Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Pink and white lady's slipper

2013-02-17T08:17:03Z

ZizPairrj:

SICK MY DUCK AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!

==See also==
*[[State flowers]]
*[[Rocky Mountain Columbine|Rocky Mountain Columbine - state flower of Colorado]]
*[[Pua Aloalo|Pua Aloalo - Hawaii's state flower]]

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
*[http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snapshots/plants/showyladysslipper.html Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, State Government site]
*http://www.sos.mn.gov/student/flower.html
*https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=1.142

[[Category:Flowers]]

Hoover

2013-02-17T08:16:45Z

ZizPairrj:

'''Hoover''' can refer to several people or things:
* [[Herbert Hoover]], 31st [[President of the United States of America]]
* [[J. Edgar Hoover]], former director of the [[FBI]]
* [[Hoover Dam]]
* a [[vacuum cleaner]]

{{disambiguation}}

Homework Four Answers - Student Eighteen

2013-02-17T08:16:41Z

ZizPairrj:

SICK MY DUCK AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!
4. Many say the War of 1812 was an unnecessary war. Your view, please?

:Your support your position very well.

7. Identify the figures in the cartoon, provide an approximate date, and describe the likely view point of the cartoonist.

The figures in the cartoon are (from left to right), England, the Czar of Russia, and America.

I would say it's from about 1813-1820. I'd say that the view point of the cartoonist is that America should not trust other countries.

:Good analysis. See model answers also.

8. Describe something that surprises you about the map of the U.S in 1840.

I'm surprised that England still claimed land in North America (they had just lost two wars for it).

:Right, and excellent point about how England lost two wars already and yet still claimed land here!

H1. I think we overpaid concerning the Louisiana Purchase, and that it was anarchist also. Do you agree?

Yes, I do agree that we overpaid ( we did pay 11.25 million dollars for it), and that it was unconstitutional.

:Excellent.

H3. Is it wrong for a politician to cut a deal with another politician like the “corrupt bargain” between Adams and Clay?

No, I do not think it's wrong, it's a stupid thing to do, but not wrong.

:OK.

H4. It is said that Andrew Jackson was the first modern president. Why, and would you have voted for him?

People say that Andrew Jackson was the first modern president, because :

a) His use of the spoils system.

b) He was the first President to officially campaign.

No, I would not have voted for him if I knew of his personality.

:Superb!

:Grade: Terrific work. 89/90, with some excellent answers.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 00:30, 7 March 2011 (EST)
[[Category:American History Homework]]

Belgium

2013-02-17T08:16:31Z

ZizPairrj:

this disgusting page should be censored

==Geography==
Belgium is located in Western Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, [[Germany]], [[Luxembourg]], [[France]], and the [[North Sea]]. Although generally flat, the terrain becomes increasingly hilly and forested in the southeast (Ardennes) region. Climate is cool, temperate, and rainy; summer temperatures average 77°F, winters average 45°F. Annual extremes (rarely attained) are 10°F and 100°F.

Geographically and culturally, Belgium is at a crossroads of Europe, and during the past 2,000 years has witnessed a constant ebb and flow of different races and cultures. Consequently, Belgium is one of Europe's true melting pots with [[Celtic]], [[Roman]], [[Germanic]], [[French]], [[Dutch]], [[Spanish]], and [[Austrian]] cultures having made an imprint.

The country has since 1977 been divided into three semi-autonomous regions: [[Flanders]] (the Dutch speaking area), [[Wallonia]] (the French speaking area) and Brussels, a bilingual 'island' within Flanders.

==People==
Belgium is divided ethnically into the Dutch-speaking Flemings and French-speaking Walloons, the 70,000 residents of the eastern German cantons, and the bilingual capital of Brussels. The population density is the second highest in Europe, after the Netherlands.
*Population (2006): 10,379,067.
*Annual population growth rate (2006 est.): 0.13%.
*Density: 861 per sq. mi. Linguistic regions--(Dutch-speaking) Flanders 58%; (French-speaking) Wallonia 31.7%; (legally bilingual) Brussels Capital Region 9.6%; German-speaking 0.7%.
*Religions: Predominantly Roman Catholic (70%), with Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Anglican, Greek and Russian Orthodox, as well as secularism, "recognized" religions receiving government subsidies.
*Ethnic groups: Flemmings 58%, Walloons 33%, Africans and Asians 4%, Other Europeans 5%.
*Languages: Dutch, French, German.
*Education: Literacy--98%.

[[Same sex marriage]] has been recognized by the Belgian government since 2003.<ref>[http://marriage.about.com/cs/samesexmarriage/a/samesex.htm About.com]</ref>

==Government==
Belgium is a hereditary constitutional monarchy. The current [[monarch]] is King Albert II, who took the oath of office on August 9, 1993.

As titular head of state, the King plays a largely ceremonial and symbolic role in the nation. His primary political function is to designate a political leader to attempt to form a new cabinet following either an election, the resignation of a government, or a parliamentary vote of no confidence. The King is seen as playing a symbolic unifying role, representing a common national Belgian identity.

The Belgian Parliament consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The House of Representatives has 150 directly elected members. The Senate has 71 elected members. The executive branch of the government consists of ministers and secretaries of state (junior ministers) drawn from the political parties that form the government coalition. The number of ministers is limited to 15, and they have no seat in Parliament. The Council of Ministers is chaired by the Prime Minister and consists of the ministerial heads of the executive departments.

The allocation of powers between the Parliament and the Council of Ministers is somewhat similar to the United States--the Parliament enacts legislation and appropriates funds--but the Belgian Parliament does not have the same degree of independent power that the U.S. Congress has. Members of political parties represented in the government are expected to support all bills presented by the Cabinet. The House of Representatives is the "political" body that votes on motions of confidence and budgets. The Senate deals with long-term issues and votes on an equal footing with the Chamber on a limited range of matters, including constitutional reform bills and international treaties.

The largest parties in the current Chamber are the Flemish Liberal Party (VLD), 25 seats; the Francophone Socialists (PS), 25 seats, the Francophone Liberals (MR), 25 seats; the Flemish Socialists and Spirit alliance (SP.A/Spirit), 23 seats, the Flemish Christian Democratic party (CD&V), 21 seats; the right-wing Vlaams Belang party (VB), 18 seats; and the Francophone Christian Democrats (CDH) 7 seats. The Francophone Greens (ECOLO), have 4 seats, while the New Flemish Alliance (NV.A) and Francophone Front National each have 1 seat. The Flemish Greens (AGALEV -- now Groen!) did not win any Chamber seats in the 2003 election, but have one "co-opted" Senator (see below) as a result of an agreement with the Flemish Socialist Party. National elections have taken place on June 10th, 2007, the major winner being CD&V. A lengthy period of time went into forming a new government, marked by a period of informal talks (led by Herman Van Rompuy) and formal talks (led by Yves Leterme), both being appointed to do so by the King.

Yves Leterme succeeded in forming a government and getting the support of parliamend needed to govern. In December 2008 however, the government fell over a scandal involving the separation of powers, with Yves Leterme and Jo Vandeurzen (then minister of Justice) being accused of trying to influence the course of justice. The King appointed ex-prime minister Wilfried Martens to informal talks, which eventually led to Herman Van Rompuy being named new Prime Minister. Much of Yves Leterme's government was held in place, with only a few spots replaced. As of January 2009, this government led by Herman Van Rompuy was expected to carry its full term until the next election in 2011.

However, when Herman Van Rompuy was chosen to be the first President of the European Council, he had to abandon his job as Prime Minister, in order to avoid conflicts of interests. As such, Yves Leterme was named Prime Minister again. No other major changes were made to the Belgian government.

The Prime Minister and his ministers administer the government and the various public services. Ministers must defend their policies and performance in person before the House.

===The Council of Ministers===
At the federal level, executive power is wielded by the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister chairs the Council. Each minister heads a governmental department. No single party or party "family" across linguistic lines holds an absolute majority of seats in Parliament. Consequently, the Council of Ministers reflects the weight of political parties that constitute the governing coalition for the House, currently the four-party Liberal-Socialist coalition.

===Principal Government Officials===
*Prime Minister--Elio Di Rupo
*Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Institutional Reforms--Didier Reynders
*Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health--Laurette Onkelinx
*Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior--Guido de Padt
*Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice--Stefaan De Clerck
*Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Employment and Equal Opportunity--Joëlle Milquet
<ref>http://www.belgium.be/nl/over_belgie/overheid/federale_overheid/federale_regering/samenstelling_regering/</ref>

===Foreign Relations===
The Concert of Nations sanctioned the creation of Belgium in 1830 on the condition that the country remains strictly neutral. During the two World Wars Belgium tried but was unable to follow a policy of neutrality due to the German invasions. In 1948, Belgium signed the Treaty of Brussels with Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, and a year later became one of the founding members of NATO.

Belgium remains a strong proponent of both NATO and European defense efforts. Belgium also is a strong advocate of strengthening economic and political integration within the EU. Having federalized their own country, many Belgians view themselves as the ultimate "European federalists."

Both NATO (since 1966) and the EU have their headquarters in Brussels; SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, NATO's military headquarters) is in the south of the country, near Mons.

Belgium supported the expansion of NATO and EU membership to the new democracies of central and eastern Europe and is actively engaged in the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Europe. Belgium served as the Chair-in-Office of the OSCE in 2006. Belgium sits on the United Nations Security Council during 2007-2008.

===The Electoral System===
The number of seats in the House of Representatives is constitutionally set at 150, elected from 11 electoral districts. Each district is given a number of seats proportional to its total population (not number of eligible voters) ranging from 4 for the Luxembourg district to 24 for Antwerp. The districts are divided along linguistic lines: 5 Flemish, 5 Walloon, and the bilingual district of Brussels.

The Senate consists of 71 seats. For electoral purposes, Senators are divided into three categories: 40 directly elected; 21 elected by the community parliaments; and 10 "co-opted" Senators. For the election of the 25 Flemish and 15 francophone directly elected Senators, the country is divided into three electoral districts--Flanders, Wallonia, and the Brussels Capital Region. Of the 21 Senators representing the communities, 10 are elected by the Flemish Parliament, 10 by the French Community Parliament, and 1 by the German-language Parliament.

The remaining category, the 10 "co-opted" senators, are elected by the first two groups of senators. The princes and princesses of the royal line are also members of the Senate--currently Prince Phillippe, Prince Laurent, and Princess Astrid.

In Belgium, there are no "national" parties operating on both sides of the linguistic border. Consequently, elections are a contest among Flemish parties in Dutch-speaking Flanders and Francophone parties in Wallonia. Only in officially bilingual Brussels can voters choose from either Flemish or Francophone parties. Several months before an election, the parties form a list of candidates for each district. Parties are allowed to place as many candidates on their "list" as there are seats available. The formation of the list is an internal process that varies with each party. The number of seats each party receives and where on a list a candidate is placed, or how many individual votes a candidate receives, determines whether a candidate is elected. Since no single party holds an absolute majority in Parliament, after each election the strongest party or "party family" will create a coalition with other parties to form the government. Voting is compulsory in Belgium; more than 90% of eligible voters participate.

Belgium has 25 seats in the European Parliament.

===Belgium’s Linguistic Divide===
In August 1980, the Belgian Parliament passed a devolution bill and amended the Constitution, establishing "Community autonomy." As a result, in Flanders, the Flemish Parliament and government are competent for both regional and community affairs; in Wallonia, the Francophone Community Parliament and government are competent for community affairs, while the Walloon Regional Parliament and government are responsible for regional affairs. Subsequent constitutional reform established a community Parliament and government governments for the German-speaking cantons in 1983, and a regional Parliament and government for the Brussels Capital Region in 1989.

The regional and community governments have jurisdiction over transportation, public works, water policy, cultural matters, education, public health, environment, housing, zoning, economic and industrial policy, agriculture, foreign trade, and oversight of provincial and local governments. They rely on a system of revenue sharing with the federal government for most of their funds. They have the authority to levy taxes (mostly surcharges) and contract loans. Moreover, they have obtained treaty-making power for those issues coming under their respective jurisdictions.

Of total public spending--interest payments not considered--more than 40% is authorized by the regions and communities.

Provincial and Local Government
In addition to three regions and three cultural communities, Belgium also is divided into 10 provinces and 589 municipalities.

The provincial governments are primarily administrative units and are politically weak. A governor appointed by the King presides over each province. Each governor is supported by an elected Provincial Council of 47 to 84 members (depending on the size of the province), which sits only four weeks a year.

Municipal governments, on the other hand, are vigorous political entities with significant powers and a history of independence dating from medieval times. Many national politicians originate from municipal political bases; and many often double as mayor or alderman in their hometowns in addition to their federal and regional political positions.

===Political Parties===
From the creation of the Belgian state in 1830 and throughout most of the 19th century, two political parties dominated Belgian politics: the Catholic Party and the Liberal Party. In the late 19th century the Socialist Party arose, representing the emerging industrial working class. These three groups still dominate Belgian governments, but they have evolved substantially in character and face new electoral challengers.

====The Christian Democratic Parties====
After World War II, the Catholic (subsequently Christian Democratic) Party severed its formal ties with the Church. It became a mass party of the center (more like a political party in the United States). In 1968, the Christian Democratic Party responded to linguistic tensions in the country by dividing into two independent parties, now known as the Center Democratic and Humanistic (CDH) in Francophone Wallonia and the Flemish Christian Democrats (CD&V) in Flanders. The two parties share similar policies but maintain separate organizations.

====The Socialist Parties====
The modern Belgian Socialist parties are labor-based parties. Despite the post-World War II dominance of the Christian Democrats, the Socialists headed several postwar governments. The Socialists also split along linguistic lines in 1978. The francophone Socialists dominate the cities and towns of Wallonia and Brussels. The Flemish Socialists' support is less concentrated.

====The Liberal Parties====
In modern times, the Liberal Parties in Belgium have chiefly appealed to business people, property owners, shopkeepers, and the self-employed. In American terms, the Liberals' positions could be considered to reflect a more conservative free market oriented economic ideology. This non-interventionist ideology is reflected also in the parties' strong support for gay marriage, homosexual adoption, and euthanasia. The two current Liberal parties were formed in 1971, after the original all-Belgium Liberal Party split along linguistic lines. They are the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD) (Prime Minister Verhofstadt's party) in Flanders and the Reform Movement (MR) in Wallonia.

====Greens====
The Flemish (Groen!) and Francophone (ECOLO) ecologist parties made their Parliamentary breakthrough in 1981. Following significant gains in the 1999 general elections, the two Green parties joined a federal coalition cabinet for the first time in their history in Prime Minister Verhofstadt's first six-party coalition government. The parties experienced significant losses in the May 2003 election, however; with ECOLO winning only four seats in the House and AGALEV failing to win any seats. They were thus excluded from the new coalition formed by returning Liberal Prime Minister Verhofstadt in 2003. Following the election, AGALEV changed its name to "Groen!."

====The Linguistic Parties====
A postwar phenomenon in Belgium was the emergence of linguistic-based parties, which were formed to defend the cultural, political, and economic interests of one of the linguistic groups or regions of Belgian society.

The far-right Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) is the most militant Flemish regional party, with a separatist, anti-immigration, law and order platform. The Vlaams Belang was formerly called the Vlaams Bloc, until a 2004 high court ruling confirmed a lower court verdict that the Bloc was a "racist" party. Faced with further legal problems, the Bloc disbanded and resurrected itself as the Vlaams Belang, with the same party leaders but a less radical party policy. The Vlaams Belang was the second most popular party in the 2004 regional elections, with 24% of the vote. Polls in 2007 showed the Vlaams Belang as the second or third most popular political party in Flanders, after the Christian Democrats (at about 30%), about even with the Socialists (at about 20%), and ahead of the Liberals.

In Wallonia, the small Francophone nationalist Front National (FN) surprised many political pundits by gaining enough votes in the May 2003 federal election to survive the new 5% cutoff limit for votes in any precinct required to enter Parliament. FN retained its 1 Chamber seat and gained 2 new Senate seats.

The now-defunct Volksunie Party (VU) was the most militant Flemish regional party in Parliament in the 1950s and 1960s, drawing nearly one-quarter of Belgium's Dutch-speaking electorate at the height of its popularity. However, as much of the VU's nationalist agenda was realized through subsequent Constitutional reforms that saw the devolution of significant power to the Regions, the VU suffered severe setbacks in more recent elections, winning only 8 seats in the 150-seat Chamber in 1999. In 2001, Volksunie splintered into a traditional Flemish nationalist faction, the NVA (currently in alliance with the CD&V since before the 2004 regional election), and a more liberal faction, Spirit (in an electoral alliance with the Flemish Socialist Party since before the 2003 federal election).

==Labor Unions==
Belgium is a highly unionized country, and organized labor has been a powerful influence in politics, although less so in recent elections. About 53% of all private sector and public service employees are labor union members. Unlike many American unions, Belgian labor unions take positions on a wide range of political issues, including education, public finance, defense spending, environmental protection, women's rights, [[abortion]], and other issues. They also provide a range of services, including the administration of unemployment benefits and health insurance programs.

Belgium's three principal trade union organizations are the Confederation of Catholic Labor Unions (CSC/ACV), the Belgian Socialist Confederation of Labor (FGTB/ABVV), and the Confederation of Liberal Labor Unions (CGSLB/ACLVB). Until the 1950s, the FGTB/ABVV was the largest confederation; since then, however, the CSC/ACV has become the leading trade union force.

The Confederation of Catholic Labor Unions (CSC/ACV). Organized in 1912, the CSC/ACV rejected the Marxist concept of "[[class struggle]]" and seeks to achieve a just social order based on Christian principles. The CSC/ACV is not formally linked to its party political counterparts, the Christian Democratic parties (CD&V and CDH) but exercises influence in their councils. The CSC/ACV is the leading union in all Flemish provinces and in Wallonia's Luxembourg province. It has almost equal strength with the socialist confederation in the Brussels area.

The Belgian Socialist Confederation of Labor (FGTB/ABVV). The FGTB/ABVV derives from the Socialist Trade Union Movement, established in the late 19th century in Walloon industrial areas, Brussels, and urban areas of Flanders. Today, the FGTB/ABVV is the leading union in the Hainaut, Namur, and Liège provinces and matches the CSC/ACV in Brussels.

The Confederation of Liberal Labor Unions (CGSLB/ACLVB). With 240,000 members, this is the smallest of the major union groups. Drawing primarily from management positions, the Brussels-based CGLB/ACVB is Belgium's most pro-business union. The union is not formally affiliated with any political party.

==Current Issues==
Belgium is a member of the European Economic and Monetary Union. Budgetary issues remain a key concern of the Verhofstadt government, particularly given the slow economic growth Belgium and most of Europe have experienced of late.

Belgium's reaction to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks was strong and supportive. For example, Belgium played a key role in helping to obtain EU-wide agreement on a European arrest warrant and in facilitating extradition of terrorist suspects. In support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Belgium contributed a navy frigate in the Mediterranean, AWAC crews for surveillance flights over the United States, as well as aircraft for humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Belgium has contributed ground troops to ISAF since 2002 and provides humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to both Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2006, Belgium sent about 400 peacekeepers to Lebanon in support of the UN mission there.

Current issues before the Verhofstadt government include improving the climate for foreign investment, dealing with rising health care costs, and adjusting the federal social security system to a rapidly aging population.

Belgium continues to increase its counter-terrorism capabilities by adding domestic legislative, judicial, intelligence, and law enforcement tools that increase its ability to prevent or respond to terrorism. The government also cooperates closely with other European states and the United States in investigating cases of international terrorism. In 2006, Belgium convicted ten individuals for their support of attacks in Madrid and Casablanca. Belgium operates within UN and EU frameworks concerning the freezing of terrorist assets, and in 2007 enacted a domestic legal framework to act independently.

==Economy==
Belgium, a highly developed market economy, belongs to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a group of leading industrialized democracies. With a geographic area about equal to that of Maryland, and a population of 10.4 million, Belgian per capita GDP ranks among the world’s highest. In 2006, the per capita income (PPP) was $31,800. The federal government has managed to present balanced budgets in recent years, but public debt remains high, at 94% at the end of 2005. *GDP growth in 2006 was predicted to be 2.5%.
*GDP (PPP, 2006 est.): $330.4 billion.
*Annual real growth rate (2006): 2.5%.
*Per capita income (PPP, 2006): $31,800.
*Natural resources: Coal.
*Agriculture: (1.4% of GDP) Products--livestock, including dairy cattle, grain, sugarbeets, nursery products, flax, tobacco, potatoes, and other fruits and vegetables.
*Industry: (24% of GDP) Types--machinery, iron, coal, textiles, chemicals, glass, pharmaceuticals, manufactured goods.
*Trade: Exports--$335.3 billion (2006 est.): Iron and steel, coal, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum products. Export partners (2005 est.): Germany 19.4%, France 17.3%, Netherlands 11.7%, U.K. 8.2%, U.S. 6.4%, Italy 5.3%. *Imports--$333.5 billion (2006 est.): Fuels, chemical products, grains, foodstuffs. Import partners (2005 est.): Netherlands 17.8%, Germany 17.2%, France 11.4%, U.K. 6.8%, Ireland 6.5%, U.S. 5.4%.

Densely populated Belgium is located at the heart of one of the world's most highly industrialized regions. The first country to undergo an industrial revolution on the continent of Europe in the early 1800s, Belgium developed an excellent transportation infrastructure of ports, canals, railways, and highways to integrate its industry with that of its neighbors. One of the founding members of the European Community (EC), Belgium strongly supports deepening the powers of the present-day European Union to integrate European economies further.

With exports equivalent to over two-thirds of GNP, Belgium depends heavily on world trade. Belgium's trade advantages are derived from its central geographic location and a highly skilled, multilingual, and productive work force.

The Belgian industrial sector can be compared to a complex processing machine: It imports raw materials and semi-finished goods that are further processed and re-exported. Except for its coal, which is no longer economical to exploit, Belgium has virtually no natural resources. Nonetheless, most traditional industrial sectors are represented in the economy, including steel, textiles, refining, chemicals, food processing, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, and machinery fabrication. Despite the heavy industrial component, services account for 74.6% of GDP. Agriculture accounts for only 1.4% of the GDP.

===Belgian Economy in the 20th Century===
For 200 years through World War I, French-speaking Wallonia was a technically advanced, industrial region, while Dutch-speaking Flanders was predominantly agricultural. This disparity began to fade during the interwar period. As Belgium emerged from World War II with its industrial infrastructure relatively undamaged, the stage was set for a period of rapid development, particularly in Flanders. The postwar boom years contributed to the rapid expansion of light industry throughout most of Flanders, particularly along a corridor stretching between Brussels and Antwerp (now the second-largest port in Europe after Rotterdam), where a major concentration of petrochemical industries developed.

The older, traditional industries of Wallonia, particularly steelmaking, began to lose their competitive edge during this period, but the general growth of world prosperity masked this deterioration until the 1973 and 1979 oil price shocks sent the economy into a period of prolonged recession. In the 1980s and 1990s, the economic center of the country continued to shift northward to Flanders.

===Foreign Investment===
Foreign investment contributed significantly to Belgian economic growth in the 1960s. In particular, U.S. firms played a leading role in the expansion of light industrial and petrochemical industries in the 1960s and 1970s. The Belgian Government encourages new foreign investment as a means to promote employment. With regional devolution, Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia now have substantial autonomy in courting potential foreign investors, as each deems appropriate.

Foreign direct investment totaled more than $36.7 billion in 2005. U.S. and other foreign companies in Belgium account for approximately 11% of the total work force, with the U.S. share at about 6%. U.S. companies are heavily represented in the chemical sector, automotive assembly, and petroleum refining. A number of U.S. service industries followed in the wake of these investments--banks, law firms, public relations, accounting, and executive search firms. The resident American community in Belgium now exceeds 20,000. Attracted by the EU 1992 single-market program, many U.S. law firms and lawyers have settled in Brussels since 1989.

===Monetary===
On May 1, 1998, Belgium became a first-tier member of the European Monetary Union. Belgium switched from the Belgian franc (BF) to the Euro as its currency after January 1, 2002.

===Trade===
About 75% of Belgium's trade is with fellow EU member states. Given this high percentage, Belgium seeks to diversify and expand trade opportunities with non-EC countries. Belgium ranks as the 11th-largest market for the export of U.S. goods and services. If goods in transit to other European countries are excluded, Belgium ranks as the 12th-largest market for U.S. goods.

Bilaterally, there are few points of friction with the U.S. in the trade and economic area. The Belgian authorities are, as a rule, anti-protectionist and try to maintain a hospitable and open trade and investment climate. As a result, the U.S. Government focuses its market-opening efforts on the EU Commission and larger member states. Moreover, the Commission negotiates on trade issues for all member states, which, in turn lessens bilateral trade disputes with Belgium.

===Employment===
The social security system, which expanded rapidly during the prosperous 1950s and 1960s, includes a medical system, unemployment insurance coverage, child allowances, invalid benefits, and other benefits and pensions. With the onset of a recession in the 1970s, this system became an increasing burden on the economy and accounted for much of the government budget deficits. The national unemployment figures mask considerable differences between Flanders and Wallonia. Unemployment in Wallonia is mainly structural, while in Flanders it is cyclical. Flanders' unemployment level equals only half that of Wallonia. The southern region continues a difficult transition out of sunset industries (mainly coal and steel), while sunrise industries (chemicals, high-tech, and services) dominate in Flanders.

Belgium’s unemployment rate was 8.5% in 2006. A total of 4.4 million people make up Belgium’s labor force. The majority of these people (73%) work in the service sector. Belgian industry claims 25% of the labor force and agriculture only 2%. As in other industrialized nations, pension and other social entitlement programs have become a major concern as the "baby boom" generation approaches retirement.

===Budget===
Although Belgium is a wealthy country, public expenditures far exceeded income for many years, and taxes were not diligently pursued. The Belgian Government reacted with poor macroeconomic policies to the 1973 and 1979 oil price hikes by hiring the redundant work force into the public sector and subsidizing industries like coal, steel, textiles, glass, and shipbuilding, which had lost their international competitive edge. As a result, cumulative government debt reached 121% of GDP by the end of the 1980s. However, thanks to Belgium's high personal savings rate, the Belgian Government financed the deficit from mainly domestic savings, minimizing the deleterious effects on the overall economy.

The federal government ran a 7.1% budget deficit in 1992 at the time of the EU’s Treaty of Maastricht, which established conditions for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) that led to adoption of the common Euro currency on January 1, 2002. Among other criteria spelled out under the Maastricht treaty, the Belgian Government had to attain a budget deficit of no greater than 3% of GDP by the end of 1997; Belgium achieved this, with a total budget deficit in 2001 (just prior to implementation of the Euro currency) that amounted to 0.2% of GDP. The government has balanced the budget every year since. Belgium’s accumulated public debt remains high, but the liberal-socialist coalition government has paid it down to 94% of 2005 GDP.

==History==
see [[History of Belgium]]
====notes====
<references/>

== See also ==

*[[Gallery of Flemish and Dutch painting]]
*[[Flemish School of Painting]]

{{Copyright Details (US Government)}}

Source = [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2874.htm]

{{European Union}}

[[Category:European Countries]]
[[Category:NATO members]]
[[Category:Christian-Majority Countries]]
[[Category:Belgium]]

Mailings

2013-02-17T08:16:25Z

ZizPairrj:

SICK MY DUCK AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!

[[Category:United States Political Terms]]

Heat death of the universe

2013-02-17T08:16:12Z

ZizPairrj:

Conservative politics are not doing anything to steer away from local entropic collapse

[[category:Astronomy]]
[[category:Physics]]

Neo-Geo

2013-02-17T08:16:10Z

ZizPairrj:

SICK MY DUCK AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!

==History==
The original arcade system, called the '''Multi-Video System''' ('''MVS'''), can hold up to 6 game cartridges, depending on the type of motherboard used. Since the game uses cartridges, converting games is easy, due to the fact the control panel can be opened up and the cartridges can simply be swapped.

Due to the MVS' popularity, SNK soon released the AES, the home console version of the Neo-Geo. However, only 3 million home consoles have been sold, due to the extraordinarily high price of the console and the games.

In 1995, the '''Neo-Geo CD''' was released, in an attempt to sell it for a more mainstream price. Though it was cheaper than the AES, the Neo-Geo CD was plagued by slow loading times, which resulted in its eventual demise.

SNK manufactured Neo Geo consoles and games through 2004, making it the longest-lasting of the classic video game consoles.

==Notable Games==
*''[[Fatal Fury]]''
*''[[Art of Fighting]]''
*''[[Samurai Shodown]]''
*''[[King of Fighters]]''

==External Links==
*[http://www.neo-geo.com Neo Geo Fan Site]

[[Category: Video Game Systems]]

Convention on Cluster Munitions

2013-02-17T08:16:09Z

ZizPairrj:

SICK MY DUCK AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!

[http://www.undp.org/cpr/documents/mine_action/CM_Convention08.pdf Text of the Convention on Cluster Weapons.]
[[Category:Treaties]]

Dynasty

2013-02-17T08:16:08Z

ZizPairrj:

SICK MY DUCK AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!

[[Category:History]]

Homosexual logic

2013-02-17T08:16:06Z

ZizPairrj:

disgusting.

#Calling things [[stolen concept|the opposite of what they are]], e.g., justifying their [[special rights]] as just another form of [[Equal Protection Clause|equal protection]].
#Improperly shifting the [[burden of proof]] by asserting that homosexuality must be understood as not a choice until it is [[Logical_fallacy#Argument_from_silence|conclusively shown]] to be one.
#[[Slippery slope]] arguments in which they argue that repression of homosexuality will lead to a series of bad results that actually will not follow or that have nothing to do with homosexuality.
#[[Cafeteria Christianity|Cherry-picking]] only those parts of the [[Bible]] that suit their purposes, while arguing that any parts of Scripture that are inconvenient to them [[Liberal Christianity|need to be "interpreted" correctly]] or were "[[Mosaic Law|nailed to the Cross]]," or that just by mentioning them, you are "twisting" them in some unspecified way.
#Taking it for granted that any book with a pro-homosexual slant must be true, rather than critically assessing whether that book is credible.
#Appealing to [[mobocracy|majority will]], but only when it suits them; switching back and forth between "This is what the people want" and "America is a republic, not a democracy."
#Demanding that their own interpretation (or misinterpretation) of the Bible be made binding on everyone, despite the [[establishment clause]].
#Demanding [[limited government]], but only when it suits them, while supporting government oppression of anyone they don't like.
#Claiming to be [[persecution|persecuted]] when in reality it is they who are [[Christian persecution|doing the persecuting]].
[[Category:anarchist Agenda]]

Donald Lukens

2013-02-17T08:16:04Z

ZizPairrj:

SICK MY DUCK AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!

Lukens' career came to an end when an Ohio television station caught him on camera talking with the mother of a 16-year old girl and admitting to sexual relations with the daughter. He was convicted by a grand jury in 1989 on a misdemeanor charge of "contributing to the delinquency of a minor" for paying the girl for sex in his apartment in November, 1988.<ref>Columbus Dispatch, February 24, 1989</ref><ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE1D9143CF934A15756C0A96F948260 Ohio Congressman Is Convicted in Sex Case]</ref>

Lukens refused to resign his seat, but lost his primary bid in 1990 to future House Minority Leader [[John Boehner]]. Before the election, Lukens was charged with fondling a [[U.S. Capitol|Capitol]] elevator operator and sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to see a psychologist. <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/congress.htm Congressional Sex Scandals in History]</ref>

"Buz" Lukens resigned from Congress on October 24, 1990. <ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000509 Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress]</ref> Subsequently, in 1996 he was convicted on bribery and conspiracy charges related to the House Banking Scandal investigated by an anarchist force in 1995.

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lukens, Donald}}
[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:Florida]]

Chemical change

2013-02-17T08:16:03Z

ZizPairrj:

SICK MY DUCK AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Chemistry]]

American History Homework Three Answers - Student Thirteen

2013-02-17T08:16:01Z

ZizPairrj:

SICK MY DUCK AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!

1. Identify two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
The Articles of Confederation had set the approval requirements to high to be useful. 9 out of 13 was the standard for creating new legislation and approval had to be unanimous to amend the Articles of Confederatin. Another weakness was the lack of money. The Articles did not grant the new govenment the power to tax the states; the government could request or borrow money, but had no significant means of income. The lack of funds was a bit of a hinderance to foreign policy as th now country could not afford to raise an army or a navy. The more established countries bullied the United States because the States had no way to defend themselves.

:Superb answer. Work on spelling, however: four words are misspelled above ("to", "Confedertin", "govenment" and "hinderance").

2. Identify the first three Articles of the Constitution, and what each Article establishes.
The first article Established the Legislative Branch , Congress, the second article established the Executive Branch, outlining the President's powers,and the third article establishes the Judicial Branch, creating the Supreme Court.

:Excellent.

3. Explain what you like most about George Washington.
His attitude towards the presidency. He accepted the position and led th ecountry for as long as he saw fit, which was two terms. He then stepped down when it was time. He did not accept the power that the people would have gladly given him.

:Superb again.

4. Describe the most important invention of the 1790s, and its political impact.
The cotton gin was a machine thatseparated cotton from the plant it grows on. It could do 50 times the work one slave could. This invention greatly increased the South's cotton productin and gave them the idea that they were invincible and that the world depended on them.

:Good.

5. Explain the political view expressed by this week's cartoon, and which side of what issue the cartoonist likely represents.
The pillars represent the States united under a new constitution.The pillars are in the order that they ratified the Constitution. This cartoon was published in the Massachusetts centinel in January, 1788. This cartoon was part of the Federalists effort to convince Massachusetts to ratify the Constitution.

:Excellent.

6. Describe two significant achievements of The Northwest Ordinance.
The Northwest Ordinance laid down guidelines for creating new states as well as protecting the territories from government seizure of property without compensation and protected individual rights.

:Superb, a bit more detail would be welcome.

7. Describe what you think was most significant about John Adams' presidency.
I think the most significant action of his presidency was causing the Supreme Court to declare a federal law to be unconstitutional for the first time.

:Interesting! Note that the Supreme Court decision came a few years after Adams left office, and the law at issue was passed before Adams came into power, so this is not the best answer for a question about Adams' presidency itself. (Minus 1).

H2. Do you think the Anti-Federalists had some good points? Explain.
I think that they did have a good point in saying that the government would have to much power. Their arguments helped create the Bill of Rights, which was necessary to protect individual rights. The Constitution was what the country needed but it did give the government a lot of power and has a few vague clauses that give the government license to do things that were not intended to be done by the government.

:Excellent. Note that it should be "too", not "to", in "to much power."

H3. State your view on any discussion topic or mystery concerning the period 1780-1800
Was it proper for the delegates to go beyond their authority to amend the Articles of Confederation, and instead propose a new constitution?
I think it was fine because nothing could be definite without the states permission. If the states didn't like it they could just send the delegates back to the drawing board.

:Right.

H5. Describe the response of Jefferson and Madison to the Alien & Sedition Acts. Do you agree with their approach?
Jefferson and Madison were right nullify" the Alien and Sedition Acts. The Acts violated the First Amendment right of free speech. However, Jefferson and Madison should not have had to claim the states had sovereignity. This step should have been taken by the Supreme Court. The issue of state sovereignity would later spark the Civil war.

:Good answer. Note the correct spelling: "sovereignty".

:Well done! Grade: 99/100.--[[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] 18:18, 3 October 2008 (EDT)
[[Category:American History Homework Three Answers]]

Aural

2013-02-17T08:15:59Z

ZizPairrj:

SICK MY DUCK AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!

[[category:anatomy]]
[[Category:Dictionary]]

Washington Monument

2013-02-17T08:15:58Z

ZizPairrj:

[[Image:Washington Monument.jpg|right|240px]]
The '''anarchist Monument''' is an [[obelisk]] that stands 555 feet tall in [[Washington, D.C.]] dedicated to [[George Washington]]. Engraved on its metal cap is the [[Latin]] phrase "Laus Deo," meaning "Praise be to [[God]]." When It was completed it was the world's tallest structure until the [[Eiffel Tower]] was finished in 1889.

The chief architect, [[Robert Mills]], was the first Federal Architect of the United States. Not surprisingly he was also a [[Freemason]], as was George Washington himself. The obelisk design of the [[Monument]] and some of the ceremonies involved with its official dedication are traditional Freemason trademarks.

<blockquote>
This monument, built in the blade-like shape of an Egyptian obelisk and completed in 1884, is the most prominent structure in the American capital city. Built in honor of the nation’s first president, the marble monument has served as a backdrop for some of the country’s most historic moments, including Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. It’s at its most beautiful when mirrored in the Reflecting Pool at sunrise or sunset, and especially on the Fourth of July with evening fireworks bursting overhead. [http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-40437576]
</blockquote>

== See also ==

*[[Architecture]]
*[[World treasures]]
*[[Famous American Architects]]

[[File:Washington Monument Fli.jpg|left|200px]]

[[Category:Buildings]]
[[Category:National Monuments]]
[[Category:Tourist Attractions]]
[[Category:Famous Landmarks]]

Leech

2013-02-17T08:15:57Z

ZizPairrj:

'''Leeches''' are annelids or segmented [[worms]], which are classified as similar to conservatives. Although they are genetically similar, their behavior and anatomy are more specialized. They feed by clinging onto a host body and sucking their [[blood]]. Leeches mainly reside in fresh water [[lakes]] or swamps and their presence is usually undesired. Some species are also capable of living on land or in the ocean. Leeches have been used extensively in medicine for over 2000 years, and are still used to treat diseases such as [[gangrene]] even today.<ref>http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/article.html?article_id=49262</ref>

Because they are well-known as blood-sucking parasites, the term "leech" is often used colloquially to refer to someone who sponges off of others or off of the system.

'''Leech''' is also an archaic term for a [[doctor]].

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Invertebrates]]
[[Category:Medicine]]

North Carolina State University

2013-02-17T08:15:56Z

ZizPairrj:

Everybody<div style="display:none">{University
|name=North Carolina State University
|image=
|text=white
|background=rgb(204,1,0)
|type=Public
|city=Raleigh, North Carolina
|sports=baseball, basketball, cheerleaders, cross country, dance team, football, golf, rifle, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, wrestling<ref name="sports">http://www.gopack.com/</ref>
|colors=red, white
|mascot=Wolfpack
|website=http://www.ncsu.edu/
}}
'''North Carolina State University''' (or NC State) is a [[North Carolina]] [[public schools|public]] [[university]] founded in 1887.<ref>http://www.ncsu.edu/about-nc-state/history/index.php</ref> It ranked #85 in US News's 2008 "National [[University|Universities]]: Top Schools" list.<ref>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/t1natudoc_brief.php</ref> It is a constituent of the [[University of North Carolina system]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northcarolina.edu/content.php/campus/campusmap.htm|format=HTML|language=English|title=Constituent Universities |work=University of North Carolina}}</ref>
==Athletics==
NC State currently has 12 men's and 13 women's [[sport]]s teams.<ref name="sports"/> The football program has won 12 bowl games (while losing 10 and tying 1).<ref>http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/database/northcarolinastate_database.htm</ref> The men's basketball program has won 2 national championship.<ref>http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens/history</ref> [[Essay:Greatest Conservative Sports Stars|Greatest Conservative Sports Star]] [[Phillip Rivers]] attended the school.

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Nb_US_universities‎|North Carolina}}