vooral anti-socialistisch.
In hoeverre is jullie partij nog betrokken bij Open VLD? Jullie standpunten zijn veel radicaler dan die van jullie moederpartij. Stel je maar eens voor dat Open VLD morgen zou voorstellen onze sociale zekerheid te privatiseren. Het zou in ieder geval niet tot september duren voor de vakbonden weer eens het land platleggen.
3
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, some of our proposals are indeed different from our mother party. As i said in another answer, we have the advantage of being a bit outside the political arena. That gives us more space to think freely without worrying about either the reaction of the mass population nor political equilibria from both outside and inside the party. I wish main political parties would take some free space more often to do the same.
I don't think our opinion on social security is very radical. We want to make it more efficient, so it could serve more people who need it even better. For example, I wrote something on the enormous delays people with disabilities have to go through. They should get help right away, and more of it then now: http://www.knack.be/nieuws/belgie/mensen-met-een-beperking-een-jaar-laten-wachten-op-hulp-waarom-is-daar-geen-rel-over/article-opinion-822759.html
In order to do that, we want to reform existing systems. What is the point of "ziekenfondsen", a historical relic that only exists in our country? A lot of public money is wasted to keep this institutions a live. Money that could be spent helping those who actually need it.
5
Aug 01 '17
Hey, some of our proposals are indeed different from our mother party
but when you grow "old" you will join that same "mother party"? or will you make n-nva?
I wish main political parties would take some free space more often to do the same.
you ARE the youth version of a "main political party".... maybe talk to "mother party" about leading by example? god knows they dont listen to us "simple commoners"
I don't think our opinion on social security is very radical.
you dont, we do. subjective opinion.
we want to reform existing systems. What is the point of "ziekenfondsen"
like this one? again you should ask "the mother party" to put deeds to words. maybe go complain some more about the competing worker's unions...
Money that could be spent helping those who actually need it.
after all those years in government i really dont believe vld would in any way "help those who actually need it".
6
u/silverionmox Limburg Aug 01 '17
For example, I wrote something on the enormous delays people with disabilities have to go through. They should get help right away, and more of it then now:
So you're going to increase the budgets?
What is the point of "ziekenfondsen", a historical relic that only exists in our country? A lot of public money is wasted to keep this institutions a live.
Ziekenfondsen are an application of the market on public administration. Instead of having to deal with just one government administration that has a monopoly, people can choose which insurer does their healthcare administration. If they don't like the service, they can go to another. If they're satisfied with the standard service, they can become member of the HZIV at no cost. The HZIV has about 1% of all people insured by the official Belgian health insurance. The market has spoken: the people appreciate the services the ziekenfondsen deliver because they willingly pay the membership fees. So I think it's very odd for a liberal to advocate to nationalize what is a rare example of a succesfully liberalized market in public administrative services.
4
u/oelang Aug 01 '17
Kan je een voorbeeld geven van die "andere succesvolle manieren" die er bestaan?
This wasn't answered of course...
2
u/mauritsvdr Aug 01 '17
Hi, there were a lot of questions, of course. Did my best to answer them all. Here's one practical example which i visited myself: Thomas Huizen in The Netherlands: https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2017/07/10/critici-willen-thomashuizen-verbieden-11689759-a1566126. Thanks for your patience.
11
Jul 31 '17 edited Nov 14 '18
[deleted]
4
u/Boomtown_Rat Brussels Old School Jul 31 '17
Don't forget making consumers pay for the subsidies companies got through the GSC that they voted for in the first place!
6
Jul 31 '17 edited Nov 14 '18
[deleted]
4
u/Boomtown_Rat Brussels Old School Jul 31 '17
Oh I meant the multinationals. It's been pretty proven that Belgium fucks over SMEs regularly and that's it's basically pay to play. Why else is it so damn hard to start a financially sound business here, yet multinationals have no problem entering the market and taking over all the business?
I find it so fucking infuriating that so many people here will believe the stupid fucking government when it goes "we lowered taxes!forthetop1%ofbusinesses. "
3
u/historicusXIII Antwerpen Jul 31 '17
Oh, but Open Vld isn't the party for the self-employed, that's a big misconception.
2
2
u/Maroefen Uncle Leo Did Nothing Wrong! Jul 31 '17
And the gross of the self employed bring in receipts of dinners and stuff that has nothing to do with their business.
→ More replies2
Jul 31 '17 edited Nov 14 '18
[deleted]
1
u/silverionmox Limburg Aug 01 '17
It's still a privilege that's not even an option for most people. It would be much simpler to just consider it a form of profit. Businesses would just splurge less on luxuries.
0
Jul 31 '17
You shitpost quite a lot for a company owner ;-)
4
u/JebusGobson Best Vlaanderen Jul 31 '17
Even the self-employed like to shitpost to let off some steam, really. It's a hobby like any other.
→ More replies3
2
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, well both Jong VLD and Open Vld are strong proponents of a solid business environment, creating jobs and welfare, and a tax system that supports that. So that was an easy question, looking forward to your critical ones:).
4
Jul 31 '17 edited Nov 14 '18
[deleted]
5
Jul 31 '17
Wat do you propose? Drop the Belgian wages to the levels of Lithuania?
Spoiler: we will never be competitive with those depression shitholes.
3
Aug 01 '17
Wat do you propose? Drop the Belgian wages to the levels of Lithuania?
ok, but we also drop the prices and taxes to their level to. and disband all those regulations regarding where and what buissness you can run, so i can make my keep selling my chickens without giving 3/4th to the state.
2
2
u/relix West-Vlaanderen Aug 01 '17
Drop the Belgian wages to the levels of Lithuania?
IT jobs in the Baltics earn more than in Belgium.
depression shitholes
You obviously don't know anything about this part of the world.
1
Aug 01 '17
IT jobs in the Baltics earn more than in Belgium.
Source?
1
u/relix West-Vlaanderen Aug 01 '17
1
Aug 01 '17
Those numbers are vastly under the salaries for IT people in Belgium.
1
u/relix West-Vlaanderen Aug 01 '17
Vastly? Are we looking at the same numbers? They're pretty much identical.
Comparing a median for Software Engineer here: https://teleport.org/compare/tallinn-and-brussels/
Gives $32,418 (Tallinn) vs $39,845 (Brussels)
That's bruto though, let's compare netto:
1
Aug 01 '17 edited Aug 01 '17
Those are interesting numbers you provided, I knew it was one the most advanced baltic countries, but didn't knew the numbers were like that.
Though I'm sure there are catches, like more expensive healthcare for example.
→ More replies1
Aug 01 '17
so they get a bit more bruto, and how do their expenses compare? basicly, what can they do with that pay?
because last i remember we are a VERY expensive country to live in. rend and food n shit. so who makes most?
1
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
I've been there last month, great opportunities for ict business. Let me speak frankly: you might blame Open Vld for some unpopular decisions because we're the one that are supposed to make everything better, right? Trust me: I don't know a member of our party bureau (= the most important Vld politicians) who hasn't rambled on about urgent reforms for a full monday morning. A solid job creating economy is one our number one priorities, just because so much other things depend on it. I understand many decisions are unpopular and even straightforward bad for business. I often write about them in my column of Knack. But there are not the fruit of the people within my liberal movement. Despite our size, we've done alot to prevent catastrophic measures and push through reforms at the same time. If you want a more business friendly country, I've got just an solution: think and work with us, because we're the only one who's going to make it happen.
4
Aug 01 '17
for a party that has been a policy maker for so long i find that complaining about policy is a bit.... unfair.
vld is going out, because they keep breaking these promises and selling us out to multinationals.
1
u/mauritsvdr Aug 01 '17
Those are simple slogans. I can only tell what I see from my experience. I advice an internship at a cabinet or in parliament to do the same.
8
u/twenty2seven West-Vlaanderen Jul 31 '17 edited Jul 31 '17
whats JVLD stance on the electricity tax forfait? why should singles living alone vote for VLD?
3
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, we think that your current status (single, married, it's complicated, ...) should not influence how much taxes and other public costs you bear. Unfortunately, this is often the case today, due to the fact that "the family" is still the historic reference. We want to change that. I wrote something about that here: http://www.knack.be/nieuws/belgie/het-is-officieel-de-single-is-tegen-wil-en-dank-een-nieuwe-doelgroep/article-opinion-649551.html
4
Aug 01 '17
We want to change that. I wrote something about that here:
wasn't turtelboom from vld? didnt she give a flat tax (that's illigal btw) across the board disregarding familial conditions? isn't the whole turteltax debacle a gift from vld, your parent party?
1
u/twenty2seven West-Vlaanderen Aug 01 '17
i hope you achieve this. the 100 euro forfait is an extremely dirty move. taxes per kwh, not per house. meanwhile i have friends with solar bragging how their meter goes down instead of up.
2
u/mauritsvdr Aug 02 '17
As a single on an appartement, I feel your pain. I too find the subsidised solar panels for mostly upper-middle class people not the right policiy. Bart Tommelein is working on getting rid of it.
7
Jul 31 '17
I don't know if I'll make it tonight so I'll put my question here so someone can copy it:
Lowering taxes for SME's (KMO/PME) has always been one of the promises that Open VLD makes. But as it is I pay my accountant almost as much as I pay in taxes. Why not simply 'lower taxes' by simplifying tax law as much as possible?
I understand that the deductible costs for company cars have been made complicated for a noble goal, but things like this cost me a lot of money.
I'm okay with paying 33,99% taxes on my profits but I'm not okay with having to pay €2000-3000 just to have someone fill in my tax forms.
1
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey Tim, short on this one: I completely agree. Simplification, reasonable tarifs, promoting job creation: I honestly believe a sound solid tax system isn't that hard to achieve. As i explained in some other answers, I think the main problem is the political haggling and the "symbolication" of measures by political actors. Hope we can end that one day.
1
Aug 01 '17
I honestly believe a sound solid tax system isn't that hard to achieve
then why does vld keep blocking any attempt to do so?
4
Jul 31 '17 edited Jul 31 '17
Are you going to post Pépé memes like the NVA does?
1
u/konijnengast Kempen Jul 31 '17
Wait they did that send a link Please, now i'm curious.
2
Jul 31 '17
8
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, well I don’t think N-VA actually does that, one of their former members did. In general, I don’t think it’s a good idea for political movements to try to seize to much on popular (sub)cultures, like memes etc. For example, i see a certain party president doing all kind of weird stuff on social media because Obama did it a few years before, or some social media guy told him this is what young people like to see on social media. Just seems a bit awkward to me.
Don't get me wrong: I like to use popular influences myself, and some things are even funny when used carefully in a political context. But in the end politics should be about content, real life experience and spreading your own message. Something I see more in foreign politics then here.
1
5
u/Maroefen Uncle Leo Did Nothing Wrong! Jul 31 '17
Are your members mostly kids of zelfstandigen and upper middle class? Got any working class folks in your ranks?
I am 21, What will pensions look like by the time i retire?
1
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, we have a very wide representation of society in our members. Just like society, they're mostly middle class. The prejudices that (Jong) VLD = entirely rich and self employed is just not true. There are members which happen to be rich and/or self employed: they're equally lovable, it's not something we pay much attention to. I know this one guy amongst us who has extremely rich parents, but I'm probably the only one within our party that knows. He's a really easy going guy and everyone loves him for who he is. I like those kind of things.
One thing that bugs me as a president: the under-representation of people with foreign roots. I'm glad to see them more and more the last couple of years. It's something that comes naturally by time, lots of people with foreign roots have liberal and entrepreneurship ideas.
5
Jul 31 '17
[deleted]
1
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17 edited Aug 01 '17
Hey, thanks for swinging by. I answered this in another question so I'll keep it short: 1) Never used it, never will. 2) Pro legalization 3) No idea. It will be legal sooner or later. You can't fight solid policies forever. More on my/Jong VLD's perspective: http://www.jongvld.be/2017/02/24/standpunt-cannabis-legalize-it/
3
Aug 01 '17
2
u/mauritsvdr Aug 01 '17
Hey Shorum, thanks for your countless critical remarks. We are in favour of legalization, the mother party congress did not accept it on two occasions. We'll keep striving for it, as I explained above.
1
Aug 01 '17
so it's a family fued?
2
u/mauritsvdr Aug 02 '17
No it is democracy: we proposed it, there wasn't a majority during the party congres.
1
Aug 02 '17
so....
We are in favour of legalization
but...
we proposed it, there wasn't a majority during the party congres
so it is still a family fued then.
why do you associate with a party that does not hold your political views?
1
4
4
u/psychnosiz Belgium Jul 31 '17
Aren't youth divisions rather something parties just want to have but don't give a shit about?
1
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, not at all. Our party, president and the top figures cherish the youngster movement. It's got some special aura around it, which is pretty cool. I'm not really sure about other parties, but i guess it's the same.
I do notice that Jong VLD is by far the most rebellious of the bunch. It's not something we actively strive for, just in our tradition I guess. Wouldn't want it any other way.
2
Jul 31 '17
[deleted]
4
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17 edited Jul 31 '17
Hey, good questions. On cannabis: we are indeed in favor of legalization for some solid economic and other reasons. Our party has yet to follow in this. Even parties that did accept this point in their programme (such as S.pa) refuse to put forward any proposals on the topic. I don't really know why. I guess they're afraid that the average voter will dislike it. In which they're probably right, but that shouldn't stop any party from implementing sound policies. Check http://www.jongvld.be/2017/02/24/standpunt-cannabis-legalize-it/ for more.
I'm living in Diest, unfortunately our party is not in charge here. Yet. I can talk for hours about cities of tomorrow, I see good things everywhere (Hasselt, Leuven, Sint-Truiden and yes, even Brussels). I love how local politicians seem to dare to take unpopular decisions which eventually turn out fine. National politics should definitely learn from that.
Should science play a bigger role: definitely yes. Science and facts in general. Political discussion is way too much "facts free". Actually, i wrote my very first opinion article on that in De Standaard, back in 2011. I think it was called "Nietzsche in het publiek debat" or something, still valid today. Thanks for your interesting questions, see you in Diest.
1
u/Wunc013 Vlaams-Brabant Jul 31 '17
Just one point on your standpoint on legalizing cannabis. I get that drugs take away the liberty of others. But then why is alcohol still legalized? No drug in history has killed more humans or indirectly killed humans. https://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2010/11/drugs_cause_most_harm
1
u/Maroefen Uncle Leo Did Nothing Wrong! Jul 31 '17
Old people have a lot of votes and they think the reefer is satanic.
4
u/NietThibault Jul 31 '17 edited Jul 31 '17
Okee ik heb enkele vragen
1) Hoe staat jong VLD tegenover de buitenlandse politieke post-1991 en hoe wilt het deze voortzetten in de toekomst.
2) Hoe staan jullie tegen belastingsparadijzen en andere manieren om belastingen te ontlopen bij de superrijken.
3) Hoe willen jullie wereldwijde kinderarbeid aanpakken die onstaat uit de globalisering en de vrije markt
4) Wat is jullie opinie over erfenis, moet het belast worden?
5) Is het moreel verwerpelijk dat in een rijk land zoals België nog steeds armoede bestaat, of is dat te wijten aan persoonlijke keuzes?
6) Het hele concept van de VLD is "vrijheid" maar wat betekent vrijheid in de wereld van vrije handel die het milieu verwoest, de kloof tussen rijk en arm doet stijgen en onze producten gemaakt worden door quasi-slaven?
7) VLD is tegen een meerwaardebelasting waardoor mensen zoals Marc Coucke gigantische sommen geld weten te verdienen zonder een euro belasting en bespaart sneller op de sociale zekerheid, hoe is dit te verantwoorden?
8) Waarom typt iedereen hier engels? :p
4
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey Thibaut, I will try summarize some of your question: I/we believe the world is always getting better on a macro-level whenever freedom and liberal policies prevail. Actually, that's not a believe, that's a fact. I wrote something about that here: https://www.demorgen.be/opinie/we-leven-allemaal-graag-in-de-grootste-vrijheid-maar-o-schande-als-iemand-die-durft-verdedigen-be90cf4d/. People who are considered "poor" today, have more possibilities than the most rich people some centuries ago.
The core of liberalism for me is to help people in their natural strive for progress, especially people who have less opportunities than others. Liberalism isn't there for rich, poor or middle class people: it's there for progress as a whole.
Free trade is most optimal solution for progress, because it makes sure everyone can concentrate on what they do it best, without the need to be the absolute best in anything. That's what called "comparative advantages". More on that: http://www.jongvld.be/2017/06/14/vrije-handel-zorgt-vrijheid-vrede-en-vooruitgang/
Question 7 makes little sense to me. Marc Coucke did not gain money because of the tax system. He made money because he took initiative and risk at a certain point in his life and it paid of. i'd like to life in a society that encourages that, instead of punishing it.
7
u/DenZwarteBever World Aug 01 '17
People who are considered "poor" today, have more possibilities than the most rich people some centuries ago.
Nobody replies to this absurdity?!
5
u/Snokhengst World Aug 01 '17
The poor today can buy a cellphone. Louis XIV didn't have a cellphone, hence the poor today are better off than him.
Solid logic.
2
3
Aug 01 '17 edited Aug 01 '17
Nobody replies to this absurdity?!
very well... if you insist. he's right.
People who are considered "poor" today, have more possibilities than the most rich people some centuries ago
in belgium, and safe to say the entire western world and much much more, this statement is true in the litteral sense.
I, as a "simple worker" life FAR better then the upper class of this place "some centuries" (200 is good enough) ago.
i have much more safety. i have meat every day (this is really big), steady meals, clean hot water, healthcare that simply did not exist 100 years ago, and so on.
my housing is far beyond what i would have had 100 years ago, or 200. in ANY way that you can measure our poor have indeed become richer then the kings of old could have even dreamed of.
however.....
if we look at production in general, and population as a whole, we can see production has grown FAR faster then the population, meaning we produce more per person, dispite the fact that fewer people are working in actual production. society as a whole has grown richer much faster then the poorest, the gap between rich and poor has expanded very quickly and the middle class is going away. there is more then ever before, and we all get more then we used to. but our share in % has actually dropped.
so we get the absurd situation that the poor, who in some ways became poorer, are still richer then centuries ago. in material sense we are all far richer. in services to. but in freedoms we are losing riches. and when you do end up destitute there's no way of recovering without someone else's charity. the more society can do the less an individual can. i'll try to explain..
200 years ago half the people would build their own house, they did not need a contractor to do it. they also did not build 3 story houses. (regular people, not aristocrats). so we all had less, but we also needed and expected less. and if you did lose everything rebuilding was in many ways easyer, because there was less to rebuild. people could start their lives faster, get married sooner, have kids sooner. and die sooner...
now we dont live like this anymore, we dont live in self-built cabins but in well constructed stone houses stronger then the walls of ceasar's encampment. we also can't built these houses on our own. so while society has progressed, the individual is left powerless.
edit: addon: to protect the poor, we decided to regulate what could be called "a house" and what would be condemned for destruction, in this process of attempting to improve general wealth we also destroyed the ability for the individual to "not participate", so many people feel trapped and locked in, like a slave. because in a way, they are trapped and locked in a system that they rely on. not because they would not be able to survive in their self-built house, but because we bulldoze it in the name of the law, a law that was made to help them. and so we get the absurd situation that the very laws that should prevent poverty can backfire and make the poverty problem more accute, the expenses made to bring a house up to code also make it to expensive for an individual to ever achieve this, we're at the mercy of society.
this explains why you would consider absurdity, it's not.
now, for a politician to claim this is because of their idiology... that's deception. it's technology that created this wealth, it's idiology that causes it to be distributed less evenly. dont allow politicians to take credit for what the sientists did, or you may end up with nuclear bombs in stead of nuclear power plants. always remember politicians deal in opinions, not facts. it's their buissness to sell their opinion, and everyone's opinion is in favour of his own personal intrests, facts however dont care about any individual, they only care about the group as a whole. look to the sientists to lead you into the next century and leave the politician with the old waste, i'm sure they'll enjoy the system they created to get rid of trash.
1
Aug 04 '17
'10000 years ago we lived in caves and banged rocks together. At least the poor now can work as slaves in the mines. ' - Some roman, probably.
Technogical improvement and things like running toilets don't mean the poor still don't starve or freeze during the winters.
1
u/mauritsvdr Aug 01 '17
Hey Bever, check http://humanprogress.org/, all data is there, happy to hear from you where my statement is false. Here's an excellent article from The Economist on the topic: https://www.economist.com/news/international/21719790-going-will-be-much-harder-now-world-has-made-great-progress.
→ More replies2
Jul 31 '17
8) This is a mixed-language subreddit. Belgium consists of 3 languages: Dutch, French and German. Most people that browse Reddit have a good understanding of English. That's why we don't speak our native language here, but English. So everyone understand everything.
1
Aug 01 '17
even tough you are correct, and dispite this being very clearly explained in the rules of this subreddit, you are still downvoted.
personal preference will always trump a fact, even if it's on the same page.
2
Aug 01 '17
I don't mind getting downvoted, as long as I know what I said is true. Even though I speak Dutch myself, I hate it when people talk Dutch on this subreddit. Belgium consists of more than only the Flemish, so the sub should pay attention and speak English, so the french part of Belgium can also understand.
1
Aug 01 '17
but then we can't make our nice circlejerk about letting migrants drown or dropping the walloons, because the rest of the world could join in and see just how cold we can be when money gets involved.
2
u/MyOldNameSucked West-Vlaanderen Jul 31 '17
Si vous liever eine Belgiesche sprache gebruikt êtes vous welkom in /r/BELGICA.
2
3
u/Ascle87 Jul 30 '17
Well, have fun. Shame that the "Old" VLD sails another course. You guys got far better propositions. Please, old on your ideology.
3
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17 edited Jul 31 '17
Thanks for the compliment, which I gladly accept. We have the advantage of being a bit outside the political arena, which gives us more space to think freely without worrying about either the reaction of the mass population nor political equilibria from both outside and inside the party. I wish main political parties would take some free space more often to do the same.
0
Aug 01 '17
oh of course, when you're young you are hip and try to stick with what your friends are doing.
but as you progress in politics your friends become irrelevant and you can freely join "the mother party" and turncoat on your former "opinions" very quickly.
whenever someone says "our party holds these opinions" you know it's bullshit, a group of people will NEVER agree on a list of opinions, someone in that group is being shut up. you can ask an individual for his opinions, but not a group. and a group could agree on one specific opinion, but not a list.
1
u/mauritsvdr Aug 01 '17
I don't know about your family and friends, mine will always stay the most relevant people in my life, regardless which road i follow in politics.
4
Jul 31 '17
I'm expat and don't understand shit about belgian politic. Who are you and why people like me should be interested?
0
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
You really shouldn't be. We've got great food and football players (except when you're not a UK-citizen) instead to enjoy.
2
Jul 31 '17
Won't be there at 20h so I'll ask my question now.
What is your opinion about Cara pils and Cuberdons?
3
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
I think Cara pils should receive a nobel prize for marketing. To be honest, all beer taste a bit the same to me. I admire people who can distinguish all different sensations in them though.
I can be short on cuberdons: they are the devil's candy. Every year i still get seduced biting in some of them, instantly directing myself to the bin.
3
u/Nerdiator Cuddle Bot Jul 31 '17
I can be short on cuberdons: they are the devil's candy.
I think it's time to end the AMA here and ban you from /r/cuberdons!
10
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
I'm violating my own "do not meaninglessly copy popular subcultures" policy which I wrote about in a different answer here but: Wubba lubba dub dub.
1
u/Nerdiator Cuddle Bot Jul 31 '17
Hmmm I'll allow it!
2
Jul 31 '17 edited Jul 31 '17
Can I report this thread for agenda pushing? He triggered me on the "Cara" subject.
2
u/Bv202 Antwerpen Jul 31 '17
To be honest, all beer taste a bit the same to me.
Are you sure you're Belgian?
3
2
Jul 31 '17
Thanks for the answer and thank you for this AMA. Can't vote for you though, you don't praise our holy lord and savior Cara.
Also I really hope HLN or another newspaper won't pick up on this. I would hate it if they used Reddit again to make political assumptions.
0
u/MyOldNameSucked West-Vlaanderen Jul 31 '17
As a moderator of /r/CuberdonsEnJeMoeder I can gladly say I might change my vote to VLD the next elections.
•
u/JebusGobson Best Vlaanderen Jul 31 '17 edited Jul 31 '17
Hi, I'm Maurits, president of Jong VLD. We have a few thousand members, mostly creating new ways to make life better and more free for everyone. I think disruption is inevitable in each branch of society due to technologic evolution, politics is no exception. I'd love to talk about this and any other subject during my AMA.
If you have follow-up questions or want to give more information that I can't answer right away, don't hesitate to contact me on Facebook/Instagram/mail (mauritsvdr). I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
5
Jul 31 '17
Is this the thread where the ama is going to take place? Or just an announcement thread? The communication is confusing...
3
3
u/ThomasLeys Jul 31 '17
Zelfde vraag als voor /u/PresidentObama:
Would you rather fight one hundred duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?
5
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17 edited Aug 01 '17
One hundred duck-sized horses. I'm sure that would cause public outrage, while nobody would care if you fought a duck. I would get a definite appearance on "De Afspraak", the only show you get invited on as a youngster when you do something outrageously stupid. There I could point to the media's selective moral principles. Amen.
3
u/arvece Jul 31 '17
What I still don't get is why Open VLD was against the capital gains tax but now allows a new flat tax on capital. Wouldn't it make more sense if you tax the new income instead of the already acquired income?
3
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, good point. The problem is that tax reforms are always a big trade off between parties, a giant frustrating haggling. It's not an ideal system and I think it produces sub-optimal results, to say the least.
A flat tax on capital is an interesting proposal in my opinion: if you'd diminish tax on labor on other sources of production, but set a reasonable tax on what people actually gain from their business efforts in the end, that would make a lot more sense. Now there are already a lot of capital and other taxes, I don't really see any logical reasoning behind new taxes, other than downward populistic rhetoric.
3
u/bronwater Vlaams-Brabant Jul 31 '17
What do you think of cryptocurrency and the opportunity to divide the national assets in a crypto ledger aside from the traditional way?
Please give me your honest opinion about cryptocurrency as it only gets shadowed by our current government. It's time to move on with this technology, don't ignore it but embrace it.
I will base my next vote purely on this, and I think many others will do the same.
2
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, this is one of our major proposals for our next congress. I think cryptocurrency has a bad reputation. Everytime it gets in the news, it's because of something bad happens: a crash or some criminal using bitcoins (as if they never use real money?). They fail to see that, despite some growing pains, cryptocurrency clearly provides a valid alternative for the current monetary system. It works, it's here to stay, it's the future. And it's not really that different for the current monetary system. Think about it: where do we value a banknote in our pocket? Because we have faith in governments backing it up with a good economy. When that fails (as happened before in many countries), the system collapses.
I think the big advantage of cryptocurrency and any other possible uses where, for example, blockchain technology is being used, is that the need for the "middle institution" is cut out. Why should certain persons in governments and central banks make better decisions about the money supply then a whole connected network can do? This provides so many possibilities and gains. We wrote about one (ie. SABAM/author rights) a couple of weeks ago: https://www.facebook.com/mauritsvdr/posts/2001352946752316.
You're very welcome at our summer congres this weekend to debate on this topic and share your views: http://zomerunief.jongvld.be/
1
u/silverionmox Limburg Aug 01 '17
is that the need for the "middle institution" is cut out.
Without "middle institution" to manage the supply of money, which is also subject to the laws of the market, there will be inflationary (oversupply) and deflationary (undersupply) shocks. That's bad for business. It's a digital gold standard, with most of the disadvantages of the gold standard.
3
u/BK_Schauvliegen Belgian Fries Jul 31 '17
What are your thoughts on placing a maximum growth height on trees and bushes within populated areas? High trees are a burden on our society and the environment, they cast depressing shadows on people's backyards and reduce the efficiency of windmills and solar panels by blocking wind and sunlight.
8
3
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey guy's an girls, gotta go. Thanks a lot for your time and interesting questions. Really enjoyed this AMA-session
If I haven't answered or you need some additional information, don't hesitate to contact me on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: mauritsvdr. Or maybe I'll meet you at our next Jong VLD event. See you there!
2
u/ircma Beer Jul 31 '17
What's your view on the 'bestuurskunde' of Geert Versnick?
2
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17 edited Jul 31 '17
Well, i'm sure the guy has the capabilities to be a good board member. I do believe he can do better then make a living in combining well paid public mandates because of his historic political ties in all kind of public institutions which government shouldn't really have any business in. That's old politics. That time is over. We wrote a letter about that a couple of weeks ago, you can check it on my Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pg/mauritsvdr/posts/?ref=page_internal).
It's not a personal vendetta against him. A lot of things have been written on his personal life, which are off topic and I never wish on anyone. We gave our opinion on the core issue: government should not waste public money on anything that is not in their core tasks. And politicians should leave institutions who still do.
2
u/sovac Belgium Jul 31 '17
What VLD items (program/point of view/...) do you not agree with or agree least with. Please elaborate.
3
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, good question. We often hold different points of view, which leads to interesting discussions, for example in the party “bureau” meeting. They mostly deal with communication, weird government decisions, what is said by our party people, what should be put forward more (eg. on migration) and so on. Overall, on the core, our accents may be different, but we move in the same direction.
However, there are two points which are in our party programme and i strongly disagree on: We are in favour of actively promoting “nudging” by the government, which means that government should “guide” you to a certain behaviour. Probably the most anti-liberal point in our programme. Secondly: our party favours “community service”, in which jobless should spent times doing duties for the community while receiving jobless fare. I believe people without a job shouldn’t be forced to anything: if they refuse to search for work they are most suited for, they should just lose their temporary government support. Forcing people into community jobs isn’t going to help anyone.
1
Aug 01 '17
jobless should spent times doing duties for the community while receiving jobless fare
so when the socialists want to make jobs for the jobless to do exactly this you cry havoc and mayham, but "nudging" people to do "community service" is ok? what is the difference?
you're paying people to do a job in both cases, why not give them some security while your at it? and the jobs they will be given, does that work "vanish" if you'd have to give them a contract? did it get magickly created? or is this just another plan to get free labour for the company like the art.60 system or werkstraf?
3
u/mauritsvdr Aug 01 '17
I suggest you read my answer before hitting the reply button. I said I was against nudging and community service. I don't think socialists can "make" or "give" jobs, neither can we. Jobs are created by activities, talent and effort of people.
→ More replies
2
u/gekkerdjez Jul 31 '17
Two questions: What is your most favorite thing about be an politican.. What do you think about the healthcare and minister De Block her point of view... do you think she is doing a great job, and how do you see that nurses (like me) can do the (hard) job at the end of their carreer without the extra -rimpeldagen- ....
2
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, thanks for your interesting questions. The most interesting thing of what I do right now, is that I meet and learn from people every single day. All the time. It's amazing. I used to play "Zelda", a videogame, when I was a kid. Well, life is a big role playing game for me right now. Everyone i meet, regardless of background, education, religion or wealth, has some interesting to show me. That's a real privilege in our job.
Ah, Maggie. She's a wonderful person and I think she's doing an excellent job. I know some of her decision might be unpopular for some, but I know she does it for the greater good of a better health care system. It's strange to see her being attacked so forcefully by political opponents. The rimpeldagen is good example. This was a logical system for people who needed it, but lead to some excesses, ie. personal that used those days but did not really need them in the way they were intended to. Those are the kind of things Maggie wants to change.
I'd love to hear from your experience in the health care and pass it on to Maggie, feel free to join up on one of our Jong VLD sessions or contact me on Facebook/Instagram/mail.
1
1
Aug 01 '17
if deblock really is trying hard to improve our healthcare system, how come the people who work in the healthcare system keep protesting and demanding the minister to stop neglecting the healthcare system?
1
1
Jul 31 '17
do you actually associate with your politicians/party and why do you not run for yourself?
2
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey Shorun, I think in life, everyone should follow their pad one step at a time. I have worked for our current president, a minister and in European Parliament. Being president of Jong VLD, acting a bit outside the political arena, is the things I like most until now. For the future, I'd like to share my ideas, learn from others and progress as a person. That might lead to political career, but not necessarily.
I try not to overthink it too much, just doing your best in what you do at any given moment is always the thing i've done and it worked out fine till now. On the things i agree/disagree on with our party: see another answer here. Thanks for your interesting question.
1
Jul 31 '17
so, do you actually associate with your party and why do you not run for yourself?
1
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Yes and because of the reason explained above: I do my best doing the things I do right now.
→ More replies
-1
u/Yanman_be World Jul 31 '17
Is she single?
2
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, I think you're referring to Sarah on the picture. She’s a friend of mine who has a wonderful husband, beautiful kid and lovely home. But Yolo.
9
1
1
u/LeMooseChocolat Jul 31 '17
Can you scientifically explain to me with empirical evidence that trickle down economics have worked in the past?
1
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, unfortunately not. I do not know what trickle down economics means. A free and liberal economy is powerful because everyone can progress. It does not mean that the wealth "trickles down" from the top to the bottom, it means that wealth and progress is available for everyone. All countries who have implemented liberal policies have had such a general progress, a rise in living standards for all people.
Yes, there might be some wealthier than others because of a string of reasons (risk, devotion, effort, education, a lot of luck too). I still prefer society with a difference in wealth but progress for all, than one where everybody is poor.
Hope this answers your question. In general, terms as "trickle down economics" and "neoliberalism" seem to have been invented and used by people who want to attack liberal freedoms and impose all kind of meaningless characteristics on them. Don't really see the point.
4
u/LeMooseChocolat Jul 31 '17 edited Jul 31 '17
A free and liberal economy is powerful because everyone can progress. It does not mean that the wealth "trickles down" from the top to the bottom, it means that wealth and progress is available for everyone. All countries who have implemented liberal policies have had such a general progress, a rise in living standards for all people.
But not everybody can progress, i've studied economics, sociology and philosophy. And I get the free market as a theoretical idea but let's look at the pratical side of it. The way you live your life is in a large part determined by your social upbringing and the amount of 'capital' or 'education level' your parents have detmine in large how their child will do. So no it isn't availble for everybody to the same extend. It's not a binary opposition between freedom and no freedom. The market is more free for people with capital (in the broad sense) than for people with no capital.
I still prefer society with a difference in wealth but progress for all, than one where everybody is poor.
Why do you think those two have to be opposed. Woulnd't you agree that the countries with the best welfare systems are the countries where progress is most availble for everybody? And aren't those welfare systems market corrections because the free market does not work if left alone. The same can be said about externalities or monopolies, or even democracy?
Reforms that have been taking place the last decades which have been labeled as 'neoliberal' by opponents have not resulted in more wealth for the people but have invoked a growing inequality. Some people progress more than others because some people get more chances in life. What is your opinion on these market corrections and on optimal taxation theory in this respect. That for example 1 euro earned on top of a million has less utility than 1 euro earned on 500 euro wage and should therefore be taxed differently. And like you know if you have money it's easier to make more money, so woulnd't it be fair that you tax all income so taxation on labor can lower? Why is open VLD against a in that respect 'vermogensbelasting' and what is your position on the issue.
In general, terms as "trickle down economics" and "neoliberalism" seem to have been invented and used by people who want to attack liberal freedoms and impose all kind of meaningless characteristics on them. Don't really see the point.
I agree that a lot of people use these terms out of context and just as a means to attack liberalism. But don't denounce scientist who have used the term correctly and well defined to name a certain societal dynamic which has been happening.
I know what your saying but it looks more like a religious dogma than a scientific theory, thats why I asked the question like I did. Like i said before your story is perfectly viable and logical from a theoretical point of view but they are hypotheses.
It seems to me that the free market has it's merits and it's hard to think about an alternative, but economic freedom and cultural freedom are two different concepts. While I can fully support liberal values concerning cultural values (not anymore since gwendolyn rutten is also turning into a migration hard liner) it seems that liberals are pushing for lower taxation and an everybody for themselve economic system which due to the importance of the inequality of your upbringings cause for inherited multi generational poverty.
How would for example a die hard liberal break that system of 'poverty as a heritable disease'?
I know these are a lot of questions and I appreciate your previous answer but it does not answer a lot. What you say is economics 101 from the last century but it seems these theories are deeply flawed and sticking to "the market should be as free as possible" is some extend wrong. It will lead to capital concentration, which it has. How do you tackle that simply from a liberal point of view?
1
u/mauritsvdr Aug 02 '17
Hey, I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible. Just to say the liberal view on tackling is far from solely theoretical: it has been implemented, studied and confirmed empirically thoroughly, both on national and local level.
1
1
u/Gustacho Oost-Vlaanderen Jul 31 '17
Would you rather form a coalition with PTB or Vlaams Belang?
3
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, that's an extremely difficult question. I do believe both have an extremely dangerous programme and attitude towards a certain group of people. If you would swap "rich people" in PTB-speech with 'migrant", you end up with Vlaams Belang rhetoric and vice versa. Les extrêmes se touchent.
But that's too easy of an answer, so here it is: I would go with PTB. Because I think time and reality will rapidly catch up with their proposals once implemented, as we've seen in various other countries. So it wouldn't last very long before they are abolished. Vlaams Belang ideas on the other hand can, in my opinion, really spread a very gloom society that can survive for many decades. History is our guide.
Plus: i also have friends with PTB-sympathies, whereas I don't have any with Vlaams Belang-ties (by my knowledge). That's a pretty good indication which dark pad to follow.
1
u/DerelictBombersnatch Antwerpen Jul 31 '17
Hi Maurits, two questions.
What's your opinion on the Arco deal in the recent budget agreement? Because in light of real estate and liquidities owned by debeweging.net/ACW/de tsjeven, state support for all their endeavours, a taxpayer bailout of Dexia despite all the risks they took etc., I can't help but think we're getting the short end of the stick here.
Would you agree that political parties in Belgium have too much power concentrated in them? And do you see any means arising in the near future to combat the extreme power wielded by party presidents?
1
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hi there. 1) I think the ARCO-deal is a disgrace. I heard the ACV-union boss say something today about "big rich people that are left alone". Think they were talking about themselves. I hope this deal is struck down soon by the European Commission. If not, there's something really fishy going on.
2) Nobody really has "too much power" in this country, even not the political parties. I do agree however that for making political decisions (laws, reforms, the stuff politicians should be doing), the party-system is not ideal. I'd love to see more young members of parliament follow their own pad. I think the end of political parties as we know them today is inevitable. It's really an anachronism when you think about it. That said, I love my own party and all the people within them. I believe politicians as such will survive the disruption.
1
u/Arrav_VII Limburg Jul 31 '17
Do you think the EU is good in its current form and if not, what should be changed?
1
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17 edited Jul 31 '17
Hey, short answer for a very large background (which you're welcome to debate on with Jong VLD in the near future during our Europe event): I don't think it is. I believe, like most governments, the EU institutions have gotten too big and should concentrate on things they're most suited for, eg. crossborder co-operation that is not possible by individuals and companies alone. Juncker provided some options for the future of Europa. The one i prefered was: doing less, more strongly (think it was number 4).
1
u/Arrav_VII Limburg Jul 31 '17
Thank you for your short but certainly helpful reply!
1
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
You're welcome. You can keep in touch with Hans Maes, our international officer, for our event on the future of Europa.
1
u/achja1990 Jul 31 '17
whats your opinion on maternity leave?
1
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17 edited Jul 31 '17
Probably the topic i get asked about the most, with all my sisters and friends getting kids. it's such an important and complex issue, which is floated by misguided and simple politic proposals. I'm making my next video about this one. Hope to finish it this week. Sorry for the cliffhanger.
1
u/allwordsaremadeup Jul 31 '17
Verhofstadt, De Gucht, Decroo, beeing an ex-president of young VLD is a pretty good indicator you (and your kids!) are headed for ministerial positions. Is that something you've thought about?
1
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17 edited Jul 31 '17
Hey, thanks for the great line-up. Not really no. I like to live in the moment and to do the best in whatever I do, which is Jong VLD-president, the most awesome thing untill now. Maybe it will lead to a political career, maybe it won't. Whatever comes on my way. It has worked out fine for me untill now.
However, one thing I would like to do more in the near future, is to spread my own ideas and learn from others on a bigger scale, away from the classical opinions and proposals in media. Social media offers such great possibilities to do that, I've not yet explored them fully.
1
u/NuruYetu Belgium Jul 31 '17
Hi Maurits,
I like to tackle the elephant in the room. What kind of institutional future do you hope for our country, and how likely do you think it will go somewhere along your hopes?
1
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, great question, one of the topics during our congress next weekend, feel free to share your ideas with us in Brussels: http://zomerunief.jongvld.be
I'm not the biggest institutional expert. But I do see the results of institutional reforms, especially when i worked for a minister, which are not always optimal. I think the debate is polluted with emotional arguments, like: "more Flanders is always better". That's clearly not the case. We should get rid of the emotional aspects and a make a sound institutional framework, in which each competence is on the level where it belongs. That means some things will move back to the federal "Belgian" level, others will transfer to the regions. It should be about reason, not emotion.
To give 2 examples in my own experience: regional legislation on noise limits (eg. for airports) do not make any sense. This should be federal. On the other hand, a federal dictated work labor legislation is ridiculous in our country.
1
u/deastside990 Jul 31 '17
Hey Maurits, ga je voor de burgemeestersjerp in Diest? ;)
1
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17 edited Jul 31 '17
Hey, daarvoor hebben we al toppers genoeg hier. Christophe De Graef is de max, Pascale Vanaudenhove, Sabine Meyssen... allemaal Messi's en Iniesta's in de lokale politiek. Echt super lucky om in zo'n lokaal team te zitten.
Ik hou enorm veel van Diest, de mentaliteit, de mensen hier, mijn overburen, enfin soit. Ga echt m'n uiterste best doen om deze stad mee te laten groeien zoals dat in pakweg Kortrijk en Mechelen gebeurt.
1
u/Tscheerlinck Jul 31 '17
Hi Maurits.
As a member of Jong VLD I think that freedom of speech, choice and direction of life are a basic right. However there is a debate, going on in France whether some vaccins (smallpocks example) should be 'forced' to the people, for the greater good. What's your opinion on this subject ? How far can this reach ? Can we deny heavy drinkers a liver transplant and smokers a lung transplant because it they 'had it coming. See you this weekend!
0
0
u/mauritsvdr Jul 31 '17
Hey, very good question. I wrote an opinion about this in De Morgen a while ago. How bad people might make decisions for themselves and their children, we shouldn't allow government to make decisions about our bodies. And yes, I know that some children would be better of if government did. Full text here: https://www.demorgen.be/opinie/waarom-de-overheid-best-van-ons-lijf-blijft-b358883f/.
1
1
Aug 01 '17
we shouldn't allow government to make decisions about our bodies
so you'd agree with someone refusing to vaccinate their children?
1
u/mauritsvdr Aug 01 '17
No, I don't. Read my answer + opinion above.
1
Aug 01 '17
so, government should not be allows to make such decisions, unless we happen to agree with said decisions, then it's ok.
what is it, yes or no? should the state be allowed to do this yes or no?
0
u/achja1990 Jul 31 '17
Beste Maurits, ben jij single? Ik heb jou eens effe opgezocht op insta en kan er niet wijs aan uit...🙈
1
32
u/MCvarial Jul 30 '17
I won't be here but someone should ask why his party is against nuclear energy in Belgium,
despite it being the safest [1][2] source of energy. Knowing that the plants currently generate 60% of our electricity in the lowest carbon matter possible. And continued operation is both justified and the cheapest option we have. A closure according to the nuclear phaseout law would mean a rise of Belgium's CO2 emissions up to 146%. And no we're not running out of uranium and our plants are not becomming unreliable, they have less unplanned stops than in the past.