For Sale: One Used Belgium
A Belgian man, Gerrit Six, just tried to sell Belgium on eBay. Unfortunately, they took the listing down after someone bid on the slightly used country.
The odd ad was posted by one disgruntled Belgian in protest at his country's political crisis which reached a 100-day landmark Tuesday with no end in sight to the squabbling between Flemish and Walloon politicians.
"I wanted to attract attention," said Gerrit Six, the teacher and former journalist who posted the ad. "You almost have to throw rock through a window to get attention for Belgium."
Six placed the advertisement on Saturday, offering free delivery, but pointing out that the country was coming secondhand and that potential buyers would have to take on over $300 billion (euro220 billion) in national debt.
Like many of Belgium's 10 million citizens, Six is exasperated that the power struggle between the county's French- or Dutch-speaking political parties has left Belgium in political limbo since June 10 elections.
Demands for more autonomy from the Dutch-speaking Flemish are resisted by the French-speaking Walloons, making it impossible to form a government coalition and triggering concern the kingdom is on the verge of a breakup.
Six decided to vent his frustration through the Internet ad.
"My proposal was to make it clear that Belgium was valuable, it's a masterpiece and we have to keep it," he told Associated Press Television News. "It's my country and I'm taking care of it, and with me are millions of Belgians."
The folks at eBay thought it was rather amusing and let the ad run until someone actually put a €10 million bid on it. Well, it has generated some attention to the problems they have over there right now. Maybe if enough people laugh at the politicians, something will get done to settle the issues.
World news | Gaius Tuesday, 18 September , 2007
By feeblemind, Wednesday, 19 September , 2007 @ 8:26 am
Today there is a former Titan Missile Base for sale on eBay. 57 acres. ‘huge complex’.
By Gaius, Wednesday, 19 September , 2007 @ 8:59 am
I read an article a while back about a couple that had converted a former silo complex into a very nice home.
By feeblemind, Wednesday, 19 September , 2007 @ 12:22 pm
Yes. I have read similar stories.