News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

Nonsense - it was supported last week by the prime minister in a radio interview, was said by Jaroslaw to have a high chance of success and is apparently supported by the majority of PiS deputies despite it wisely being nowhere near their election manifesto.

Of course there are no more important issues to talk about in Poland - I mean its not like the currency has crashed or we need to to build some roads.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

I have sat next to Rostowski on a plane (in economy), he did not get any special privelages, had to pay for his tea and coffee like the rest of us, and read a cheap paperback that looked like it came from an antiquariat.

Tusk is a different issue and he did indeed use a plane as a Tusk taxi for something like 100 flights, so its no surprise that the TKM mentality sets in. It is personal business and they should pay for it themselves, but if that's not possible then I would not begrudge them a first class train compartment to themselves, space for 3 people plus bodyguards. Cost about 1000 zloty compared to the 30k zloty they are spending per trip on the plane which can surely only be an hour of so quicker.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

Possibly this issue is doing some good - PiS won heavy support from 20-30 year olds, mainly by deliberately being deceptive about who would run the country. This episode will reveal PiS for what they are - fanatics in thrall to church cash. Last week Szydlo stated she opposed all abortion, yesterday she said that was her personal view and that it did not matter. Her code for "I should have asked Jaroslaw before opening my mouth", and she is supposed to be the cuddly face of PiS.

On this thread there is not one woman defending the PiS stance and I'm unsure how many of the PolAm guys, who so vehemently support the idea of women bearing their rapists kids, are fathers themselves.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

yes but you could be a happily married churchgoing lady, pregnant by your first and only husband and with kids already and an ageing parent to care for. You could develop life threatening complications and in your scenario then thats tough luck for the lady and her family, and the arbiters of her fate are not her dependents, but the state.

Furthermore imagine if that lady was a trained policewoman or nurse, education paid for by society.

i am anti abortion but the no exceptions rule is spiteful and naive.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

I dunno Ironside - that typhoon of wastefulness came att he same time as 8 years of good growth, rising living standards, outperforming many established EU countries and generally maturing as a country. i dont think that was all because of PO but If they were as bad as you say then surely it would not have happened.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

PiS did not abandon the theory of an independent civil service - PO had 8 years to reform that and did not. I think a key difference though is thst people connected to PO were more likely to have some knowledge of the relevant area, whereas PiS politicians generally have little exposure to running complex organizations, people management, finance etc.

Life / Why are Poles always so miserable? Why do they never smile? [512]

Kingdoc whats the deal ? Have you lost your girl or your job to a pole ?

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

Well I do care about farmers because I own a working farm. And I do care about mums because I am married to one and I employ about 15 more. And I am kind of impartial because in my house of 4 adults (us and her parents) then 2 voted PiS and one Kukiz. And honestly I don't really care that much about TVP, TK, Walesa etc - I just want to get on with my own life and look after my Polish kids.

I am perfectly happy to debate any of PiS policies here with you in a rational way. Name which one you would like my views on. However going by the tone of the responses then it looks like anyone who wants to debate is an intellectual and is next up against the wall.

I can't honestly see another 4 years Grzegorz because its difficult for them to govern if nobody will lend them money. In 100 days they have managed the following

- zloty at its lowest level for 10 years
- stock market steep fall (and steepest in state owned companies)
- a credit downgrade
- and I see in February record levels of capital flight from Poland (though its obviously mostly jews and progressive scum so it doesn't matter).

I don't know what the next 100 days will bring but with so much of the economy now in the hands of people with no experience and no foresight then I'm not very optimistic.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

I think Morawiecki is too honest to make progress. I think a possible scenario is he resigns and nobody credible will work with PiS as a finance minister and they will be unable to withstand the issues from the 500+, public debt, probable withdrawal of EU funds and the weak zloty. Some sensible members of PiS will form a breakaway party

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

I'm sure the answers will come couched in the language of the 1930's again - Banksters, Neo liberal scum, cosmopolitans, polonophobes etc

Was in the Jewish museum a few weeks ago in Warsaw and was struck by how many of the posters of the 1930's would not look too out of place in modern PiS discourse.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

What do people think the end game for this govt will be ? I think it will come from the disgruntled mums waiting for their 500 zloty and from the farmers waiting for their support (though incidentally I have been paid on time :). I think it will be more difficult for the govt to face those people down than it is to ignore a few comedians and students.

What has amazed me about this govt is the speed with which they have wilfully alienated people who would otherwise cautiously support them. Settling old scores seems more important than helping Jan Q Pole to improve his living standard - its breathtaking the disregard they have for consequences, and the inability to think a few steps ahead.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

No they don't and in conventional circumstances it would be good for nation states to assert their sovereignty. In the case of Poland however they are in receipt of a handout of about EUR 10bn per annum plus a great deal of soft assistance - it is probably unwise to insult the EU, just as its unwise to insult Americans whose taxpayers fund the defence of Poland. Sadly the PiS intellectual pygmies do not understand that and feel that anybody can be treated with the same disrespect as they show the taxpayers of Poland.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

I am not so bothered about the stud farm and TVP but the appointment of this lady to PGE is a disgrace - it is a major company, she is totally unqualified and what kind of signal does that send to the employees and customers of PGE ?

What is more of a concern is that I am sure there are people in PiS, sensible people who would have said the same thing, but they are being overruled, or are too afraid to speak up in front of Kaczynski.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

Polonius you say to give PiS a chance. I think many people were willing to - my reaction on election night was that this is a democracy, that there are enough safeguards and that there are enough intelligent people in PiS not to do anything drastic to dismantle a story that while far from perfect has been constant growth. Since 2004 this is the highest living standards and freedom that Poland has ever enjoyed. I have a lot in common with PiS - I'm a once a month churchgoer, small kids, have a small farm, and I also think Polish internal politics is no business of the EU.

But what they have done in 3 months is dissipate all of that goodwill - they have chosen confrontation wherever possible, they have wasted time and energy on trivial issues of identity politics, they have appointed people with zero experience to run huge corporations, they have favored ideology over common sense time and again. Worst of all I am amazed at the extent to which Duda and Szydlo are puppets of the fruitcake wing of the party. I think that Szalamacha and Morawiecki won't last long and then it will be difficult to recruit a finance minister who wants to hitch their reputation to this crowd - that could be seriously risky for the zloty and Poland's ability to finance itself.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

they are very dangerous - totally inexperienced, profoundly cliquey, confrontational and should not be let anywhere near the economy, education or infrastructure or foreign policy.

if they want to talk about abortion or Smolensk then that's fine - keeps their incompetent hands off the important stuff.

News / Jacek Kurski, the new chairman of TVP (Telewizja Polska) [37]

The issue for me is not really whether he pays child support, or some slurs he made in the past - I don't care and I don't expect him to be a saint.

Surely the issue is whether he has any experience in running a TV station - answer is no. Alternatively does he have any experience running a large organization - again the answer is no.

I'm a conservative but of course I accept that people in the media are left leaning and like drinking flat white - its obvious if you just think back to the people at school and college who wanted to do that kind of stuff. I don't especially get bothered by that.

I see this morning that Beata Tadla has been fired - no idea why but surely removing a young mum from her job is not a great signal of how to behave.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

I have stayed out of this debate - my reaction on election night was that there were enough checks and balances in the system to ensure nothing drastic happens.

Now I am getting really concerned and many investors the same - for me the most worrying thing is the bringing in of people with zero experience and often very young (some just out of college) to run institutions. This can create lasting damage - of course its partly PO's fault for not reforming this system of party patronage when they had 8 years clear run to do it.

Life / Why Do You Love Poland? [907]

So what you are saying is that both types of women are so shallow - western women care only about looks and eastern women only about money ?

my own wife is a Pol-Am so probably a bit of both ! unfortunately I have neither looks nor money :)

Language / Short Polish<->English translations [1040]

Its a short version of "I have no idea"

but its the kind of thing someone might put in an sms - so Wulkan suspects you are checking your girlfriend's phone.

Love / Are Polish men shy and take things slow? [118]

Generally I would say they are quite forward.

However if you ask them that is also quite accepted in Polish society.

News / Polish President vetoes PO's dingbat gender law [173]

In 18 years of visiting and living in Poland I have met one transgender person. She was nice enough I guess.

Absolutely a plague on both their houses - what we should be arguing about are taxes, infrastructure, quality of the labor market, defense and Russia, improving education, improving pensions. PO don't seem to be able to engage on those subjects on their own terms - Kopacz is a very poor communicator and does not seem to be making a connection to ordinary Poles who should be their natural supporters.

Law / Is it illegal in Poland / Schengen zone to transport refugees inside? [22]

In the case of the Hungarian / Austrian border I know that people wanting to help were advised not to take them across the border or even drive them around in Hungary as it was legally very dodgy. Of course the Hungarian police are probably sick of the whole situation and would probably do nothing but in general I think there is enough complexity about this situation that I would avoid adding to that - send them some blankets and some canned peas instead.

Language / [SEX] Polish sentences/expressions [41]

Thanks - no she is 28 and an intelligent person. I have only sent back neutral responses. Ok so I will defuse this !

Language / [SEX] Polish sentences/expressions [41]

while we are on the subject can I ask a delicate question - a Polish platonic friend has now said to me in a few different text messages "kocham cie"

I was surprised at that - I helped her get a job and lent her some money for a funeral so maybe she is just acknowledging that I was helpful but it seems strong. I am hoping this does not have any deep meaning as I definately am not interested and was just doing a normal favor - does it just mean something like "love ya" like a teenager would say ?

News / Poland's indecent junk capitalism? [53]

Yes when I graduated college in 92 there was not a lot of work around so I worked on short term contracts and on a per hour basis at fast food restaurants - Waffle House, KFC and in a warehouse. I did that for about 9 months before I found a more secure job. Financially it was very tough especially as I had debts from college; but I did accounting classes 2x a week and also had time for some other life skills - learned to type, learned german. Was not ideal but I actually look back on it as a good time in my life.

I think "garbage contracts" aimed at young people are fine. Aimed at people in mid life and with kids maybe not so much.

Delph in answer to your question - yes that was my choice and made clear to me at the time I took the role but I think its the same for many senior finance people - if you screw up they want you out, not hanging round for 3 months with access to the bank accounts.

News / Poland's indecent junk capitalism? [53]

Au contraire InPolska - I would say a great many bosses in Poland work with zero or very small protection. I could be fired tomorrow with no reason and no compensation, escorted out by a security guard, leave my car keys and phone on the desk and told to fend for myself. I accept that as the flip side of good pay and interesting work and I plan my finances accordingly. I know many people with the same arrangements.

At the bottom end of the scale consider this - you are about to launch a new project and need 3-4 people. Its got a 60% chance of working. If it does not then if you have people on less formal contracts then you could send them off with a thank you note and a good reference and they would have some valuable experience, be able to improve their language etc. That seems mutually beneficial and not exploitation.

I also do a lot of work in France, really the least flexible labor market I have ever encountered and it is a massive decision there whether to hire someone.

Work / Job prospects in Warsaw, Poland with top-10 MBA [25]

Dom you are being ridiculous - the guy has a 700 gmat score and is already to applying to the best MBA programmes - why the hell would he need to improve his qualifications after that unless he wanted to be an academic ?

management salaries in Poland are lower than in the west but probably by 20-30 percent, there is no way they are one third or a quarter as you say.

savings potential is every bit as viable here as in the US. I went to an alumni function a few weeks ago and with everyone in their mid 40s I did not feel I was seriously disadvantaged against people who had stayed in the US, and in fact in most cases much better off. However there is any case there is more to life than savings potential. if that was all that mattered in life then maybe we should all just go and drive trucks in the tar sands of Alberta. by coming here young you will get plenty of accelerated mgmt experience, have a good chance of meeting a nice girl, make some good contacts and yes be able to put some capital behind you.

i know you are spending your own time to give well meaning advice but in this case you simply don't know the field you are pontificating about, and its become tiresome reading the same misanthropic advice on every thread - whether its a bangladeshi dishwasher or an american accountant.

Work / Job prospects in Warsaw, Poland with top-10 MBA [25]

If you want to do an MBA then do so while you are single and have time - it almost always pays off and you will learn a lot.

Not sure about LBS/Insead being your only options - both are going to have an expensive living cost attached. On the other hand if you can add a bit of French to your skills then that is extremely marketable in Poland. Why not also consider doing your MBA in a tech city - could be Stanford (if your GMAT is that good) or Cal, MIT Sloan etc. That would give you an excellent network and keep you at the cutting edge for a year.

If you are looking for your MBA to be a springboard into Poland then also see what links your school has to Poland - in that case you will probably find more luck in towns with big PolAm populations like Chicago Booth / Northwestern / NYU Stern or maybe U.Toronto which has a good business school.

Work / Job prospects in Warsaw, Poland with top-10 MBA [25]

Yes a premium is given to work experience because management in Poland is more hands on than in a mature economy - you will be working with people who are very smart and hard working but lacking experience and lacking savoir faire in how a big corporation works - on that basis you will be more heavily involved rather than just giving direction.

Also one of the key reasons for hiring an expat is to leave a legacy of well trained staff - your MBA won't help you with that very much. So I think recruiters will also look at what projects you have completed and what achievements you have on your CV.

In my own case, then being honest, nobody here has ever really asked me about my MBA - I had a great time doing it, am part of a great network, learned a lot of things that I still use every day but work focus has always been on my ability to get things done in Eastern Europe.

In terms of recognition of your MBA then you will get more with a US company than a European employer - there is still quite an anti American streak in European public life and if you showed a German or French company HBS or Dartmouth on your resume they would assume you spend most summers sipping white wine on Cape Cod - perversely you might get more kudos if you went to a good public school like Michigan or Virginia. If it was from Stanford or Insead etc then that would be good too.

And nobody from Duke would get past the front door of my office :)

anyway good luck - as I said with Polish, tech experience, no work permit issues and an MBA then you are in a good place.

Work / Job prospects in Warsaw, Poland with top-10 MBA [25]

yes if your Polish is fluent then you should find something good - but recruiters are likely to focus more on your work experience than on your MBA - if you havent been in a leadership rope in the West then I think that might be considered a risk factor.

Depends really what sector your work experience is in - if banking, real estate, finance, marketing or supply chain then there are big shortages of qualified people.