News / What do Polish friends think of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton? [226]


Nobody likes taxes, but the real difference is how they are spent. I lived in a socialistic country (that’s my Polish experience) and I’ve seen stagnation and corruption this model of government brings. By default, I’d rather support republicans and their “small government” approach. But not THESE republicans!

For me, it make a big difference if I have to pay higher taxes to provide health care for drug users and gang members, or to build new roads and bridges. I suffer in traffic jams and I cannot solve that problem alone, no matter how much money I have. This is the role of a sensible government and I would welcome higher taxes if they give me tangible benefits. Please note, that infrastructure investments will help lower income people as well, by providing them with jobs so that they can afford health care premiums. It’s a win-win situation.

None of the candidates proposed such a program clearly, but Obama seems to be the closest one. He talks about fixing infrastructure, improving education, and lowering the health care costs rather than automatically providing it. Hillary’s program is just a populist demagogy.

News / What do Polish friends think of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton? [226]


I agree. Let's be honest: as US representatives, they are required to think about well-being of this country, and not any other. Nevertheless, they should not represent interests of just one group of citizens.

I am particularly disturbed by Hillary Clinton unanimous support for American-Jewish demands that Poland and Polish government pay compensation to victims of Holocaust (a link to Clinton statement on US senate.gov page should go here, but the forum rules do not let me attach it). I have a great compassion to the victims of Holocaust, but Poles themselves suffered so much during WWII and after it, that they should not be the ones to pay the restitution costs. It also goes against the Europe’s climate of forgiveness and reconciliation. As a Polish-American, I would NOT support a candidate who goes openly against Polish interests.

I also have a problem with the universal health plan proposed by Hillary. Somebody has to pay for it. Effectively, this is a new tax – either on currently uninsured, who probably can’t afford it anyway; or on their employers, which will increase the work costs and ship even more jobs abroad; or on the wealthy, in which case it will decrease the work motivation of well-to-do and poor alike. We do not have to guess what will happen – European counties with their large social programs (including, in most cases, universal health care) give us a pretty good preview. While in the US, unemployment in the range of 5-6% is considered high, in Europe 10% is a norm. That high unemployment is the real price of the universal health case.

Now, if the differences between presidential candidates are put like this: “Do you want health care, or do you want your job?”, the choice is not longer obvious.

Actually, not all groups will be equally affected by the growing unemployment. In Europe, the jobless rate is highest among young Muslims. Unemployment brings frustration, and growing frustration makes them susceptible to terrorist ideologies. In fact, most terrorist attacks in Europe were carried out by young Muslims raised in those countries.

You may think that the described connection between universal health case and a danger of terrorist attacks is too far reaching. My answer: I wish I’m wrong.