Life / Gas / Benzyna prices in Poland [29]

@jon357
The difference is that Orlen is producing record profits on the backs of Poles when the gas could actually be sold for about 5 zl a liter and still be profitable.

News / How could PiS better spend billions instead of 500+ ? [280]

@jon357
Those without children pay for everyone. It is not an equitable program when the wealthy benefit and those that are not wealthy and do not have children have to pay for it. The progam is already an opt in one every year, so to make it based on income is an easy and equitable fix.

News / How could PiS better spend billions instead of 500+ ? [280]

I disagree. If it is an opt in annual program, then its pretty easy to put in an income qualification next year. Just a little programming. And given the amount of banking and other technical security here, that would be a very quick technical fix.

News / How could PiS better spend billions instead of 500+ ? [280]

@jon357
If you understood the tax system you would know that I have to pay taxes in Poland and the US. All income in Poland is automatically reported in the US now.

The whole 500+ idea is a good one, poorly implemented. 800+ again a good idea but does not keep pace with inflation since 500+ began, and still poorly implemented.

News / How could PiS better spend billions instead of 500+ ? [280]

@jon357
Sorry you have not been as successful as those of us that work hard, and are committed to relying on ourselves and not the state. Those of us in this class pay more taxes than anyone else. The "grifter" is the government who takes our money and gives it to the socialists who want to leach off the system.

News / How could PiS better spend billions instead of 500+ ? [280]

@amiga500
LOL they are PiS supporters, and I didnt know you had to opt in every year. That said, it could easily become need based every year at the opt in time. PiS doesnt care how they look about buying votes anyway. Opting in at any income under 50K per household annually? Even though in most cities 50K you can live well, and in the country you can live very well at that amount.

My concern primarily is the debt that this country will have and will be discovered when PiS is out of office one day. They continue to use US style accounting and the debt for the country is going to be astronomical.

News / How could PiS better spend billions instead of 500+ ? [280]

@amiga500
You and I both know Oxford economics and the GDP numbers are not indicative of what is taking place in the average persons economic life. While I agree that the big picture looks good, it does not account for spending. The booming economy is largely through government owned industry and not through small business. Surplus now with billions of military purchasing contracts that will have to be paid in the future that the surplus does not cover.

We all know small business is what drives a healthy economy. It is a fact everywhere. PiS needs to explain three years running of record business closures and bankruptcy filings.

The 800+ should be based on need, and not for everyone. Financial need as determined by your income. Anything less than that is simply an act of being lazy, and trying to buy votes. Any home making less than 10K per month combined income or something. When my friends making 50K a month get another 1500 for three kids per month and you cant opt out, it is used for beer money. Its a joke.

With ZUS, you know almost everyone under 50 already buys their own private insurance. ZUS is being robbed for other spending, and it keeps going up. Imagine paying 42%. Realy think about it if you were a business owner. You have no incentive to hire people and if you do, you have a whole lot of incentive to pay them off the books or the lowest wage possible.

This is a tax and spend government. While I think they have some good intentions, they are a disaster of management. That said, I wont vote for Tusk, he will be a bigger disaster.

News / How could PiS better spend billions instead of 500+ ? [280]

PiS has helped a lot of people with 500+. They should get credit for that. But there are a lot of wealthy families getting that same money and will get the same boost to 800+, and that is fvcking terrible management of public money.

PiS is bad for small business and they are killing companies with taxes. VAT overpayment refunds are now discretionary at the tax office. If the local tax office believes the VAT overpayment should not be refunded because in their opinion it wont effect the business they no longer have to give it back. That VAT overpayment money is what a lot of small business use to build their business every year. This will force more places to close up.

ZUS is now at 42%! 42 fvcking ppercent! Even if you want to pay someone 10K a month, your real cost is 14.2K! This for a healthcare and retirement system that is completely fvcked.

PiS has done a great job in protecting against stupid immigration policies and they should get credit for it. The have other good family policies as well. Yes, unemployment is insanely low. That is a double edged sword though because it is driving labor costs sky high and its at a much higher rate than inflation. I paid 39 zl for two chicken breast last night at the market that used to cost 25 last year.

As for running this country though, PiS will bankrupt the country, and they are a financial disaster. While I understand you guys cant walk the streets here and see whats going on, the financial picture for small business, the largest sector of employment, is bleak at best.

History / Future of Kaliningrad Oblast - is it possible to annex by Poland or will it become an independent country? [146]

Imagine a referendum now where the people in Krolewiec vote to leave Russia and become their own nation. Then imagine they keep the Russian nukes, and join NATO later. All because little Vlad is a fvcking idiot. That would become a Master Class in how to fvck up a dictatorship. LMAO

USA, Canada / Staying in the USA - do I need work visa to apply? [95]

@johnny reb
There are "brokers" who charge upward of 2K for a "placement" and paid in advance. Still a good opportunity if you get up to NM area, but not all areas are the same. Friend of mine has a place similar to leggs but in Wisconsin and his imports dont make near that much. However, he charges less for housing and meals. Some places also do the minimum waitstaff wage too, so if they dont get the great tips, they arent getting much. USD is losing ground in Poland btw, down about 8% over the last two months.

USA, Canada / Staying in the USA - do I need work visa to apply? [95]

@johnny reb
You would be correct if not for the details. Many import workers are being charged for their flights, housing, meals, and "placement" and that comes directly out of their pay. Many times those "costs" are inflated. Not saying all places do this, but many do.

USA, Canada / Staying in the USA - do I need work visa to apply? [95]

@johnny reb
200 to 300 zl per shift in tips in Krakow is extremely good money. In the summer a good server at a higher end place can easily earn 15 to 20K.

USA, Canada / Staying in the USA - do I need work visa to apply? [95]

@johnny reb
Waitresses JR are very well paid in Krakow. 25 zl an hour plus tips on average. Tips are a good place like ours average 200 to 300 per shift. These people are making more in the summer than many mid level corporate managers. Leggs never has a problem finding good Polish workers for the summer and they make great money up there. Will be back in August just for that drive.

Law / Poland economy is slowing down - how does it affect you? [117]

@GefreiterKania
Excatly. It is 6 hours a day. Washing dishes, not skilled labor. We also provide a meal daily, and not some fast food garbage.

@Alien
Position filled with a Slovak student the next day. Its dishwashing for god sakes. A friend of mine owns the most expensive restaurant in the city, pays his dishwasher 25, pays his waiters 27, and his cooks 30. Unless your in this busiiness you really dont know how the business pays. This sint an IT job or technical position. Before the pandemic, wages were insane with chefs getting 20K a month on average, now the same guys making 10K or less.

Law / Poland economy is slowing down - how does it affect you? [117]

@Alien
I have been here for a few years. I am more than aware of costs of living and employing people. 25 zl per hour is the wage for a dishwasher at the best restaurant in Krakow, best being most expensive. Krakow is not NYC.

Law / Poland economy is slowing down - how does it affect you? [117]

@Alien
If the economy in Poland was brisk enough to offer it, I would. This is a dishwasher position in my restaurant. Not even within reason.

Law / Poland economy is slowing down - how does it affect you? [117]

@Alien
Interesting they would go to Germany and pay four times as much for anything they can get at home, but who knows.

@Bobko
Funny you mention the Kuwaiti's, because before the pandemic there were huge crowds of them. They have all but disappeared. Some from Dubai, but not many. It really has changed in Krakow, and not because of the war. I dont think people are worried about something happening here. I just think people, especially Poles, are being more conservative with their cash. It will be interesting to see if the new FED bump will prop up the dollar a little longer. If not, the US tourism will drop quickly. That said, inflation has not slowed here at all. We are having to raise our prices 10% in June just to cover increased cost of goods, in conjunction with increased labor costs. Had a guy ask me for 47 zl an hour for our lowest position yesterday. Thats a statement on the Polish economy.

Law / Poland economy is slowing down - how does it affect you? [117]

@Bobko
They do have a lot of money to burn it seems. And Poland is still warmer than Norway. I found it strange too. We have had a number of Finns as well but a lot of people from Norway.

Law / Poland economy is slowing down - how does it affect you? [117]

@Bobko
I would not say it is pre pandemic. It is probably half that right now, but Krakow doesn't really take off until June so its a little early to say conclusively. Most tourism through the UK. Norway probably second. Israel third, and US fourth. Based on what is coming into my business anyway. Was very disappointing Constitution Day yesterday, the Poles are really staying at home.

Law / Poland economy is slowing down - how does it affect you? [117]

@johnny reb
Consumerism, which was a major driver of the Polish economy is way down. People becoming much more conservative in their spending habits. Thankfully, the tourists are back to make up for it.

Life / Life in Poland - ECONOMY [59]

@Charliesy
There is a building boom, not a property buying boom. A friend of mine just bought the realestate her business is located in the other day for just under 550 K. The payback in 15 year loan? A million. Interest rates for commercial property at 18%. Insanity. Home purchasing way down in Krakow anyway, so many flats available it is almost humorus. Commecial realestate leasing costs are way down though.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]

@jon357
As someone who has been shooting all of his life, yes, a long gun will make a world of difference if everyone has them. Just like they are making a difference in Ukraine.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]

@jon357
You will be one of the first begging for your life if the Orcs come to your neighborhood. Not me.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]

@jon357
1there is not one jot of evidence that there is a real majority without a referendum or a poll with numbers and demographic support. When you post real verifiable number then you have something until then your opinion, like mine means nothing. But you are certainly not an authority capable of answering questions that I and others are asking. Proof is in numbers, not opinions.

Life / Life in Poland - ECONOMY [59]

@johnny reb
I can tell you for veg and fruits we are paying somewhere near double from last year on some items. Meats up about 30%. Wages though, I am starting servers at restaurant at 25 zl per hour, which is 8 more than most places, and still have toruble finding people. Cook at 30 an hour to start before a nice salary after 60 days, and still they want more. Very hard to not pass increases on to consumer without killing your own customer base. Difficult times indeed.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]

@Lenka
How can I show any when there are no polls that show any? Time to pull your head out of your a$$.

@jon357
We have no idea whether or not a lobby is forming or exists. Like Strike Kobiet it could be a very fast moving thing at some point. Right now, you, me and everyone else is speculating because there are no polls with real numbers and demogrphic breakdowns. You say the "government". I ask Who? When and where? No answers. Who is the government who makes these findings? Where are they published? I know it sounds strange that people wouold want proofs and real records instead of your opinion.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]

@Lenka
Every respectable poll highlights the number of people polled, and usually cites the demographics between men, women and age groups. Your cited poll shows nothing and is therefore irrelevant.

@mafketis
This is the scene in Kazimierz and Hala Targowa every Sunday. If it is not on display, just ask. It would take less than a half hour to have an AK in my living room getting cleaned. Want something newer? Just ask around the ranges.

I am not even doubting that a small majority want to keep the rules the same. I am doubting that the overwhelming majority does, and that there is not a growing desire for gun ownership. The actions of the people simply do not reflect those thoughts. But hey, who cares about actual numbers when you can simply repeat the same old bull$hit over and over.

Life / Life in Poland - ECONOMY [59]

@johnny reb
Sorry JR, but wages are not dropping. As an employer, people are asking for more and more money. I am paying every new hire about 30% more than new hires this time last year. Prices for food are going up, indeed very sharply and quickly. There is a lot less consumerism spending than there was before the pandemic. I would agree the economy is in stagflation. The government is not doing enough to cut peoples expenses on things that the government controls. While gas prices in the US have come down significantly, Orlen owned by the government has not been dropping prices for the last three or four months when they can and should. But they are experiencing record profits while people are paying for it, not just at the pump, but because the same fuel keeps food prices elevated.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]

@Lenka
Even PiS polls have baseline numbers. A press outlet knows better than to publish this without numbers unless the sample size is so small it would not be taken seriously. 57 out of 100 or 570 out of 1000. Which is the more impressive and worthy number? Really, if this were a poll about people being against abortion you would want the numbers too or you would think it was taken at a PiS meeting.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


Like the poll and your opinion.