News / Years of Poland in the EU - assessment of pros and cons [1139]


Really- I find you quite disgusting either. Moaning and moaning about Poland everything is bad bad..... Why you don't bugger off to this wonderful Britain when pavements are covered in gold. racism? Maybe open eyes and have a look what is going on in London. Again not much logic in your statement as I am emigrant too.

UK, Ireland / Polish passport - Can I apply from the UK? [51]

@Muhammad Adil

it is hard to get through to anyone in polish Embassy in UK.

Can't you wife contact passport office in Poland and ask for more information ?

News / Years of Poland in the EU - assessment of pros and cons [1139]

@Miloslaw

Not nice as some are probably old not renovated but it is people who create surrounding, feeling of community or safety.

News / Years of Poland in the EU - assessment of pros and cons [1139]


I think that you confuse unpleasant Council estates in UK ( where lives half of Africa, lots workshy Brits and drugs ,crime,violence is high) to block of flats in Poland.

Maybe some of them don't look pretty but in the most of them live very normal ,average people.

News / Years of Poland in the EU - assessment of pros and cons [1139]


For Dougpol everything is so bad in Poland that his view as not objective but becoming pathological.

I am not big fan of Nowa Huta in Krakow but I worked there once and I remember these block of flats from 50 were well built ( often from bricks) and well designed with lots green areas around. To be honest much better quality of life than in new ones when they are built so close to each other.

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]

@cms neuf
'Means tested benefits'- Big family , parents don't work ( too stressed, back pains.....standard excuses) so they receive free house and weekly benefits. That is how it is in UK. Is it the same in Poland ? Really....

This forum should be about Poland but saying IT IS ONLY IN POLAND ..when it is not true makes all this discussion bit childish. Poland is in EU and in Europe not just some isolated country on deserted island so things have to be compared.

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]


Very easy....France, UK, Germany......lots benefits for nothing.

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1613]

A new one: What do you express with that comment?: Pretty flowers!
@ pawian

I thing surprise....astonishment

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]

I also think that there is one basic true which seems to be missing somewhere. For majority of people the most important is their quality of life :

low unemployment,
economical stability,
good standards of life,
safety,
freedom of press, speech

not necessary which party has majority in the Parliament, government. So some people can call it 'populism' but there is nothing negative about it- populism is for people for masses, for majority to be happy and to lead comfortable life . Should not it be the main aim to achieve for government elected by these masses?

Instead of creating 'elites' with superior attitude who know better.

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]

@Dirk diggler

As I said this before this moaning about 500zl is petty and out of proportion. Someone would think it is incited by PO supporters....not happy they did not introduce it first.

You are right Poland is changing very quickly. I think there is growing group in Poland of rich and very rich people. It is enough to have a look at property prices.....houses in Krakow - prices easily start from 1-2 mln zl. Every time I visit Poland I can see difference and to be honest it is difference for better- maybe except this constant moaning of people:-).

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]


As I am aware UK has no problem with birthrates Poland has so .....that is why this benefit has been introduced. Another thing if it works or not.


Maybe but there are lots of different benefits.

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]

The reason I compare it to Sweden,Britain....is that Poland is going towards capitalism and towards the same way of dealing with things. I know these are established democracies but they also have much ,much more benefits paid to people than just meagre 500zl.

Another thing is - that for instance in UK there is income tax similar like in Poland but there is also council tax - money for all these benefits are not coming from nowhere.

It is the matter of time that the second tax will be introduced in Poland....and there will start again in press,on forum....'Polish government is handing out money to losers....taxing more,and more working people !!!!!'-

I would say WELCOME TO CAPITALISM.
I think that in the most capitalistic countries there is second tax I think its state tax in USA....I have not researched it in all Europe but I think it is in the most European countries.

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]


That is why it is called benefit- not tax deduction. It is probably funded from different taxes like vat, corporate tax .....but it is the same in all European countries. Some people never worked for a day in UK and they get free house, child benefits....who pays for it? If we agree with it or not it is like it is.

You cannot calculate everything in mathematical way. What about disabled person who can't work and gets benefit....What about prisoners .....

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]

@cms neuf

I am not sure why you are so obsessed on this forum about this 500 zl child benefit.It is becomimg quite petty. There will be always some pathology and rich families who don't need it but for average family it is just financial help. What about Sweden school books, lunches, uniforms transport.....everything is paid by 'taxpayers'.How socialist is it?

In my opinion very stupid decision was reducing retirement age to 60- every European country increases retirement age as there is no enough money for pensions, people live longer. This will not last long.

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]

@cms neuf

Election is about majority so clearly arrogant 'elitists' are in minority.

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]


I completely agree with you. They come across as backwards, intolerant ,conservative and too dependent on church but......they don't create this feeling of 'elite' -we are better educated and so superior that anyone who voted PIS is stupid and uneducated. I find it quite annoying. Again there are some people with more balanced views whom I respect. There is this journalist Aleksandra Rybinska- very intelligent women.

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]


I don't think it is a case. In PRL there were PZPR elites/UB/Milicja who had their own shops easy access to get flat/car. There was propaganda about equality in socialism but in reality it was like in 'Animal farm' - We are all equal but some are more equal than other. I remember famous phrase by Jerzy Urban -government spokesman in 80-ties that 'Rzad sie zawsze wyzywi'- and who cares about masses.......they can queue all night to buy fridge or washing machine....or queue for few hours to get some meat scrap for lunch.

I can't help it but it reminds me PO times and maybe this is the reason (denied but some) why they lost last election.I can see parallel situation in USA-people are just fed up with these 'elites' with superior attitude.

It is rather childish comparing current situation to PRL era. It is free market now and anyone can show as much initiative as they can. As I am aware most European countries have some form of child benefits and this 500zl will not make anyone a millionaire.

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]


But there is one slight difference :
in Poland you have to have valid 'ksiazeczke ubezpieczeniowa' to be seen by doctor. In UK half of Africa and illegal immigrants get free treatment that is why HNS will never have enough money to be run properly.

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]

Shameful ? It is shameful for you that you support this sort of actions. What is the point of offending other people religion. There is something called 'respect other people and other people believes' which I understand is alien to you.

It did not cross your mind? it did cross mine as we live in era of terrorism and most people are aware of it.

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]

Reference level?

Maybe there are people who don't support PIS and are not even very religious but find act of this woman just stupid. What was the point of it really????

By offending they expect acceptance ?

News / Election marathon 2018-2020 in Poland [1071]


Comical ? Maybe or maybe she should be grateful this was just arrest not shooting like in Charlie Hebdo magazine. Similar issue.

News / Should Polonia and expat Poles lose voting rights in Polish elections? [62]

It is not so simple I suppose- if someone left 20 years ago and still have only polish citizenship he will not have rights to vote at all anywhere if polish is taken away from him?

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1303]


Maybe coming back- yes tongues I remember too. Kidneys? I don't remember them at all. What do you do with them? In England they do steak-kidney pie.....but in Poland??

News / Should Polonia and expat Poles lose voting rights in Polish elections? [62]

It is difficult question.

1- I don't think there are many Polish who never set foot in Poland? How would they have polish citizenship ?
2- Someone could go abroad for 1-2 years and plans coming back so not paying taxes is not enough to stop voting.

I agree that if someone left years ago they should not vote but it is more ethical, moral reason than legal one. I guess other European countries have the same rule.? Even on emigration they can still vote.

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1303]


Raviolis are Italian and big raviolis look like pierogi....:-)

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1303]

To be honest certain food can be regional plus on-off fashion in different times. So I would not generalize.

I remember there was always available to buy chicken liver, hearts, 'zoladki' not sure how it even translate. ( stomach ,craw?) but my dad told me about eating lungs when he was young. I don't remember ever eating them or seeing in the butchers?

It is the same with cod liver- It can be quite fashionable now ....not sure it was in the past.

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1303]

@pawian
Thinking about it- they are probably quite healthy. There are cod liver tablets.

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [227]

@kaprys
I think when delivery was expected ( fridges, TV) people were queuing all night. Every few hours there was list read if you left queue they would remove you from list.

There were also special shops for Police/UB/government workers. Bit like animal farm- we are all equal in socialism but some are more equal than others :-)

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1303]


Can you buy it in Poland? How is it called 'watroba z dorsza' ?

History / Heritage of partitions still present in Poland [107]


I think PRL mentality was - I work in state Company it belongs to no one so if I can bring something home it is perfectly fine and I am clever' chap'.

I rememebr our neighbour who worked in Pani Walewska factory in Krakow. He seemed to have always lots of these perfumes.