Work / What is deducted from a salary in Poland apart from Income tax? [155]

Most of the doctors and lecturers on that sort of money have access to cheap mortgages rather than renting and various other benefits. I also suspect the doctor you mention was quite young.

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]

I wonder if the new PiS retail tax covers 1.49zl VIP lager from Biedronka...

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

Po3, you really do come across here as someone without any redeeming features whatsoever. I hope the reality is different, but suspect it isn't.

News / PiS to impose blanket retail tax in Poland [291]


Horrible intended consequences for the Polish shoppers many of whom are already balancing a very tight budget.

Work / Salary for a senior software engineer in Poland [195]

Yes, it is an ok wage in Poland, somewhat above average. No, it wouldn't cover private school fees however English is increasingly taught well in Polish schools.

£ódż is more expensive than India, however it is cheaper than, say, Britain. A two room apartment in £ódż (a bit of guessing here) would be between 1500 and 2000 zl depending on quality. You may find one cheaper or more expensive but most would be around that price.

Off-Topic / Which PF expats are corporate "sleepers"? [55]


I have that too. Perhaps you should have a dna test too and we can compare...

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


Nothing to to with the Polish pro-democracy movement, that much is clear.


It harmed his already bad reputation and the media coverage almost certainly had a negative affect on the perception of Poles and tourism income in Warsaw.

UK, Ireland / Hundreds turn out for funeral of Polish man who died alone on in County Clare Christmas Day [28]

Basically we are making a lot of guesses here and don't know the full story. We don't know what he was like in real life, we don't know about the people around him and we don't know about the circumstances and the involvement of statutory or voluntary agencies.

What we do know is that he was receiving some sort of support and that 300 people turned out for his funeral. That's all.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

That makes no sense and is simply untrue.

It's fun to demolish the rubbish you come out with point by point, so let's go:

Free speech. This is not curtailed by the European Union in any way at all. Can you give any examples of the EU restricting free speech in Poland? PiS politicians however have attacked it constantly, especially showing their contempt for an independent media.

Right of Assembly. This is also not curtailed by the European Union in any way. LK as President of Warsaw however was known for banning marches that he disagreed with.

Hence the significance of the Polish pro-democracy rallies. People cherish the right of assembly and the right of free speech that PiS are showing so much contempt for.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


There haven't been any, only mistakes and political gaffes. Doubt they'll last the whole term but if they do there isn't a cat in hell's chance of them being re-elected.

It takes a lot to get Polish people from all ages and all walks of life out on the streets to attend a pro-democracy rally, but they've managed it and from the little that PiS dare give away about their plans, it looks like the protests will keep on occurring.

Unless they try to ban free speech and the right of assembly, which doubtless they would if they could...

Off-Topic / Which PF expats are corporate "sleepers"? [55]

They never visited me at all, either before or after EU entry. Now they seem to check on the computer rather than a home visit.


Perhaps suspect for you, as so many things seem to be! even very suspect for an American who chose to live in a communist country. For normal people no, not in the least bit suspect that someone should be aware of regulations that affect them

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


When a party that huffs and puffs about 'religious values' loses the support of the Church (as well as being responsible for the tens of thousands of people who turn out for the Polish pro-democracy rallies) it's a sign that the endgame has started.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


In fact every decision that they've made (that people know about; God knows what horrors they've burbled about among themselves in secret) has been a mistake.

Hence the strength and popular support for the Polish pro-democracy movement. I can't think of any other country where thousands of people have come out on the streets to shout "go" so soon after the election. Basically they have done nothing right, everything wrong and people are horrified at whatever insult to the country and the people that PiS will come out with next.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


I doubt that will happen unless they continue to behave as badly as they are now; even Orban's Hungary are still getting the cash. Any sanctions will be milder at first. After all, the EU a very aware that the current anti-Polish PiS regime don't reflect the will of the majority of the voters and that most Polish citizens are normal and committed to the EU (as evidenced by the approval ratings for the EU being particularly high in Poland).

Off-Topic / Which PF expats are corporate "sleepers"? [55]


Basically yes.

Some of them are surprised that a naturalised Pole might be more aware of what's what than someone who abandoned the country as soon as they could.


Isn't it. I was thinking of a reply but the comment was so stupid that words genuinely failed me.

Off-Topic / Which PF expats are corporate "sleepers"? [55]

Who cares? Mr Khan and his children who came here by choice, naturalised, settled and contributed to the country far more than you ever did before you abandoned Poland are every bit as as Polish as you are.

Off-Topic / Which PF expats are corporate "sleepers"? [55]


Don't worry, Mr Didntwannabe Kowalski. If you live in a country for most of your life you too can become naturalised. Assuming you meet the correct requirements for naturalisation, have kept up to your taxes and other formalities and certain other things - including being happy with where you live - perhaps the hardest thing for you.

I wonder if the Mods might change the thread title. Even the OP himself prefers to discuss other things than his ridiculous 'corporate sleeper' fantasy.

Off-Topic / Which PF expats are corporate "sleepers"? [55]


The you go again, trying to oversimplify something and twist it into your limited nationalistic (and probably racist) point of view.


Mind your own business. Personal privacy is an important part of Polish culture.

Off-Topic / Which PF expats are corporate "sleepers"? [55]

Nonsense, Po3. The culture is much richer, more cosmopolitan and more complex than that, However much you (as a foreigner who pours scorn on the concept of Polish nationality) dislike it.

Off-Topic / Which PF expats are corporate "sleepers"? [55]


Not much of an answer, and historically many Poles most certainly didn't have parents who identified as Polish.


Hahahaha - everybody?? Perhaps when 'common values' are ever agreed upon, people can 'subconsciously' abide by them. Until then, Poland (and Polishness) is rather more sophisticated than you either like or can handle.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


You can see it happening. Most of the most overt PiS corruption happens at Town Hall level and when that particular can of worms opens the courts will be busy.

Off-Topic / Which PF expats are corporate "sleepers"? [55]


Thousands of Poles (of varying roots) certainly weren't.


How else would someone become Polish?


Do all 40 million 'think' the same?


Does everyone agree on what constitutes 'Polish values'?


Ask Mr Kowalski who lived half his life in one place and half in another.

Off-Topic / Which PF expats are corporate "sleepers"? [55]


Reality is everything. Just think how many Jewish Poles exist, or how many Poles of Lithuanian, German, or Ukrainian background live in Poland. Their entire roots elsewhere but nevertheless they are 100% Poles.

Off-Topic / Which PF expats are corporate "sleepers"? [55]

Well, NocyMrok, that would depend entirely on whether it was your fantasy or the reality of your life, wouldn't it now...

After all, there's no such thing as an 'Eskimo Citizen' is there, whereas many people over the years have become Poles.

Off-Topic / Which PF expats are corporate "sleepers"? [55]


It's entirely subjective. If a lot of the worst of the PiS supporters did a dna test or spoke to their deceased great granny they might be very surprised indeed.

Ethnicity isn't fixed at birth. You are what you consider yourself to be.

Off-Topic / Which PF expats are corporate "sleepers"? [55]

I'm wondering too. If you're a citizen of that country, that and only that matter. Nationality and ethnicity are a matter for individuals and how they choose to identify themselves.

Off-Topic / Which PF expats are corporate "sleepers"? [55]


Nope. The only time I've been asked about nationality here in the last two decades was for the Census and for market research by advertisers.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


When the payment issue collapses, we can expect the Polish pro-democracy movement to intensify.

News / WOSP Poland charity - is it value for money? [60]


Your fantasy, Po3. The charity in question is entirely apolitical and any sort of 'brainwashing' is more likely to be found in the seedy religious denomination that sponsors Caritas.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


That's rather funny, since all they actually are is PR and political marketing. That and corruption, bigotry, hysteria, fear and criminal behaviour.

The calibre of the people who attend the Polish pro-democracy rallies is in stark contrast to the sinister and threatening behaviour of the PiS regime and their shadowy supporters.