News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]


The problem is that Poland is fast running out of friends if PiS continues with its' current course. That would be fine if Poland was an island like the UK, but since PiS openly considers its' neighbour Russia as a threat, one has to question the wisdom of alienating its' allies like this.

@Ironside


Are we talking about the same government that showed unwavering support for Israel Jerusalem-question? And you think that the same government would not side with Israel over this too?

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]


I do not care for the law itself, nor do I care if it offends Israel or others per se. But annoying Israel seems to be a bad idea when the American president (whom Poland desperately wants as an ally) seems to back Israel in everything they do. Creating a possible conflict with the USA can hardly be in Poland's interests. Especially not after they have already been bumping heads with its' European allies.

If you are worried about Russia, you'd better not start offending the countries that could offer you support. That is just common sense.

News / Israel opposing potential new Polish law to criminalise term 'Polish death camps' [1538]

This whole mess is just another occasion of PiS prioritizing domestic appeal over the diplomatic standing of Poland.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

@Ironside


About what? It is Poland who is breaking agreements that it pledged to adhere to when it joined the EU. Besides, there is no room to compromise over essential values of the EU like the rule of law and judicary independence.

@ Dirk


This is of course wrong, just like the rest of your post.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]


What kind of position?

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]


The UK has twice the population size, its' trade is four times as high as Poland, and unlike Poland its' biggest single trading partner is not an EU country but the USA, yet you think they are comparable? And this is disregarding Poland's status as EU fund recipient, the number of Polish citizen abroad, and its' vulnerable geopolitical position.

@G (undercover)


Which is why nobody in German (even the AfD) questions Germany's EU membership. And as the polls indicate, most Polish people appreciate it as well.


Nobody said anything about North Korea, that is just your exaggeration. Without the EU, Poland would be left significantly poorer over time, with possibly a lot of returnees who would not be very pleased of having to return to Poland, and it would be vulnerable to Russian influence. None of this is desireable for Poland.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

@dolnoslask


Brexit is at best an indication for what could await Poland. The UK enjoys still several advantages that Poland doesnt have. The UK is a signficantly larger economy with a larger population, it is a net payer (although the British rabate does make the actual amount of money paid to Bruessels smaller). And perhaps most importantly, the ratio of EU citizens working in the UK versus British people working in other EU countries is in the UK's favour. Imagine how weak Poland's hand would be if it had to secure the rights of its' citizen in other EU countries.

And that leaves out security considerations, the UK does not deem Russia to be an existential threat, it has no border with it and the UK owns nuclear weapons.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

This article will answer most of your questions regarding Merkel:

Putin and Merkel: A Rivalry of History, Distrust and Power

nytimes.com/2017/03/12/world/europe/vladimir-putin-angela-merkel-russia-germany.html


Indeed, interesting how countries and people can change over generations. Kind of gives someone hope for the future, doesn't it?

@Ironside


Why should I? Without Germany, the Euro would have broken up, and Germany is paying the most for the upkeep of the EU.


Nobody is attacking Poland, if anything Poland is currently attacking itself by its' irresponsible government. The fact that they are willing to endanger Poland's long-term interest in being alligned to Europe is telling.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]


Why should anyone bring up this fact when Merkel has been instrumental in coordinating the European response to Russia's agression? She was always critical of Putin, and she is the only Western politician he actually respects for her strength. No doubt future historians will look at the recent tension between the EU and Russia as a great rivalvry between Putin and Merkel.

If not for her, the EU probably would not have shown any coherent reaction. And why should people doubt the commitment of Germany to the EU, when it is the one country holding the EU together?

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

I'll never understand how anyone can take Farage seriously, or even has the slightest respect for him. Especially after reading this interview.

zeit.de/politik/ausland/2017-05/nigel-farage-brexit-ukip-russia-contacts

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]


That analogy would only work if people would adhere to it completely, which means that no one would interfere with the fate of those children at all. Yet children born with physical effects are not simply left to die, but thanks to modern medicine live a lot longer than if they'd receive no care. However this can also lead to a prolonging of suffering and children, who might not even have survived birth are now left to suffer perhaps for years or possibly decades.


Prisoners are usally relatively cheap, since they live in large facilities that are often cost-effective and require not much work from individual workers. That is why it is e.g. cheaper in the USA to send someone to life in prison than to execute him, because the bureaucratic and legal process for the death penalty is way more expensive. And nevermind that there is no alternative to having prisons since you can't execute everyone who breaks the law (and even then you would need a prison to house them).

The same counts for the care of disabled children. Intensive care for a child (e.g. for those who need machines et. al to life) costs easily for than sending someone to prison for decades. And those who live longer and require not so much medical help, the expenses are still significant. E.g. if they go to a special school, they'll need trained personal, and they might not be able to earn their money for their entire life. So in short, another myth busted.

@Atch


That is precisely the problem. People might have some patience with a mentally disabled person, e.g. when he does something stupid in public, but once he becomes an adult that changes- The disabled child I knew never understood the concept of "paying" for something, so whenever he was hungry he went to a supermarket, took something and left. As long as he was a child, the supermarket had patience with him and simply sent the bill to his parents. But once he was above a certain age, they started calling the police and eventually banned him from entering the supermarket, something he did not understand either. The person in question was otherwise very kind and nother caused others trouble, but this was a real problem, because we lived in a small village with not much options.His parents eventually bribed the owner to still let him in, because otherwise he would not be able to go on a small walk unsupervised, but this would not be an option for family with small income.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

Or to Germany. Some clinics in e.g. Görlitz and Frankfurt (Oder) have more Polish than German patients.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

Raising children is usually an economic burden since the times when those children provided for their parents in old age are usually over in Europe (there are of course children who provide for their parents in old age, but this is not obligatory and depends heavily on choices the parents have no control over, e.g. how many children their child get themself).

Raising mentally or physically impaired children can be very taxing, physically, mentally and economically. Parents will devote their money and time possibly for the end of their lives for their child. It seems only fair that if the government would decide to ban abortions, it would make sure that those parents get as much help as possible.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

The question that interests me most is whether the Polish governments intents to help those parents who (arrcording to the proposal) would be obliged to raise a (mentally or physically) heavily disabled child?

Because raising a such a child is an immense burden, no reason to sugarcoat it. Not to mention that - depending on the condition of the person in question - it might be dependable on outside assistance for the rest of its' life.

There used to live a mentally disabled person a few streets away from my house, who was cared for by his already old parents. He was a nice, cheerful person, and when I talked with his parents a few times it became clear that they loved him very much. But he could be very taxing, and it probably only worked so well because his parents were relatively wealthy. A single mother who would have to work would be hopelessly overstrained with this. If the Polish governments intents to go through with this proposal, they better make sure that there are enough places in schools for those children, and that the parents received appropiate assistance.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

I am simply interested what kind of motiv those who believe in foul play suspect. This tragedy does not get much coverage in Germany anymore, but there must be a discussion on Poland about possible motives.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]


If you are investigating a murder, you usually look for a motiv. This is even more important if you suspect a political assasination.

@Crow


10 million would still be insignificant if we are talking about a potential conflict between Russia and Poland. Not that what you are writing here has any claim to reality anyway. Serbia has no strategic value to Poland


Even if that were true, there are less than 200k Serbs in Croatia. They are no threat to Croatia|s stabilitz. Besides Croatia is in Nato, and Serbia is not Russia.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]


No, he didn't. To my knowledge, the project is still going forward. I have found no article stating that this project is cancelled.


There is no greater adversary to Putin in the Western world than Merkel. She used to be sceptical of him even in the early 2000s when a lot of people still had false expectations of Russia and Putin. They never got along, and all of their personal meetings were frosty at best.


Yes, very benefical. Being diplomatically isolated between the EU and Russia, losing a lot of money and the economic damage of leaving the Common market. Sounds very attractive to me.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

@G (undercover)


I remember that German media predicted both Duda's and PiS victory, so I doubt those were particular upsetting victories. Besides I was merely trying to present the case from a Russian point of view, it just doesn't seem worth the risk in this case to pull a stunt like this. But like I said, I am genuily interested in knowing what kind of motives are suspected here.


How so?


I am reading a wide range of German media. I just draw the line when it becomes openly manipulative.

@Crow


Deduce one 0 and you'd be closer to the truth.


You mean the days when Serbia proved all prejudices against the "savage" Balkans right and went on its' genocidal rampage? Honestly, the rest of your post is just as ridiculous. I mean, do you really believe this ridiculous stuff? Serbia as a main destination for foreign investment? Am equilibrium between Poland and Russia?

Serbia has a fraction of the population of Poland, let alone Russia, no common border with Poland, not even a harbour from which it could send aid to Poland if needed. You have nothing to offer Poland in terms of security, even disregarding the insignificant army you have.

And nobody intents to move against Serbia. It is Serbia that wants to move to Western Europe and become part of the EU. Thankfully the EU has now increased its' conditions for membership, because we really don't need yet another underdevolped country in the EU.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]


And where do those supposed "mutual interests" lie?

Poland regards Russia as its' main threat to security. Trump on the other hand has little concern for Russia's threat to Europe.

Poland wants Europe and the USA to remain tough on Russia regarding the Ukraine. Trump had to be strong-armed by his Congress to not make any concessions towards Russia, and has been diplomatic inactive on this issue. Not to mention that he had to be told by Merkel just why the Ukraine is important, and what has happened there. This is certainly nothing high on Trumps' agenda-

Poland is vasly benefiting from its' EU-membership, which is supported by a clear majority. Trump has repeatedly voiced his intention to weaken the EU. He wanted to negotiate trade deals with each EU member individually, knowing that it would be easier for the USA to get a one-sided deal that way.

Poland wants a deal with the UK on Brexit that secures the rights' of its citizen working abroad, or in short, concessions. Trump stated that he wanted to support London, which would have made it more difficiult for the EU to remain commited to the rights of movement.

Poland deems the Nato as essential for its' security. Trump has stated that he considers the Nato of no great importance for the USA.

In short, Poland has nothing to gain from Trump as president and a lot to lose. If it wasn't for the skilled diplomacy of Angela Merkel, (and others) who pointed out that the USA could not negotiate a trade deal with every EU member individually, things could have been very bad for Poland.

telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/22/donald-trump-ready-do-trade-deal-eu-ahead-uk

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

Genuine question here: What reasons could have Russia possibly have had for shooting down that plane? The president had low approval ratings and was likely to lose the next election anyway, and Poland's foreign policy towards Russia did not change at all. The Russians must have known that relations with Poland could not have possibly improved after this, even if their involvement remained a secrecy. And the possible fall-out of such an action if it became known is so infintely worse than any possible advantage they would have gained.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]


It takes time for a president to get impeached. They needed 2 years for Nixon after the discovery of the Watergate-Scandal, as of right now, the noose is tightening around Trump.


How are they "debunked"? Everything we learn just makes the case even more damning.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]


If you want protection against Russia, which Poland desperately does, you need the USA and this won't change for the next few years.


Serbia is a tiny, poor and - outside of the Balkans - irrelevant country. You have 7m people, ranking 30th in Europe per GDP.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_in_Europe_by_GDP_(nominal)
You have very little to offer to Poland.

@gumishu

I think you are the one who is either joking or ignorant.

News / Poland in the European Union. Polexit? [559]

Whatever you might think about Trump, it is obvious that him being president is very harmful and potentially fatal for Poland's interest. It is a fact that he has no knowledge about Eastern Europe, or a deeper understanding of perhaps Poland's greatest foreign political concern, the crisis in the Ukraine.

businessinsider.de/the-white-house-called-this-trump-angela-merkel-exchange-humiliating-2017-12?r=US&IR=T


Not to mention his dubious ties with Putin and Russia. It is also apparant that those who cheer for this guy have (just like him) no understanding of how the EU works and why leaving the EU would catastrophic for Poland. Even disregarding the tremendous economic fall-out of this decision, what exactly would Poland gain by this? It would be left isolated against the influence of Russia, with no strong alliance to counter it. Nato will lose significance as the American pivot to Asia continues and European defence agreements within the EU intensify.

I mean sure, if Poland suddenly decides that it wants to be subservient to Russia than this might work out, but otherwise Polexit would be utter stupidity.

News / Americans incite hatred towards Russia in Polish media [75]

The first sentence already made me stop. Calling the games in Sotchi "highly succesful" when we know today that Russia organized the doping of ifs' athletes on an unprecedented level shows what kind of writer this Steven Cohen is.

News / Americans incite hatred towards Russia in Polish media [75]

The most powerful politician in Poland believes a conspiracy theory that Russia had his brother assassinated and you believe that it is Western propaganda that is trying to drive a wedge between Poland and Russia?

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


I don't know why you keep bringing this up when so far nobody has used them in a high level crime in Europe (and to my knowledge) in the USA. Clearly it is less easy to produce those weapons than you think, or otherwise terrorists would have used them already.

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

It is just funny how the NRA tries to paint "Surprise gun inspections" as a bad thing. Americans might tolerate that every people - often children - die because weapons are not safely stored. But in Europe this is not acceptable.

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

@Dirk diggler

Just read those articles before you embarass yourself even more:

Gun violence rare in U.K. compared to U.S.

usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/06/16/gun-violence-united-kingdom-united-states/85994716

Police in Britain fired their guns just seven times in the last year

independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-police-shooting-statistics-discharge-firearms-figures-freddie-gray-baton-killings-homicide-a7160391.html

So much for "quite a bit of shootings" in the UK.... .

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

You are in more danger to your life if everyone owns guns, than if access is restricted.

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


Do you also notice that those mass shootings take place in the USA far more often than in any other Western country, even if you take the population size into consideration.