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Posts by lesser  

Joined: 19 Oct 2007 / Male ♂
Last Post: 7 Jul 2018
Threads: Total: 4 / In This Archive: 4
Posts: Total: 1311 / In This Archive: 1076
From: Poland, Gdansk

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lesser   
28 Jan 2008
History / Polish Volunteers in the Spanish Civil War [140]

Similarly the Republicans were not all Communists but they were democratically elected.

So was NSDAP but there was no such Franco among German generals to stop them. Same fact of winning democratic election don't justify crimes that Republicans committed against political opponents and Catholic clergy. About 300 political murders, including leader of right-wing parliamentary opposition Jose Calvo Sotelo. Add 146 bomb attacks, countless beatings, profanation of about 400 churches. Franco and his partners could not tolerate this s*it anymore. Government is supposed to provide order of law and not bloody anarchy.

Any sources ? Links ? The internets a big place and I couldn't find any ;-)

Author of this book that I recommended claims that some Poles fought for Franco but their history was never investigated. You could find similar short statements in Polish internet from other people.

According to Polish wiki those Poles whom fought on Republican side slaughtered civilians and priests. However they considered themselves to be rather communists than Poles.

The Spanish Civil War gave Hitler a boost and lead him to believe that Britain and France were weak. He also rehearsed tactics he later employed in Poland eg Blitzkreig, see Condor legion etc

Hitler saw attitudes of France and the UK when they sold out Czechoslovakia in Munich.

I would interpret Socialism widely, an awareness of social issues and common goodwill.

I would say lack of awareness how these social problems could be resolved. Good intentions are not enough.

the lawless rule of the right wing catholic nutters that had held spain back for the last century.....

Actually when Franco realized that socialism don't work he allowed people from Opus Dei to liberalize economy. Thus Spain became one of the richest countries in Europe with the highest economic grow. So Catholics did save this country from communist terror and made successful reforms.
lesser   
28 Jan 2008
History / Polish Volunteers in the Spanish Civil War [140]

The fascists were backed by Italy, Germany, Portugal and a significant amount of British gentry.

This is very dishonest to name those people in this way. Spanish fascists were just part of wider coalition which consisted from liberal monarchists, Carlists, authoritarians and parliamentary center-right. Franco himself was not a fascist. They have common goal to end lawless bloody Republican rule and stop spread of communism.

of course Poles were on Republic side fighting against Fasists.

and again in our history we were on bright side ;-)

Some Poles fought also on Franco side. I also would not call communist Poles to be on the right side. Recently published book "Hiszpania Franco" describe well the nature of political doctrine of Francism.

Maybe if Franco was defeated Hitler wouldn't have invaded Poland.

What it has to do with Poland?

I think that history has shown Poland to be a socialist country.

Pilsudski was not democratically elected, National Democrats were.

Socialist does not mean communist lukasz.....

This is the first step to hell.
lesser   
28 Jan 2008
News / Is the E.U. good for Poland?? [180]

lesser wrote: Bush's No Child Left Behind Act

Nope, Bush started this (2002). Republican Party lost its way in the sea of populism. I have watched Republican debate in SC and remember Ron Paul stating that Republicans doubled the size of Department of Education. In the past they were against such department at all.

No_Child_Left_Behind_Act.jpg

More complex situation.USA spends now 15% of the entire GDP on health.Do you find this bad?

Better they would left the money in people pockets, they know better how to spend it than any government.

I agree with you about Europe. Unfortunately Americans seems to tend to follow Europe, especially Democrats.

While agreeing that socialism, by its nature, is naturally opposed to the concept of the nation state, I would say that global capitalism is also. The need to constantly search for growth means that any barriers to trade such as borders, tariffs etc are in opposition to the ideal of a free market.

I agree but the point is that global capitalism (anti-state concept) have little support among masses in opposition to socialism. Thus socialism is far more dangerous.

Here in ireland, I would point to Eircom, our telecoms provider as being one example. British Rail in the UK is another prime example of a disastrous switch to private enterprise. There are other examples also. So it is clear that some services are best provided by the State.

I don't know much about Ireland. It also depends from competition, whether politicians blocking concessions for such activity. In Poland we had the highest price in Europe of telephone calls. Their internet provider offer is poor as well. Company was "privatized"

by French state owned company.

Railways are state owned and in pathetic shape. They just would like to be subsidized by government over and over.

However, to say that it is a socialist entity is not correct IMO. Whilst it engages in forms of outward protectionsim, inwardly it is a free market enterprise.

Even inside of the EU you have export limits, production quotas and millions of "quality improving" regulations. We could export cheap food let say from Africa but bureaucracy bribed farmers and imposed high import tariffs. They spend about half of the EU budget to subside agriculture, completely insane idea.
lesser   
25 Jan 2008
News / Is the E.U. good for Poland?? [180]

Nonsense.Education,health care and much of military in USA are private buisiness,no relation to state at all.If the colleges,universities or hospitals raise their fees,it is not a government's decision.Americans want to spend their money on them,not the government.
Military is more complex situation.

I'm not talking about private businesses but government's spendings.

Americans spend a lot for their interventionist policy, wars, military bases all over the world. These are unnecessary spendings.

Spendings on education, Bush's No Child Left Behind Act

Health care, increasing spendings on Medicare program.

Persons in charge in Europe are very old

Plenty of them cheered for commies when young, old habits die hard.
lesser   
25 Jan 2008
News / Is the E.U. good for Poland?? [180]

A constant undermining of the nation state has been taking place over the past few decades.

Yes but this is not caused by capitalists but by socialists.

There has been a constant move toward the privatisation of public services, the lowering of taxes (especially taxes on corporations), and a relaxation of regulation in the market place. All these changes are justified based on a belief that the "free market" will solve all problems.

The EU is generally socialist, over-taxed. Free market doesn't even exist within of the EU, millions of regulations, tariffs, limits, quotas hurt our economy. Private business woks always better than state owned. I would agree that taxes should be reduced for average citizens as well. They reduce taxes to corporations only because they are corrupt.

Four ways to spend money:

1. You spend your money on yourself. You're motivated to get the thing you want most at the best price. This is the way middle-aged men haggle with Porsche dealers.

2. You spend your money on other people. You still want a bargain, but you're less interested in pleasing the recipient of your largesse. This is why children get underwear at Christmas.

3. You spend other people's money on yourself. You get what you want but price no longer matters. The second wives who ride around with the middle-aged men in the Porsches do this kind of spending at Neiman Marcus. (corruption among bureaucrats)

4. You spend other people's money on other people. And in this case, who cares?
(This is goverment!)

A belief in the market as a mythical entity which will only find its equilibrium when all interference in it by Government is ended, has been adopted by many western leaders as their underlying ideology.

You are wrong, better look at the EU parliament squad. This is good outlook for all Europe, majority of MEPs are socialists, greens and communists while their theoretical opponents are not such great capitalist warriors at all.

I would draw a comparison between those who believe blindly in the mythical free market and those who once believed blindly in the communist system. Of course, the fact that a refusal to regulate the financial markets properly is responsible for the USA now facing into its largest financial crisis since the Great depression is overlooked.

I completely disagree. This is other way around, Americans became more socialistic and pay the price. They increasing spendings on education, health care, military and different kind of unnecessary destinations. Finally goverment is out of cash, so the print money and cause inflation. Depression is natural thing and should be awaited, what they are doing now only make this crises to last longer.

Most Poles I know only compare free market capitalism with communism as if there are only two options available. Of course, when I point out these things to my Polish friends, they think I am espousing a return to communism (I am not). Life is not black and white. There are many grey areas.

IMO countries, such as Poland, which now have a chance to re-structure their economies and societies in a forward thinking and sustainable way, instead seem to want to follow western societies, especially the USA, down an unsustainable path based on nothing more than the search for debt induced quick money. The USA is bankrupt and the west in general is in decline.

These days everybody in Europe chose one way and this is euro-socialism... I would certainly try to avoid western mistakes. Especially Europe looks poor, while Americans lost their way after Reagan.

EU isn't perfect but is good for Poland

What a empty statement without argumentation. Read the whole thread and start polemics if you have arguments to back this position. I seriously suspect that most of EU supporters have no clue about how this organization works...
lesser   
24 Jan 2008
News / Is the E.U. good for Poland?? [180]

Deise 07

You confuse terms, what you describe is called "anarcho-capitalism" and have very few supporters in opposition to socialism.
lesser   
23 Jan 2008
News / Have the European media lost interest in Poland? [17]

Yep. Mission accomplished for the media. They helped poles realize how stupid the previous government was.

Never thought I would say anything good about the media but, yep, I think you might be right on that one!.

Many PO supporters accused PiS supporters that they vote like Radio Maryja tells them. You actually question intellectual superiority that they think that they have over PiS voters.

Looks like "The Pot Calling The Kettle Black"
lesser   
22 Jan 2008
News / Have the European media lost interest in Poland? [17]

Yep. Mission accomplished for the media. They helped poles realize how stupid the previous government was.

What those stupid people would do if not objective media telling them what they need to do. How great that we have media that we can trust!
lesser   
21 Jan 2008
History / Poland-Russia: never-ending story? [1341]

Are you sincerely believer?

Your alternative vision somehow depends from my answer to this question?
lesser   
21 Jan 2008
History / Poland-Russia: never-ending story? [1341]

Hence, I can judge church (Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant) almost imparthially.

I think that you have not proper knowledge to judge anybody.

But IMHO the Christianity as whole represent an unpleseant view of old decomposing organism. His time and strength are exhausted.

For all kind of social revolutionaries it was always very easy to announce the end of Christianity. What they always failed is to propose realistic alternative. I have no intention to play the role of laboratory rat in their new social experiments. Their utopias already caused death of too many people.
lesser   
21 Jan 2008
History / Poland-Russia: never-ending story? [1341]

ConstantineK

Your anti-Catholic bias is pathetic. You blindly repeat communist propaganda and never tried to investigate these allegations yourself. If you are Orthodox Christian then this is huge mistake from your side. If more such uninformed Christians would side with "fighting atheists" against the Catholic Church this would cost a lot all of us. Don't be "useful idiot" of the left. Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants have much in common with each other and nothing in common with radical left.
lesser   
19 Jan 2008
News / Andrzej Lepper - is he a typical Polish politician? [8]

Most Polish voters are very strong-opinionated, uneducated, and naive at the same time that they have allowed people like Lepper govern their country for so long.

Replace word "Polish" by any other nation and word "Lepper" by similar kook and you would be still correct. Lack of Lepper's means that election ordination simply "protect" such society from smaller parties.
lesser   
17 Jan 2008
History / Should Germany claim to be the victims in Poland? [510]

We have black humor. But their are limits and some Taboo. Out of respect for the victims or those still suffering.

Obviously I respect victims of the free France but Vichy was a fact and I don't see a reason to not mention it. I hate PC, true must be said.
lesser   
17 Jan 2008
History / Jews...and their Polish experience [520]

But lack of competition doesn't mean no competition. You had several mining, automobile, shipbuilding, and energy company

Basically it means lack of competition. Central planing cause that goods from one factory are destined to some area and goods from other company to other area. Owner is the same (the state), so no reason to compete.

The only reason I see for Kremlin to favor one company is propaganda. Later they could invite western journalists and show them how great Soviet industry really is. But this is "very special" exception.

Automobile industry is a specific business. Communist countries were not leading in this industry. In Poland you had almost only Fiats and Polonezs, in Czecholslovakia Skodas and in Soviet Union probably Ladas. Polish state for example gave a license to Italian owners of Fiat to sell their inferior cars over here. Others were not allowed to the market.

About energy companies, just recently in Poland they try to liberalize a bit this market. Before you have no choice at all, paid your bills to one supplier.

Soviets shipyards worked practically only for a goverment. No market here at all.

Communists sucks, checked many times...
lesser   
17 Jan 2008
History / Jews...and their Polish experience [520]

The corruption does ring true and makes sense. But it also caused products of inferior quality and higher price. If I offered an offical 10000 dollars to buy from me. He would by my product even that it could be of worse quality and higher price because Im giving him money.

Sure but this example does not fit to Soviet realities. Central planning in the Soviet Union and the fact that everything is state owned caused lack of competition on the market. Director of the Soviet factory is not interested give anybody such a bribe. He knows that there is no similar product on the market. Soviet state owned markets were supplied with the same products. Director of this factory was interested to accomplish some centrally planned task. Profit was not so important for him because he is not a owner.
lesser   
17 Jan 2008
History / Jews...and their Polish experience [520]

Lesser explain how corruption helped SU survive longer, seems like a interesting idea please explain.

When laws are completely out of touch from reality, this is better or even necessary to broke these laws. For example if chief of the gulag has instruction from the party to produce some certain amount of goods. He is aware that if he would try to do it legally then this would be impossible. If he fails he would be fired from this job. So he do this illegally (buy necessary materials, transport etc). The outcome is that he managed and everybody are happy.

Ordinary workers to feed their families needed to steal from their factories what only possible. Otherwise they would die from hunger. Of course guards wanted bribes from the same reason. Bosses produced illegally additional goods for profit and consumers were happy that these goods are available on the black market.

First comment about economy being self destructing, its true but because of the military spending. look at Cuba same exact system as SU.

Every communist system is a bit different. I cannot judge Cuban, I'm not familiar with details. I doubt that they have as much bad system like Soviets. Cuban economy is not strong for sure.

not as good as market economies but good enough to survive.

Soviets could continue this as well. They simply decided to stop because it went in wrong direction. The Cubans otherwise. What particular moment do you expect to announce collapse of the economic system?

As far as county is concentrated, Cuba wont be territorially divided, because if I'm not wrong, people over there consider themselves to be Cubans. Soviet Union was federalist and ethnically divided.
lesser   
17 Jan 2008
History / Jews...and their Polish experience [520]

Your argument is it couldn't be the military spending because US didn't go bankrupt. What logic is that. They were do differentg economic systems. One was able to handle the strain of military spending other could not.

Soviet system was self-destructing, could not handle anything. It would collapse even without military spendings. This is why I cannot agree that military spendings caused its collapse. You could say that military spendings increased a bit speed of this process. However the reason was this economic system itself.

In additon because of this competition it was less likely for corruption to breed as easily as it did during communism

And corruption in the SU helped this country to survive longer. Looks like absurd but this is true.
lesser   
17 Jan 2008
History / Jews...and their Polish experience [520]

the Soviet economy went bankrupt because they spent all their money on the military trying to keep up with America and Nato. So It had everything to do with Europe.

You are wrong. NATO is firsts and foremost the US, by military potential and financial input. Anyway high Soviet military spendings were not crucial. How many years the US waste a lot of cash on military spendings and somehow they didn't bankrupt.

The problem with Soviet system was that they wanted by force push their ideology completely ignoring the realities. Reality was not important, they tried to establish communist kind of economy by all means. They had such incredible unwillingness to admit to their own mistakes and were stuck with completely insufficient solutions. The Soviet Union lasted so long only because citizens as much as possible tried to avoid law order, all these silly bureaucratic regulations. If they would stick strictly to these regulations then Soviet Union would collapse earlier. They would probably die from hunger themselves. Collectivization, lack of private business, overwhelming bureaucracy caused economic crash.
lesser   
16 Jan 2008
History / Jews...and their Polish experience [520]

I cant agree,anti personal freedom,my arse, as a leading member of the Royale family would say. What do you think gave your country its freedom? The fact there was a united europe chipping at the iron curtain.

"Freedom" is a relative term raped by all kind of governments regularly. Communism collapsed because bankrupted, nothing to do with Europe. Read books of Vladimir Bukovsky then you will learn about real positions of western European leaders on Eastern Europe. Your idealized world would crumble. I don't blame them but I draw conclusions.

Somehow you have no desire to discuss the EU issues in this forum. Defend them or criticize, both attitudes must be backed by some knowledge... The EU doesn't need to be based on bureaucracy and socialism and those who claim so are either blind or liars.

I doubt it,seeing as NATO was set up to counter the threat of the warsaw pact forces . Do you think Nato,in the event of ww3 would have gone,"nope,cant bomb the soviet pacific fleet coz its in asia"?

NATO wont be at war with Russia, this is a reality that some need to swallow. Theoretically if Russia would attack NATO member then the latter could invade them. This situation have nothing to do with so called WOT swindle.
lesser   
15 Jan 2008
History / Jews...and their Polish experience [520]

Poland can come and join the international community now and again.

Poland should trade with everybody and have good relation with as much countries as possible. However Poland should not build huge Brussels bureaucracy or send troops all over the world. First action is clearly anti-personal freedom and second simply nonessential. Both target taxpayers.

NATO should not take part in military action in Asia or Africa. This is in their status.
lesser   
15 Jan 2008
History / Jews...and their Polish experience [520]

Enemies? Name those enemies.

I'm not isolationist, I do analyze all possible cases separately. I don't exclude even military intervention if this would be necessary from Polish point of view.

I also hate how goverment rob taxpayers and oppose all unnecessary spendings.

You better explain how this is in Polish interest to meddle in Middle East politics??
lesser   
15 Jan 2008
History / Jews...and their Polish experience [520]

well im not so selfish. I believe in helping whenever and wherever you can.

So you should not run Polish diplomacy, because politicians from other countries (serious countries) are and always were selfish. This is not the place where money from our taxes should flow.

Beside of that, think a bit about the outcome. No matter what we would do, the Jews and the Arabs wont like it. You want "help", waste our cash and get hate in revenge, plus no peace anyway.
lesser   
15 Jan 2008
History / Jews...and their Polish experience [520]

isthatu I agree with you what do you suggest getting rid of israel. it was a mistake of the parties at yalta. its to late israel is not going anywhere, we must except that and learn to go from here. just as the palastines arent going anywhere and we must accept that.

Mistake or not, this is not our problem. What we should do is stay out from some local conflicts which have no impact on our national interests.
lesser   
15 Jan 2008
History / Professor Thomas Gross Threatens His 'Neighbors' - Poland atrocities [18]

joepilsudski

By posting this thread you only advert this book. Like Polish media which completely ignore almost all valuable titles published in this country but when anti-Polish slander appears turn all attention on it. In this case even media criticize Gross but in fact made a great promotion campaign for him. I just watched Gross in Olejnik "show", my God she looks almost like a patriot in comparison with this bigot. :)

Gross was not sure which nation was more anti-Semitic, Poles or Germans :)
Basically mocked all Eastern Europe and making excuses for Jewish guards in ghetto. What is interesting Polish and English version are not the same... One can imagine that English version is even more anti-Polish. Gross himself is not a professional historian, he is a sociologist. Majority of Polish historians claims that this book is not well documented and cannot be considered as serious historical publication. His previous book was heavily criticized by Jewish professor Norman Finkelstein.

Funny,sounds just like the sort of laws totalitarian regimes with something to hide pass,very stalinist.

This is pathetic law but it cannot be compared with western invented anti-discrimination stupidity. One can be punished because of racism, xenophobia, "homophobia", "Islamo-phobia" (of course all about verbal comments only) or Holocaust denial. So free speech denial is wider.