mafketis
12 May 2020
News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]
Maybe that's what he wants?
how do you prevent it from turning into Russian-style oligarchy?
Maybe that's what he wants?
mafketis
12 May 2020
News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]
another name for the soviet system...
and when you look at how China and Russia treat their own citizens, what makes you think they'd be any more benevolent to Polish people?
there are massive systemic problems in the EU but Poland is too small to have significant leverage with China or Russia on its own (and the US and UK absolutely would not help Poland in its hour of need).
And under national capitalism
another name for the soviet system...
and when you look at how China and Russia treat their own citizens, what makes you think they'd be any more benevolent to Polish people?
there are massive systemic problems in the EU but Poland is too small to have significant leverage with China or Russia on its own (and the US and UK absolutely would not help Poland in its hour of need).
mafketis
11 May 2020
News / Presidential elections 2020 - your opinions about campaign, candidates [2222]
I hope they're paying him a lot.... (for obvious reasons)
I'm not sure how much they're paying him
I hope they're paying him a lot.... (for obvious reasons)
mafketis
11 May 2020
News / Presidential elections 2020 - your opinions about campaign, candidates [2222]
Well I think by now the main purpose of the masks is as a placebo, making people feel safer when they go outside... any real health purpose they might have served stopped a while ago...
That said, I'm happy to wear one to make other people feel better cause I'm not a complete @ssh0|e who's more interested in posturing than getting things moving again.
Given that the purpose is to avoid infecting other
Well I think by now the main purpose of the masks is as a placebo, making people feel safer when they go outside... any real health purpose they might have served stopped a while ago...
That said, I'm happy to wear one to make other people feel better cause I'm not a complete @ssh0|e who's more interested in posturing than getting things moving again.
mafketis
11 May 2020
News / Presidential elections 2020 - your opinions about campaign, candidates [2222]
Allow me to introduce you to the 'sunk cost fallacy'....
I don't think his wife would care either (her body language in public is pretty indifferent to him) but maybe she could/would use it in an ugly public break up?
On the other hand, maybe the simplest explanation is that he's just a really weak person (and that was part of why he was chosen).
seems a high price to pay for a brief indiscretion
Allow me to introduce you to the 'sunk cost fallacy'....
I don't think his wife would care either (her body language in public is pretty indifferent to him) but maybe she could/would use it in an ugly public break up?
On the other hand, maybe the simplest explanation is that he's just a really weak person (and that was part of why he was chosen).
mafketis
11 May 2020
News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]
To be fair, he did harp on irrelevant issues about things that had happened years before as well, but he was also capable of expressing (simulating?) a real kind of... enthusiasm for PiS and JK that no one else has managed.
The big supporters now seem embarrassed and pretend they don't support PiS while repeating their party line and yammering on about irrelevant issues from 10 years ago...
at least he tried to justify what PiS were doing, not just harp on about things that happened 10 years ago
To be fair, he did harp on irrelevant issues about things that had happened years before as well, but he was also capable of expressing (simulating?) a real kind of... enthusiasm for PiS and JK that no one else has managed.
The big supporters now seem embarrassed and pretend they don't support PiS while repeating their party line and yammering on about irrelevant issues from 10 years ago...
mafketis
11 May 2020
News / Presidential elections 2020 - your opinions about campaign, candidates [2222]
Au contraire, mon amis! He's grown into the job quite well as imagined by JK (pliable puppet who does whatever he's told with no back talk or silly ideas about having any power or authority on his own).
I wonder if h'es really that.... weak or if they have some blackmail hold over him.
Maybe Marta was a honey trap? I don't think she and her uncle like each other but maybe she was convinced that it would improve her father's legacy?
grazynabialopiotrowicz.pl/media/uploads/2016/04/f077ed53e0c03edc29986d0e8f6f0ac0641000.jpg
he has not grown into the job at all
Au contraire, mon amis! He's grown into the job quite well as imagined by JK (pliable puppet who does whatever he's told with no back talk or silly ideas about having any power or authority on his own).
I wonder if h'es really that.... weak or if they have some blackmail hold over him.
Maybe Marta was a honey trap? I don't think she and her uncle like each other but maybe she was convinced that it would improve her father's legacy?
grazynabialopiotrowicz.pl/media/uploads/2016/04/f077ed53e0c03edc29986d0e8f6f0ac0641000.jpg
mafketis
10 May 2020
News / Presidential elections 2020 - your opinions about campaign, candidates [2222]
That's what JK wants. All he ever does is create chaos (he's a lot like Putin in that regard).
What a mess...
That's what JK wants. All he ever does is create chaos (he's a lot like Putin in that regard).
mafketis
10 May 2020
History / Origins of Polish Slavs [139]
Polish people have such a long history with crappy governments that create awful systems that they have to keep in fighting trim which is why there are so many daily squabbles. Over the last few years there seem to be fewer (maybe a symptom of greater prosperity?) but it's too soon to say what effect coronavirus will have
On the other hand, they don't take such encounters that seriously, I've seen people go from _really_ heated verbal disputes to casual talk about something else within the course of a minute or so. Americans, by way of contrast, mostly go out of their way to avoid verbal arguments because once we start we have no idea how to stop short of total victory (the other person saying "Yes! You're right!" which of course doesn't happen and I've seen long term friendships end over trivial disagreements that escalated out of control.
Poland - anger and defensiveness, Ireland - empathy and sympathy :)
Polish people have such a long history with crappy governments that create awful systems that they have to keep in fighting trim which is why there are so many daily squabbles. Over the last few years there seem to be fewer (maybe a symptom of greater prosperity?) but it's too soon to say what effect coronavirus will have
On the other hand, they don't take such encounters that seriously, I've seen people go from _really_ heated verbal disputes to casual talk about something else within the course of a minute or so. Americans, by way of contrast, mostly go out of their way to avoid verbal arguments because once we start we have no idea how to stop short of total victory (the other person saying "Yes! You're right!" which of course doesn't happen and I've seen long term friendships end over trivial disagreements that escalated out of control.
mafketis
10 May 2020
News / Presidential elections 2020 - your opinions about campaign, candidates [2222]
According to PiS = anything good is by the president and anything bad is due to KO
According to KO = anything good is despite the president (and prezes) and anything bad is due to their direct actions....
But it's seriously farked when two men with no formal positions in the government are making important policy decisions about the timing of elections - very PRL....
can anyone tell what decisions could be credited to our president?
According to PiS = anything good is by the president and anything bad is due to KO
According to KO = anything good is despite the president (and prezes) and anything bad is due to their direct actions....
But it's seriously farked when two men with no formal positions in the government are making important policy decisions about the timing of elections - very PRL....
mafketis
10 May 2020
UK, Ireland / Any Polish Muslims in London? [30]
That's really offensive... I was not born muslim (and I really doubt you were).
or have you reverted?
That's really offensive... I was not born muslim (and I really doubt you were).
mafketis
9 May 2020
News / Presidential elections 2020 - your opinions about campaign, candidates [2222]
Yes there was, but PiS didn't want to do it.... and when has PiS ever respected the constitution?
What PO did or didn't do is completely irrelevant in the current discussion on PiS's attempt to ram through PRL style sham elections. Let's keep discussion to that.
I agree.... Duda is a spineless puppet and a disgrace to the office.
Legally according to the constitution there is no way to stop that election
Yes there was, but PiS didn't want to do it.... and when has PiS ever respected the constitution?
What PO did or didn't do is completely irrelevant in the current discussion on PiS's attempt to ram through PRL style sham elections. Let's keep discussion to that.
Kosiniak-Kamysz seems to be the best candidate
I agree.... Duda is a spineless puppet and a disgrace to the office.
mafketis
9 May 2020
News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]
I tend to agree with Andrew Hammel who thinks the question is largely irrelevant given the complete collapse of asylum law in numerous EU countries which multiple European leaders knew was a danger and did nothing to prevent....
"But in terms of relative illegality, it's like charging someone who committed millions in tax fraud with failing to use adequate postage on his fraudulent tax returns"*
The important point is that European asylum law is completely broken and no improvement is in sight because no one who can wants to deal with the mess....
*here: hammeltranslations.com/2019/05/09/more-on-the-2015-refugee-crisis-and-the-rule-of-law-a-response-to-steinbeis/
calling it illegal with this argument is incorrect.
I tend to agree with Andrew Hammel who thinks the question is largely irrelevant given the complete collapse of asylum law in numerous EU countries which multiple European leaders knew was a danger and did nothing to prevent....
"But in terms of relative illegality, it's like charging someone who committed millions in tax fraud with failing to use adequate postage on his fraudulent tax returns"*
The important point is that European asylum law is completely broken and no improvement is in sight because no one who can wants to deal with the mess....
*here: hammeltranslations.com/2019/05/09/more-on-the-2015-refugee-crisis-and-the-rule-of-law-a-response-to-steinbeis/
mafketis
9 May 2020
News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]
This one:
spiked-online.com/2020/05/08/germany-has-dealt-a-blow-to-the-eu/
What kind of court ruling?
This one:
spiked-online.com/2020/05/08/germany-has-dealt-a-blow-to-the-eu/
mafketis
9 May 2020
News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]
Any comments on the court ruling last week and possible consequences?
can afford to stay outside the EU
Any comments on the court ruling last week and possible consequences?
mafketis
8 May 2020
News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]
Okay Balcerowicz....
too young to listen to, or understand anything from, any Thatcher speech
Okay Balcerowicz....
mafketis
8 May 2020
News / Presidential elections 2020 - your opinions about campaign, candidates [2222]
Cause PiS = neo-PRL, corruption and connections count for everything - I've yet to meet an honest PiS supporter (for long, some fall under the spell temporarily but soon are repelled by the rampant greed and and graft (US meaning) around everything they do....
can you tell us why many of the bonuses awarded were never returne
Cause PiS = neo-PRL, corruption and connections count for everything - I've yet to meet an honest PiS supporter (for long, some fall under the spell temporarily but soon are repelled by the rampant greed and and graft (US meaning) around everything they do....
mafketis
8 May 2020
News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]
I was really hoping for comment from Germans on the court ruling there.... but...
And unfortunately all signs point to western governments in general using Coronavirus to ramp down on austerity even more.
Governments no longer feel any duty toward the citizenry and are withdrawing as fast as they can from providing services (healthcare, education, police) to anyone who isn't a billionaire.... and the suckers are going along with it because they listened to a Thatcher speech at some point.
It hasn't hit Poland yet but that doesn't mean it's not coming.
I was really hoping for comment from Germans on the court ruling there.... but...
And unfortunately all signs point to western governments in general using Coronavirus to ramp down on austerity even more.
Governments no longer feel any duty toward the citizenry and are withdrawing as fast as they can from providing services (healthcare, education, police) to anyone who isn't a billionaire.... and the suckers are going along with it because they listened to a Thatcher speech at some point.
It hasn't hit Poland yet but that doesn't mean it's not coming.
mafketis
8 May 2020
News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]
And it's Italy's fault?
If the EU can't help countries that are hit with disasters not of their own making then.... what point is there in belonging to it?
And if it stops doing fine will not ask for one red cent of EU money.... (and will take it upon itself to return the EU monies it has received)?
the quarantine and the Coronavirus is not the fault of private ban
And it's Italy's fault?
If the EU can't help countries that are hit with disasters not of their own making then.... what point is there in belonging to it?
Poland is doing fine
And if it stops doing fine will not ask for one red cent of EU money.... (and will take it upon itself to return the EU monies it has received)?
mafketis
8 May 2020
News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]
In this thread I'm talking about general EU trends - Poland has not been affected by austerity - but the austerity regime (which has nothing to do with old fashioned work ethic values etc) is on the increase all over the EU.
Poland hasn't faced a challenge like the present one since 1989 - which was brutal for the population. Do you want repeat of that?
I don't see PiS government saving on military and police forces.
In this thread I'm talking about general EU trends - Poland has not been affected by austerity - but the austerity regime (which has nothing to do with old fashioned work ethic values etc) is on the increase all over the EU.
Poland hasn't faced a challenge like the present one since 1989 - which was brutal for the population. Do you want repeat of that?
mafketis
8 May 2020
News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]
You don't understand austerity - one of the key planks of austerity is to cut back on the police (see the UK). This is also combined with emptying prisons (as is happening in both the US and EU). The combination is absolutely on purpose to intimidate the public against protests.
Millions and millions of jobs have disappeared because of the quarantine. it will take years for some of them to return and some will likely never return - the pool of the permanently unemployed (through no fault of their own) is massive growing.
And all you have is Thatcher-Reagan-Merkel lectures?
Europe will probably get through this in a little better shape than the US but we're in for rough times and worshiping at the altar of austerity will just make it worse.
Screw Italy then?
In case crime rate rises, police forces will be strengthene
You don't understand austerity - one of the key planks of austerity is to cut back on the police (see the UK). This is also combined with emptying prisons (as is happening in both the US and EU). The combination is absolutely on purpose to intimidate the public against protests.
Millions and millions of jobs have disappeared because of the quarantine. it will take years for some of them to return and some will likely never return - the pool of the permanently unemployed (through no fault of their own) is massive growing.
And all you have is Thatcher-Reagan-Merkel lectures?
Europe will probably get through this in a little better shape than the US but we're in for rough times and worshiping at the altar of austerity will just make it worse.
many countries will find it very tough.
Screw Italy then?
mafketis
8 May 2020
News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]
So just plunge the continent into the worst depression ever and then cut government services?
The whole point of supranational organizations like the EU should be to shelter populations from the deprivations of savage capitalism (aka dziki kapitalizm in Polish)
If they can't do that then what use are they?
Poland didn't really experience a savage capitalism stage in the early 1990s but it's likely to without significant economic stimulus from the government - how do you like the idea of post-USSR style bandit wars on Polish streets?
getting even more into debt is a good solution for any economy should leave the EU
So just plunge the continent into the worst depression ever and then cut government services?
The whole point of supranational organizations like the EU should be to shelter populations from the deprivations of savage capitalism (aka dziki kapitalizm in Polish)
If they can't do that then what use are they?
Poland didn't really experience a savage capitalism stage in the early 1990s but it's likely to without significant economic stimulus from the government - how do you like the idea of post-USSR style bandit wars on Polish streets?
mafketis
8 May 2020
News / Poles say a big YES to our European Union [996]
Any comment from the Germans on this....?
spiked-online.com/2020/05/08/germany-has-dealt-a-blow-to-the-eu/
Or this? It seems that covid "recovery" is just a holding tactic before more catastrophic austerity...
bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/?p=44804
The more EU actors insist on austerity the greater the chance that one or more countries may end up wanting out...
Any comment from the Germans on this....?
spiked-online.com/2020/05/08/germany-has-dealt-a-blow-to-the-eu/
Or this? It seems that covid "recovery" is just a holding tactic before more catastrophic austerity...
bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/?p=44804
The more EU actors insist on austerity the greater the chance that one or more countries may end up wanting out...
mafketis
7 May 2020
Travel / What color is the water in the Baltic? [13]
The classic big 5 (in no particular order) are Egypt, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Spain (with Croatia gaining in recent years) Italy is a bit behind (maybe because it's more expensive). I was in Sardinia a couple of years ago and loved it, but local transport was either really inconvenient or very expensive.
Cyprus and Portugal and Malta are all also popular. Tunisia was very popular before the terror attacks and Morocco is maybe creaping into the picture) as are maybe Albania and Georgia.
No one goes to Slovenia for beaches... how much coastline do they have, 20 meters?
Italy, Croatia and Slovenia?
The classic big 5 (in no particular order) are Egypt, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and Spain (with Croatia gaining in recent years) Italy is a bit behind (maybe because it's more expensive). I was in Sardinia a couple of years ago and loved it, but local transport was either really inconvenient or very expensive.
Cyprus and Portugal and Malta are all also popular. Tunisia was very popular before the terror attacks and Morocco is maybe creaping into the picture) as are maybe Albania and Georgia.
No one goes to Slovenia for beaches... how much coastline do they have, 20 meters?
mafketis
6 May 2020
News / Presidential elections 2020 - your opinions about campaign, candidates [2222]
Yes, it's disheartening to think so many of my neighbors are either morons or selfish @ssh0les...
a lot of people simply aren't following the rules properly
Yes, it's disheartening to think so many of my neighbors are either morons or selfish @ssh0les...
mafketis
6 May 2020
Travel / What color is the water in the Baltic? [13]
Balaton is muddy (the name is derived from a slavic word for mud - błotno in Polish)
The Baltic and Black Seas are similar to lakes since they're mostly surrounded by land with only relatively narrow channels to the open sea (or ocean)
No. There is the Mazurian lake district which you might like..
And why is Balaton so light colored when it's lake?
Balaton is muddy (the name is derived from a slavic word for mud - błotno in Polish)
The Baltic and Black Seas are similar to lakes since they're mostly surrounded by land with only relatively narrow channels to the open sea (or ocean)
Can you swim there?
No. There is the Mazurian lake district which you might like..
mafketis
6 May 2020
Travel / What color is the water in the Baltic? [13]
When is the Black Sea dark? When I've been (late april to late september) in the sun it's light green with bluish highlights...
In my much more limited experience the Baltic is a similar (but less clear) green in the sun in the summer
Both the Black Sea and Baltic are semi-lakes and not that salty (the Black Sea seems a bit saltier than the Baltic though).
The Mediterranean is more intensely salty and blue in the sun.
dark as the one of the Black sea?
When is the Black Sea dark? When I've been (late april to late september) in the sun it's light green with bluish highlights...
In my much more limited experience the Baltic is a similar (but less clear) green in the sun in the summer
Both the Black Sea and Baltic are semi-lakes and not that salty (the Black Sea seems a bit saltier than the Baltic though).
The Mediterranean is more intensely salty and blue in the sun.
mafketis
6 May 2020
News / Presidential elections 2020 - your opinions about campaign, candidates [2222]
A sane government with an iota of integrity would have declared a state of emergency back in March.... but this is PiS we're talking about (Przekręty i Szalbierstwo) so they've created this total mess because they realize Duda's best hope is to not have to campaign and JK likes chaos (remember GoT "Chaos is a ladder")
A dramatic rise in the number of hospitalizations and/or deaths might do it.... or might not.
You mean a state of emergency about their virus
A sane government with an iota of integrity would have declared a state of emergency back in March.... but this is PiS we're talking about (Przekręty i Szalbierstwo) so they've created this total mess because they realize Duda's best hope is to not have to campaign and JK likes chaos (remember GoT "Chaos is a ladder")
you will not get people back into their houses now they have been let out
A dramatic rise in the number of hospitalizations and/or deaths might do it.... or might not.
mafketis
5 May 2020
News / Presidential elections 2020 - your opinions about campaign, candidates [2222]
I think it's also a fear of campaigning... he wasn't doing so great. Coronavirus been very very good to heem. (obscure pop culture reference)
Kaczyński knows that Duda's support will start to slip in the coming months as the economic damage comes clear
I think it's also a fear of campaigning... he wasn't doing so great. Coronavirus been very very good to heem. (obscure pop culture reference)
mafketis
5 May 2020
News / Presidential elections 2020 - your opinions about campaign, candidates [2222]
JK's game isn't that much different from Putin's (which is why so many PiS supporters are holding VP's jockstrap)... provoke chaos and blame it on someone else. There is no broader game he just like chaos and backroom deals.
No, he's too addicted to contrarianism, he'll never say what he wants in positive terms (I don't think he's capable of positive expression) it's always "X is lousy and a bunch of meaningless slogans"
elections are supposed to be held on Sunday, and there's no provisions in place for them to take place
JK's game isn't that much different from Putin's (which is why so many PiS supporters are holding VP's jockstrap)... provoke chaos and blame it on someone else. There is no broader game he just like chaos and backroom deals.
Ironside, who will tell us how great it is that the government controls the judiciary, just like it was before 1989
No, he's too addicted to contrarianism, he'll never say what he wants in positive terms (I don't think he's capable of positive expression) it's always "X is lousy and a bunch of meaningless slogans"