Should Polish citizens living abroad have the right to vote in elections

For me Poles live in Poland.

I don't care about immigrants, maybe soldiers or people who are abroud for short term should vote...
What kind of Pole is that guy who lives in USA for 20 years votes in American elections, pays taxes there etc. It is not Pole for me. Maybe there in USA he is Pole but not here in Poland.

I think only native born citizens who live most of the time in that country should be able to vote (ie someone who travels half of the year still should be able to but not someone who lives abroad)

Immigrants too often vote in the interest of their home country and not their host country in my opinion. Thus the native born thing I wish was applied.

The problem with Poles abroud is that they don't vote in interest of Poland in foreign countries and in Polish elections they vote on guys who look patriotic enought and it gives different results...

What is "in the interest of Poland", Prince? Was it "in the interest of Poland" to sign the missile shield? How can u tar such people with the same brush?

You know what he means...I swear you like to argue for the sport as you often nitpick at things you KNOW are not as you point out.

Clearly he meant Poles living abroad are out of touch and not as dependent on things in Poland as those living there. They don't have as much invested.

Out of touch? Considering that many abroad haven't been abroad for a long time, u r exaggerating things. Also, they have access to papers and media, do u think they are ignorant?

Let me remind u also that many abroad have families and are still Polish citizens. Poles are patriotic, they DO maintain an interest in their own country u know. Furthermore, many went abroad to earn money with the intention of returning.

Fine...put a time limit on it. Anyone abroad more than half of a year cannot vote.

I believe when people live abroad they are less in touch with the reality o the ground. I am positive in my case it is true and most all expats I know from wherever would agree. Had the law said I could not vote as I did not live in the USA I would not be bothered and in fact agree with this policy.

I also believe they are less in touch. Bush, in theory, should be the most "in touch" but is he? Many have said that he is schizophrenic, hardly an 'in touch' individual if u ask me.

U would give up ur most democratic of rights, i.e to vote? I think u will retract or at least qualify this further

I have some relatives in France they are pure Polish. They wave Polish flags when they watch some sport games. They have interest in Poland, they claim to be Polish and it is very good they do so, they participate in some Polish events in France etc.

When you ask them about come back... they have life there, companies, childern go to schools, some are in mixed marriges. Of course they are all waiting for "this moment" but after 30 years in France ...

In France they are Polish but ...

Right....most of these superpatriotic expat Poles would HATE living in Poland. They are viewing it through some fantasy not reality.

Prince just made a good point. It really sums up the attitude of many Poles, that they truly love their country but other countries offer better conditions. They maintain an active interest in Polish issues abroad and would certainly like to vote. My GF wanted to cast her vote when she was in England. She was adamant about that.

Then I contend that they don't love it. Just like with peolpe if you REALLY love them you stay and try to make things better not run off to a 'better' option. I am still for having your voting rights suspended whilst you live abroad.

When you tell them that Poland changes and Poland goes in more or less good direction (what is true) they feel offended that you undermine they Polishness because only one reason they can't come back is Police and Army on Polish streets... ;)

I agree with gtd ... longer than one year abroud and there should be no right to vote. Of course after move back to Poland they should be able to vote etc.

That's just not true. I truly love Scotland. The natural scenery, the humour and the food etc etc. I'm not there now tho. It doesn't mean that I don't love my country and read BBC for news and ask my parents.

Sorry, u can keep urself informed in this day and age. I can't believe u'd just cheapen ur most cherished of democratic rights. What of most Americans who don't even read newspapers? Are they 'in touch?'

But did you come to Poland because life is of a better quality than home? I know that CAN be somewhat subjective....but I contend if you love something you do your best to see that it or they have the best life possible and work within to do so. You don't run off so that YOUR life is more comfy and then say "but I LOVE Poland". Really that makes about as much sense as leaving your wife for a hot young thing and expecting people to believe "but I LOVE her"....righhhtt.

Doesn't fly.....

No, I came here for a new experience and I liked it for the most part. My family can fend for themselves, they don't need me to support them. I had no GF at home so...

I believe we are born to experience, we should use the options that present themselves. It's not about comfort for me. My salary wasn't that good b4.

I still expect to be able to vote back home. Many voters are ignorant and vote for slogans anyway. Most couldn't even tell u the key policies of the party that they voted for. At least I try to keep in the loop.

What do you feel gives you that right? And I don't mean the legal right but the practical right.

People living there need the results of the election much more than you. To you it is irrelevant in day to day life but to them it could be life changing.

I have an interest in how my country is shaped, for the very reason that it is my country. I have family there and that's a good enough connection.

OK, mainland Americans voted for a war abroad. That seems pretty "life changing" to me. Stick that in ur pipe and smoke it!

Not at all the same thing...they thought they were voting to ensure the safety of themselves and other free nations. And in some cases they were....not in Iraq in my opinion....

I still say only those living there and natural born should be able to vote. You would see a HUGE shift in many elections in my opinion if the out of touch expats were not voting.

Safety of themselves? By bringing terrorists out of hibernation to wage war? Wow, how safe! What safety? Terrorists will attack u 4 ur ideology. How naive they were. What, did they think that some Iraqis or Afghans or whoever else were just gonna mosey on over and attack? By unleashing hatred and declaring WAR, repeat WAR, now u have increased that potential. The terrorists won't lie down.

U just don't get it, do you? People maintain connections with the issues that matter to them back home. This is the information age. We vote for ideas, abroad or otherwise

Poland in next 20 years is not going to be richer than USA, UK or France however I think every year we are going to be much closer to this states. If somebody claims to be Polish it is very good in our history we had thousands people who were living abroad, being Polish and not always having Polish blood. It is very good but the best Poles live in Poland without looking on their blood Maybe I've picked on Poles from USA because they vote on PiS ;) but I think the same about Poles form UK or France.

Once again it is very good that they feel Polish and wave Polish flags and as long as they do so I consider them Polish.

Everybody can be Polish but not everybody should vote

Disenfranchising people because they moved away, geez, what next? It depends on the person. What if a budding political researcher went to study in the UK for 4 years and continuously kept in touch with issues that decide elections, what then? Should he be cut off?

I think Poland may be richer in the future, relatively speaking. Were America to extinguish her national debt, she'd be a much poorer country.

B-O-L-L-O-C-K-S

Sorry that is nonsense.

Edited:
HAHAHA....I messed up...and am leaving it here for all to see so that nobody can accuse me of hiding anything. I thought you said Poland IS going to be richer.

Phew...I thought you blew a screw there...glad to see it was MY mistake.

U cannot punish people for moving abroad and broadening their horizons. Interview people at home who are supposed to be in the loop, u will likely find that they are clueless or have a distorted view of events.

in 25 years it is going to be richer look our GDP increase, sometimes in our history we were much richer than most of european countries.


yes moving from Poland 25 years ago ... and deciding about my taxes :)

OK now THAT is bollocks. Sorry but I don't believe Poland will be richer than Western nations in 25 years...closer to parity? Maybe...but richer? No way in hell

Also, if China hits America like it can, Poland will be richer in all likelihood.

Sorry, tax setting will never be in ur hands anyway Prince, unless u choose to put urself in that position where u can do sth. Sorry, life isn't ideal. U have idiots voting out of a sense of obligation. U could have sb who continually monitors political developments abroad and casts their vote based on that info, by proxy for example. Don't be so black and white, nor absolutist.

racist ...

We will be but this is not going to be success of people living abroad but Poles who live in Poland.

If u want it to be, I can give u a sticker in return ;)

Repay my debt :)

I will just shoot you from a distance with my 'gat'.


Racist because I don't believe a nation will be richer than certain others? Jesus....I didn't say Poland will not be richer because Poles suck or are idiots. It is a market and development issue. I just don't believe it will happen.