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Posts by hello  

Joined: 5 Dec 2006 / Male ♂
Warnings: 1 - O
Last Post: 20 Oct 2024
Threads: Total: 22 / In This Archive: 19
Posts: Total: 891 / In This Archive: 762
From: USA
Speaks Polish?: Yes
Interests: real estate, politics, Poland

Displayed posts: 781 / page 11 of 27
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hello   
22 Oct 2007
Travel / Going to Poland in a week... How much money to have a "good time"? [11]

It's more expensive than in the US (especially now when the US dollar is weak in the world). What are you going to do in Poland - which places to go? It's not the best time weather-wise in November.

It could be a shock for you - but positive. In 1993 Poland was pretty miserable; now it's much better.
hello   
22 Oct 2007
News / Poland 2007 Elections: PO Won, PIS second [232]

I've just heard PO representative to say they will not hurry the anti-nuclear shield negotiations with the US (since US seems not to be in a hurry either). This is what I like actually. It's a shame the US government still doesn't treat Poland as a worthy partner since they still require visas for Polish citizens to enter the US.

If PO, through their negotiations with the US, will make the US government to cancel that visa requirement for Poles, I would vote for PO next time.
hello   
22 Oct 2007
News / Poland 2007 Elections: PO Won, PIS second [232]

The huge majority of people cannot afford to fly home on a whim as you would have it - unless they are doctors or dentists of course.

As I checked two-way flight from London to Warsaw is 100 pounds. Two-way flight from Chicago to Warsaw is 400 pounds (and Poles in the US on avarage make less per hour than in the UK).

===

The point is clear. Here are the groups of people in Poland who will find their lives better after PO win:

1. Business people and companies (that will supposedly take less time for bureaucracy when setting up a company).

2. Foreigners living in Poland - less bureaucracy to arrange their matters. More respect and consideration for EU laws, easier and quicker way of doing business for them.

What about the rest (80% of the Polish society)? The fact they will stay less in lines to arrange an official matter in Poland will not get them better or more-paid jobs.

I know young and educated people are usually very optimistic and if you ask them, most of them would tell you they want to be entrepreneurs and have their own companies. But where is the reality? Out of 1000 people one will have a successful company; the others either will fail or will prefer to work for 500 Euros a month. But the majority of those who were optimistic enough to claim they will have their own companies... will end up immigrating to the UK (or stay there) to work for better money as a contractor or cleaner. That's the fact and I see how these young and optimistic people may feel sorry in the future.
hello   
22 Oct 2007
News / Poland 2007 Elections: PO Won, PIS second [232]

These elections in Poland showed one thing - the Polish society is still far from being a wise society. Polish voters are still too easily manipulated by the media and populistic slogans. Instead of the conent, they still buy the package.

Compared these Polish elections to the last US presidential elections one can see what I mean. Even though most Americans (including Republicans) thought going to war in Iraq was a crucial mistake, they still voted for Bush re-election. They did so because they knew it was still a better and less-costly choice to allow him to complete this mission than to stop it and let the billions of dollars go down the drain. The American society understood that once the foundations of the house (a big mission) has been built, the most reasonable way is to complete the job, not to withdraw. Poles decided to throw the baby out with water without looking at possible consequences.

Now the PO officials will look around to set up best cozy positions, will do their private deals, and start building their small foundations while they can and the old, important jobs are still not completed. Millions of tax-payers Zlotys will be wasted again.
hello   
22 Oct 2007
News / Poland 2007 Elections: PO Won, PIS second [232]

These are the people who are voting on a future, based on their distant past. That is why 80% might have voted for PiS and not PO.

So it is now said that it was the Tusk-Kaczynski debates that actually let win PO. Before the debates most (if not all) polls showed PIS win.

If two TV shows are enough for people to change their mind, living in the country to be allowed to vote isn't a good argumentation. Especially the shows were available live on the Internet or on sat TV.
hello   
22 Oct 2007
News / Poland 2007 Elections: PO Won, PIS second [232]

You contradict yourself and miss the point. I don't think Poles who actually are not going to come back to Poland even care to vote - do you think they would take their time to register, stay in lines and lose a weekend day to do that for the sake of doing that? No - only those who HOPE to come back to Poland (now on on their retirement) voted. And their votes are in the hopes for a better Poland for them and their children too.
hello   
22 Oct 2007
News / Poland 2007 Elections: PO Won, PIS second [232]

What did PiS offer to PL Americans? Why would 80% vote PiS?

It offered a hope for Poland that they would want to come back to in the future. Polonia from the UK cannot be compared to Polonia from the US - because Poles from UK may be home onece a month or twice a week and they actually feel close to home.

Radical changing of something that was started 2 years ago by PIS is like changing a president every 2 years - can you imagine that? It only creates chaos and nothing can be completed. Not to mention political fights about which party did what and when are the results etc.
hello   
22 Oct 2007
News / Poland 2007 Elections: PO Won, PIS second [232]

It's predictable-the Polish community (and I have known many of them personally) in the States is old-fashioned and anachronistic. That is the stereotype of the PiS electorate...

I would agrue with that. It is said for PO voted mostly "young and educated" people. But "young" is not "wise" at the same time. Wise comes with experience, not education.

I predict soon there will appear articles in the media entitled like "Tusk, you deceived us. I won't come back to Poland to work for 500 Euros a month."

And the saddest thing out of it will show the lowest election participation on the next elections - people will be so disappointed that it's not possible to do "the next Ireland" overnight that they will ignore the next elections for many years to come.
hello   
22 Oct 2007
News / Poland 2007 Elections: PO Won, PIS second [232]

As predicted, about 80% of Poles in the US voted for PIS; about 80% of Poles in the UK voted for PO. That's interesting. I wonder if the immigration to the UK will stop soon and how many Poles would actually come back to Poland.
hello   
21 Oct 2007
News / Poland 2007 Elections: PO Won, PIS second [232]

It will be interesting to see how many Poles from the UK will come back to the "Polish version" of Ireland or UK as promised by Tusk.
hello   
21 Oct 2007
News / Poland 2007 Elections: PO Won, PIS second [232]

Economy, so less bureaucracy less complicated regulations, lower taxes, cutings in social benefits.
More open society ...

"cuttings in social benefits" and "More open society"

Cutting social benefits will not make the Polish society "more open"; I can say it will be the opposite, it will make the society mad.
hello   
21 Oct 2007
News / Poland 2007 Elections: PO Won, PIS second [232]

Relations with Germans will be much better

They could look better on TV or in the media, but better relations with Germany equal weaker position of Poland as a negotiator, which in the long run equal more advantages for Germany, not Poland. I'm sure Germany are glad PO won because they have one opponent less to make their plan to monopolize/Germanize the European Union in every aspect they can.

Interesting. It seems that majority of UK Polonia voted for PO.

In the US I'm pretty sure PIS clearly won.

they did nothing, that is why smashing majority of business owners voted on PO.

I'm pretty surprised to hear Poles have bought the slogan about "setting up a company in a day." Those who have enough skills to do business have opened a company a long time ago; having a company does not guarantee a profit (actually out of 10 companies 8 are out of business within a year).
hello   
21 Oct 2007
News / Poland 2007 Elections: PO Won, PIS second [232]

Poles living in Poland need to think about the fact why Polonia (Polish immigrants living abroad) in majority voted for PIS. For the last year I know many Poles living in the US who move back to Poland because according to them "the situation has improved there and they have a chance for better living now more than ever before."

The question is who was the father of the recent Polish economic success - it seems PIS did a good job, not PO. I think Poles in Poland should value Polonia's vote in more consideration because Polonia know "both sides of the story" - most of them have lived both in Poland and on immigration. That's why they may have more knowledge and insight of what could be best for Poland in the long run.
hello   
20 Oct 2007
News / Polish Election Poll (according to PolishForums) [237]

I don't know if you realize, but it is not allowed to talk about elections - you can pay up to 1,000,000 PLN for violating the rule (not discussing elections 24 hrs before the elections and on the election date). I think it was ruled by the Polish government.
hello   
19 Oct 2007
UK, Ireland / Polish/English UK immigrant literature? [3]

There are some written in Polish; I think there aren't any in English (yet). Unless you copy some post from here :).
hello   
19 Oct 2007
Travel / sroda wielkopolska [3]

I know a place called "Sroda Slaska" (in the Wroclaw region) - I'm not sure if thats' the same town.
hello   
17 Oct 2007
Life / "Wrong" Polish music [13]

I think Polish disco polo was an important element of the Polish culture and Polish people. And it still is - on Polish weddings Polish people have the greatest fun when dancing to Polish disco polo music. It's not "wrong" music at all.
hello   
17 Oct 2007
Food / US Blue Cheese Sauce and Cookbooks [9]

Pierogi may be served with cream, onion, or bacon. I don't think cheese sauce is popular with pierogies.
hello   
17 Oct 2007
Life / "Wrong" Polish music [13]

I think you mean the Polish disco-polo - a simple disco music by amateour singers originated from Polish country.
hello   
17 Oct 2007
UK, Ireland / The Little Polish Deli in UK. Running a Polish shop in the UK. [10]

The need must be there since many Poles live in the UK. But perhaps it would be easiest to hire some Polish butchers and cooks and make Polish food in the UK? Regarding food transportation from Poland, there are many transportation companies that can do that - the question is how much it would cost.
hello   
16 Oct 2007
Study / School list for Poland [11]

That would be a huge list if you mean all schools in Poland.
hello   
15 Oct 2007
Travel / Bieszczady in Poland [5]

Many Poles believe some criminal hide in Polish Bieszczady. But that's not true (especially during winter time :). In general, Bieszczady are beautiful for those who like hiking, riding on a bicycle, and camping.
hello   
12 Oct 2007
Polonia / Polonia - will you vote? [14]

So, Polish people living abroad - will you vote in the nearest elections? From what I gather only 20% of Poles living abroad will actually vote. That's probably not a good thing for Poland's future.
hello   
12 Oct 2007
Life / I'm glad I was brought up in Poland because... [4]

I can more objectively perceive the world outside - regardless if I live in the US, Poland, or any other country. Plus - living in Poland during the socialist system "toughened me up," so living in democracy is a piece of cake now :).

It's also sometimes nice to be able to oppose to some stereotypes about "Poles being dumb."