What Was Poland like in the year 1988?

You can’t possibly be serious.

In case you were - you are an empirical evidence that there is often a tenuous connection between education and critical thought.

No, Jaruzelski Maruzelski dont know the true global socialism, a kind of socialism that female world will build. I nominating polish females taking leadership. I really saying this seriously. Male world dont know to organize things of world so socially. Leave the economy and politics of world to women.

Bzibzioh

i am very serious. my thoughts have been kneaded for many years.

As the Polish female I thank you for the nomination but my gaskets remain intact. I always knew that liberals tend to have an out-of-sync-with-reality world view but my god I never knew the extend.

Liberal? you addressing this at me? i don't have an american mouth.
if you are meaning i have a view of "out-of-sync-with-reality world", you maybe correct in some sense. but, the reality? whats that? it is night now here. tomorrow is another day. which is the reality? this night or tomorrowday? if you think this night, instead of making love one less night, you may find a way to do somethings worth tomorrowday. (global economy crisis too helping you women preparing side conditions for you. why wait more? tomorrow is another day.)

Ok, so the first time around National Socialism didn't work. Should it be tried over and over till it perfects itself. International Socialism didn't work either, yet you want to keep trying.

I wonder what you would think if the planners would compute your present living space and decided you were being selfish, thus dumping a few roommates in your flat. Or, your car would be driven by your neighbor on Mondays and Wednsdays because he doesn't have one. Ah, true socialism.

international socialism or global socialism.. never been seen yet. the past socialisms were national socialisms. maybe, we will see global international socialism soon. it is not poverty like global capitalism leave majority of folks in.. think like that oils, natural gases, mines, etc etc all energy sources, resources etc under and on the earth will be controlled by UN on their behalfs of all people living on the earth. This is global socialism, all people on the earth will have much much better living conditions than today. solar energy is for free. materials too will be for free. so, solar electric panels will be everywhere to produce free electric energy for hospitals, for houses, for cars, etc etc. life will change completely. who will work? only those who want to ride luxury cars.

What was the Internationale? A Nazi offshoot?

they using words which aren't lived. it is like the word "love" which never been lived.

Ha!


Insanity...UN is simply a propaganda front for the international elite, a tool...You ask the majority of the world, a majority of so-called 'third world' what UN does for them...Free materials?...Free energy?...Technology for this already exists, but will not come into use, because the rich elite cannot sell something that is free...Common sense...Only way these things happen is on a small scale, by individuals or groups making use of these technologies...Global socialism?...Matki Bozej!

We know those wealthies wont give materials back to us ordinary folks of world. but, it is not the plan for now, it is when global socialism happens... I told these free energy, free materials (as belong to all people on the earth) to give a hint about world socialism in advance. Not now, later. Lets see what world leaders will do first for this global crisis.

I am well aware of UN's status, a tool of global elites, weapon powers, etc..
But, UN will have to be evoluted as there is no chance.
Those elites with weapons and wealths now are under big stress and thet want to release or to discharge their stress to somewhere. They have done such things upto now. Twin towers, iraq, afganistan, georgia, etc etc.. All to gain time. They tried to create new reasons. But, it hasn't worked. They have been unable to stop global economy crisis. Trend is it will be worse day by day. From time to time, they will apply some shocks by different methods again such as small wars around the world, pumping hopes, etc etc. Pressure is increasing. Stress is increasing. But, it is not two dimensional, not local scale this time, it is a spherical model in that pressure and stress distributing evenly and increasing everywhere day by day. Now, there is a choice sooner or later: Third World World or Global Socialism.. Smoothest way is UN's evolution toward being a tool for Global Socialism asap. All other methods will be somewhat destructive or completely destructive if Third World War happens..

I don't know about Poland but the average Jo in Europe had a much better time in 1988 than he has now.

The West (USA and Europe) did wrong by helping Russian National Capitalists about closing the Soviet Union which was a good enemy tool for West to keep other capitalist countries in pressure and sucking the wealths in countries. Arabs have not been a good enemy for the West as they were already controlling these places during Soviet era. However, main reason is World Capitalism stayed alone, enemyless. And, when the greed stays alone it eats itself. This is what's happening now.

Exactly.Damn,they were afraid of the SU.Big time.Now they say to you,look if you don't do what we tell you we have armies of poor immigrants to replace you.So you have to accept everything.But SU was a pain in the asss.

immigrants from which countries? turkey? they were not immigrants, post 2-wwar workers to germany following an agreement between turkey and germany. arabs? those who can go to west are usually rich arabs. paki-india? they have historical connection with uk anyway. africa? they were travelling always anyway sometimes freely sometimes forcefully.. ha, you mean from former soviet countries like ukraine, etc? i just didnt understand who you meant by immigrants after su.

btw, most anarchic countries who were siding with the west were greece and turkey. turkey were divided fifty fifty between leftists and rightists and tens of tousands of people killed each others. it was like a civil war.. su's biggest mistake in interior war of turkey was to work with the guys of relatively rich people whose minds were in la la lands. these relatively rich, educated guys caused a reactional opinion in their minds of poor young guys who chosed to stay against them leftists. if su spent more effort on the poorer guys like the west did, turkey could be joining su those days and probably this would save su as they would be able to reach the meditarrenan sea, hence could have control points in that sea. it could be easier to add greece then which would mean the west could be blocked to enter the mediterranean sea, hence arab oils. syria too was on su then. so, su made a big mistake on turkey card.

anyway, su was not a really true socialist.. now, i wonder if global socialism happens sooner or later, if russia will resist agains this or not. it wont be easy for them to kick a thing away and to get it back.

Grey.

You joke,and I mean no disrespect,but,Ive a couple of books published in Poland in the 80s. You know the type, duel language,Polish and English text, showing the glories of Poland off to the Ex Pat community in full colour full plate photographs?

Crikey, Krakow looked grim back then, absolutly filthy and grey,still charming but so different to my experiences from 02 onwards.
Amazing job all round I say,what a turn around. :)
Right,offski out in the grey mists of a yorkshire morning, Ta ta for now :)

Yes, I have such books and albums too.


Yes, when I recall it, I feel down.


Yes, but it still could be better. Sorry, I am a prefectionist - either tip top, or nothing. :):):):)

One more observation of mine.

Check the mastheads in those old albums and see where they were printed.

What do you see?

Most are in Storage paw', enlighten me. I seem to remember Warsaw for one of them but Im sure the others were a smaller town...

( not russia if that where this is heading , I know Novosti press badge pretty well ;) )

Printing houses of old Polish albums are: Yugoslavia (mainly), Czechoslovakia, East Germany.

Today they are printed in Poland.

Lovely description Polonius.

My mother, sister (8 yrs old) & I (4) left (Skarzysko) Poland in 1988. My dad had been working in Germany & Iraq for 3 something years to save up. I vouch for the US, Canada or Australia connection as he originally picked New York because we had a family friend living there. My dad went first to check it out & he was completely appalled by NYC, stating there is no way he is bringing his family to that mess. He settled on San Diego & we've lived here every since (Sister finished Masters 2 years ago, married a German & now lives in Berlin). Parents are planning to retire in the next 5 years and also return to Europe. Depending on my post college options, I hope to do the same

ANYWAY. You bring up a great point in your message & one that I still discuss with my parents. As Poland continues to be proclaimed the ''Most improving'' Economy in Europe......the disconnect between citizens & more importantly the gap between the Have's & Have Not's is growing in Poland. (Thank you Capitalism). The ''Rat Race'' society in America has always been difficult for my parents to defend & seeing their motherland head down the same path is disheartening. But as America continues to become more socialist (Government regulation) Europe is also changing towards a more Capitalistic system. Poland has to walk a fine line with continuing to improve economically BUT not too quickly as that is a sign of all the wealth going into the hands of a small percentage of people.

My parents DAILY yearn for that CONNECTION & togetherness that you describe. As the saying goes: Ignorance is bliss & all that Polaks knew at the time was that times were better than the war torn (& Soviet spy filled) Poland their parents grew up in. My dad still speaks of the ''Western radio'' that he listened & dreamed along with. Dreaming of immense chances. In the end....my parents have more options, freedoms, choices than they could have ever imagined but everyday daily life is lacking that special connect. For example in my parents neighborhood their neighbors are an American, a Filipino & something Middle Eastern....i don't even know. How can so many different heritages, cultures & social norms mix together? My parents reminisce & mention all the kids playing together in neighborhoods & simple times spent outside with nature. Americans have EVERYTHING at their disposal but too many choices is also a bad thing. Who cares if you have 50 choices of drinks if 45 of them are crappy soda or sugar filled juice.

I look at the immense sacrifices my parents made & although I will soon have a college degree in a respectable major (Computer Science), I still do not want to raise my children in America. I also prefer the daily human interactions in Europe & mutual respect on the streets. In America you are either driving in your car or texting/surfing the web on your cell phone. This is a very lonesome place at times & in terms of Southern California particularly....a very shallow & superficial culture.

But as my mom says......those days that my dad dreams of & regret he feels for not settling in Canada or Australia instead.....are gone. He made the choice he did & although they now question whether my sister & I even had a better life than our main cousins who stayed in Poland, I try to comfort them by acknowledging the sacrifice they made & maybe more importantly to my dad.....reasons why I understand why he made the decision he did & that if I had a wife as great/supportive/hard working as my mother then I would make the same decision.