History / Would you classify the Poland's Communist years as a "Soviet occupation" ? [221]

In your opinion. Re. the 'Soviet satellite' thing, Poland was, after all, in the Warsaw Pact rather than NATO. In answer to your question, 'Soviets' were assemblies of workers maintaining the dictatorship of the proletariat in certain countries. But not Poland.

Not all single (or no) party states are occupations. It is an irrelevance.

They remained in accordance with the Warsaw Pact.

True - it was recognised as legitimate.

This is not a definition of occupation.By the same twisted logic, you could say that Chile under Pinochet was occupied by the US.

Could Britain 'remove' the US troops?

A meaningless phrase. It was established by the former member states of the League of Nations, led by the US.

Next!

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


There's a fine line between being gently argumentative and outright trolling. I fear you have long crossed it.


No need at all - I'm very familiar with the way the system works and don't need to read an overseas website in which some guy claims he had to pay back all his benefits due to a 'mistake' on a form some time previously.


Interesting it doesn't mention how difficult it is and what checks are in place concerning repayments.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


All of them, not that they're 'facts' in the first place. You claim he made a 'mistake' on the form and had to repay the money, based on something you've read about a country you've never been to in an online rag and various websites. LOL

Perhaps you ought to acquaint yourself with the procedures involved in forcing someone to hand back benefits!


Some of us do.


No. You argue, pathologically even.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]

Not exactly a respected journal of record, however that's by the by. Do you swallow their account of the situation without question, especially when the facts don't add up?

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


Says it all, really.

History / Would you classify the Poland's Communist years as a "Soviet occupation" ? [221]


Entirely so, though it's interesting to note that when someone is trying to argue a point on the internet and is losing the argument that they sooner or later mention the Nazis.


This nevertheless doesn't make the government of Poland 'an occupation' even though you didn't personally like them.

History / Would you classify the Poland's Communist years as a "Soviet occupation" ? [221]


By the same logic Poland would share responsibility for the vile regime in Myanmar who it not only recognises but also supplies arms to.


And they were not occupant, nor did those things occur after the PRL was established by law.


You have assumed very daftly indeed. The PRL were not occupiers, they were the legitimate and internationally recognised government of Poland.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


You do now.


Another reason there is something dodgy in either his case, the article, or more probably both.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]

Even though all information is available in Polish. Not that a 'mistake' in the form is a reason for someone to be forced by law to return the money!

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


I smell a rat.


And here it is.


Exactly. People are not commodities.

History / Would you classify the Poland's Communist years as a "Soviet occupation" ? [221]


Which it doesn't. The PRL government was legally recognised as such by neighbouring states, by the US, the UK, Franc and the entire United nations. Not an 'occupation'.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


In which case they were doing it wrong.

Though I wonder why you think that waiting time has any relevance.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


The've been doing that for decades.


It takes nothing of the sort.


You might like to check out the meaning of 'grudge' in the dictionary.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


Each country sets their own policy - Germany and Holland have a similar rule to the UK; some others don't.


One good reason the system should be standardised EU-wide. Poland will be screaming for this when the time comes that there are plenty of old-age pensioners there who have paid their contributions in the UK. The Polish government will under the current agreement have to pay the British rate from their own treasury. There must be a few people (whether British or Polish) claiming their pension like this even now.

History / Would you classify the Poland's Communist years as a "Soviet occupation" ? [221]


The reality is that 'occupation' has a very precise meaning, defined under international law.


Quite.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]

You'd think so, but it isn't. Nothing to do with the EU - it's about certain benefits (usually connected with children) being transferable. Remember that the level of migration to the UK from other EU states was grossly underestimated.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


No. It is about the child, not the parent.


This is one of the more contentious issues.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


No. Some benefits are contributions based and others are income based.

News / Poland and the European Union Fund Allocations [59]


Or perhaps a major provider of jobs and a supermarket operating to a degree of efficiency that Poles alone have never achieved.


Yes, National Socialism. Fortunately you are neither a 'patriotic individual' nor someone who will ever 'lead' anything.


You mean the elected government?


Not everything. Some of us can afford things made in Europe...


Something you did years ago, when you left Poland. If you aren't sure how to translate it to the equivalent English apophthegm, try google.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


A question you might very well direct towards yourself. Have a better look at the sites.


It's clear you don't understand the difference between what you quaintly call 'a dole' and welfare benefits. There are benefits available from day one, regardless of tax. I even mentioned one for you in my last post.


Such a shame that people exploit 'loopholes' in the system - better to call those 'loopholes' provision for people who really need help.


From Poland. check out some of the websites in post #2.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


Check post #2


Mine too, however the issue in question is those who haven't paid the taxes or social insurance. And do you think the government of Poland should have the same obligation.


This is a hot issue at the moment - the UK is one of the few countries who don't do that. one area of concern is benefits paid for children who have never been to the UK and babcia renting out her flat, turning up in the UK and claiming Minimum Income Guarantee.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


So what is your take on Poles claiming Welfare benefits etc abroad and those people in Poland who encourage them to do so? We're all ears.

News / Poland and the European Union Fund Allocations [59]


A contributor to the EU. Why do you think the open and tradeable ownership of, say, Tesco is a threat to Poland, grubas?


So you prefer National Socialism to capitalism and Democracy? Interesting...


Makes a change. You'll no doubt notice the progress infrastructure - something that Poalnd was never able to manage on its own.


And were your socks made in Poland or China?

History / Would you classify the Poland's Communist years as a "Soviet occupation" ? [221]


Or hardworking people who worked with the system that existed and genuinely believed that system could lead to a better world.

It was not an occupation - or if it was, it was one with many millions of Quislings!

UK, Ireland / Unemployed Poles in Ireland : a crash course in milking the system [323]


Not as strange as moving to a foreign country, voting out the Socialists and voting in a party who is pledged to reduce benefits (the margin by which Johnson won in London is much smaller than the number of post-2004 Poles who are registered to vote there), then at the first opportunity claiming as many benefits as possible!

History / Would you classify the Poland's Communist years as a "Soviet occupation" ? [221]


The Soviet occupation was a short lived thing and existed only until the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was broken by Germany. To call the post-war republic a 'Soviet Occupation' is empty rhetoric; an occupation has a precise legal definition.


Yes. There was support for the status quo, the leaders were Polish, the PRL was introduced after the trzy razy tak elections (falsified, especially in Malopolska but also showing some genuine support), and furthermore it denigrates the dedication of those people who worked to build the PRL as a state.

News / Poland and the European Union Fund Allocations [59]


Bought by foreigners or sold by Poles?

As far as I know, every major supermarket chain in Poland trades its shares on the stockmarket; There is no bar to buying shares on the grounds of nationality.


The idea of a government 'levelling the playing field' is Socialism, accusing 'foreigners' of 'stealing left and right' (sic) is Nationalism; evidently you prefer National Socialism. However I will humour you - could you give an example of 'foreigners stealing left and right?'


Evidently many times more that you do if you think that was a metaphor.


This is the odd thing. I know you live a long way from Poland, but you surely can't have missed seeing the effects of the EU infrastructure funding. They are obvious to anyone who has caught a train, driven to work in a city, used a hospital etc. Perhaps you can give some examples of the funding not being put to good use?

News / Poland and the European Union Fund Allocations [59]


Has the EU bought flats for 20zl? NO, so stop trolling.


Which would be a direct invitation to other countries to kick out what you would no doubt call Polish "leeches" like the benefit claimants costing the UK taxpayer around 50 million GBP per year.Who would not be there if it were not for the opportunities the EU brought and for whom Poland did absolutely nothing before EU accession.

News / Poland and the European Union Fund Allocations [59]


Under capitalism a playing field can never be level. But Poland gets a great deal out of it.


To all the farmers who sell their produce, the workers who get paid for processing it and the Polish bourgeoisie who can buy shares in the aforementioned businesses. That's how capitalism works.


I live permanently in Poland and see the huge difference in my country since membership. Why would somebody need to be Polish to judge what they see with their own eyes?


None of the former Warsaw pact countries were in a state to join in that period. The difference since membership is immediately obvious.


Which would have/should have gone out of business anyway, if they were operating below acceptable norms of quality and transparency. Czech had the right idea and implemented changes earlier.

Real Estate / What do I need to buy a house/flat or property in Warsaw? [12]


Flats are generally good but watch out for 'wielki plyty' (system built blocks). Prices vary according to area - the right bank of the Vistula is generally cheaper than the left (though it has its posh areas and the left bank has its bad ones). Commuter towns in the greater Warsaw area are usually cheaper and have a better quality of life. There's always a demand for flats in the capital so prices there are higher than most of Poland. As I said, comparable to the North of England - a bit cheaper, say, than Leeds. Avoid newly built flats - they are usually sold as shells, with not even internal doors, windowsills or a toilet!


This sounds about right though the house would be a shell at that price and you'd have to fit it out.