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


I think that if I lived in Poland maybe I would see things in similar way but by living abroad you can't help but compare and I don't think it is much different in other countries.

We just started building social housing in Poland and they are mainly given to the families on law income. In UK you have families of native British and with foreign roots - some with lots children living from generation to generation on benefits- all funded by working people taxes. What about Labour party in UK all nasty anti-Semitic remarks. There are not so many Jewish in UK but lots Muslims so again they want them to vote..... I know I don't live in Poland so I am not so affected by these changes/decision but I would not say it is just Poland. In some aspect I am happier with trzynastka for pensioners , 500 plus for normal working family on low income...(I think farmers are in general supported like this in France, UK ) than all for some fat cats in Government.

News / LGBT hate speech to be banned in Poland [208]

Still very late....

News / LGBT hate speech to be banned in Poland [208]

@Miloslaw
No I don't remember sixties but I think it was different in UK than in 'socialist' Poland.Not only homosexuality was not criminalised but also women situation was different. I think it relates more to fifties but in Poland women were encouraged to do any job in UK to get married ,stay home and look after husband.

Ha,ha not sure how it would work in Poland :-)

realhonestmom.com/happened-lived-life-according-1955-good-wifes-guide/

I quite like this one :

>>>>Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.>>>>

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


Prime example

kultura.onet.pl/wiadomosci/zagraniczne-media-o-aferze-z-usunieciem-prac-w-muzeum-narodowym-w-warszawie/970mesm

News / Years of Poland in the EU - assessment of pros and cons [1146]


Nothing is perfect and there are cons too.

News / Years of Poland in the EU - assessment of pros and cons [1146]


Tesco - are there any in France, Germany....Carrefour, Kufland, Auchan any in UK?. Clearly West European country keeps their own networks not keen to introduce any foreign. Poland was just flooded with them. Lots of them avoided paying much tax in Poland and transferred profits out. It has changed now - more polish shops more fair tax rules.

News / Years of Poland in the EU - assessment of pros and cons [1146]

As I said above it has changed now.

newsweek.pl/biznes/zagraniczne-firmy-unikaja-placenia-podatkow-w-polsce-nawet-46-mld-strat/c8we4m9

News / Schools in Poland to strike tomorrow [235]

@Dougpol1

I think some of them just go abroad for a year or longer for some experience, excitement, travel...... When I still lived in Krakow we got British guy who was coming to my Company and had lessons of English with us ( different groups, different levels Company paid for it). He worked in England as a restaurant manager - he passed this TEFL exam in UK and he came to Krakow to teach. I think he was really very good teacher....not teacher as such but no doubts he was much better than lots of my teachers I had at school.

News / Schools in Poland to strike tomorrow [235]

I don't think this guy who taught us had university degree but with sure he was very good. I think if he never had gone to Poland to teach he would not have discovered his talent.

I think probably 30-40 years ago when Poland was behind iron curtain any 'English native speaker' was a treasure. Not now.I think it is not easy to get job in these private language schools in Krakow.

Love / Polish girls and their big butts [5]


??? I would advise you visit to specsavers :-)

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


Not sure where you have this idea from? I would say Austro-Hungarian towns/villages are doing very well now....but east wall of Poland? I would say it is the poorest part of country.

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

But this is just voting result not economic development.

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

I think it is very dangerous assumption that poor and uneducated vote PIS and well-off and educated vote PO.

From economical point of view - I think there is big divide between west /east and less visible south/north.

I think west and south are much richer/better developed ( more populated) than other 2

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

It was after war now people are mixed...moved around. I would say booming towns are Warszawa, Krakow, Wroclaw, Poznan......

Counties : Mazowieckie, Dolnoslaskie, Podkarpackie, Malopolskie.

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

As I vaguely remember from history at school Austro-Hungarian part was quite laid back. Economy was poor but Polish had much more freedom there .

In German and Russian parts people were much more suppressed.

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

Is it so fascinating? It is like slavery or colonies.....nothing fascinating about it. German and Russian thought that this land would be for them for ever so forced people to work hard but not for themselves but for invaders. it is rather sad. Similar like German kept Wawel castle in Krakow as they thought they would sit there and bark orders. Fortunately it did not work.

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

@Bratwurst Boy

No I would say they were better developed before partition. Not sure why geographical reason maybe?

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

@Ironside

No it is not. There was much more freedom there than in other 2 partitions. Maybe check first before attacking people.

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


Clearly in relation to diet and habits- sauerkraut, sausages, pork chops....beer...football :-)

Life / Examples of popular Polish music? [992]

Pod Buda- great Krakow Band

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


I agree. It is more complicated and needs more research.

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

I have impression that this forum is getting quite extreme. For some PIS is all evil of this world for other they are 'saints'. Lack of objective views, opinions. I would be personally quite interested to read more balanced opinions.

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

I suppose as for today also property prices show which part of Poland is affluent and in demand.

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


So I guess it is what was expected. if we wanted for more children to be born in Poland - bigger families needed supporting as finance are harder for them.

As long as these are normal working families ( not pathology) it is perfectly fine and acceptable in my opinion.

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


I am not sure if you as a foreigner are the best person to judge it. You were not born and brought up in Poland . Even with learning language and living in Poland for a while not sure if you understand so deeply our history and mentality.

As for me not living (working) in Poland- I don't live in Poland now but I am polish and I have property in Poland and I am interested in my country.

Saying the same way I also have to take lots s...t in UK.

Unfortunately there is no perfect country anywhere....

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


you talk rubbish to be honest- is it any different in UK or any other country in west Europe????

There will be always small amount people who use and abuse it but what is the percentage???so big really? What about working class families on small income for whom this 500 is huge help.

That is what I meant about extreme not objective opinions in the style ' I don't like PIS so whatever they do it is wrong' I guess if it was introduced by PO it would be great decision.

I don't even like PIS much but it is getting just childish.

We don't talk about certain decision and impact of it but if it was taken by PO or PIS.

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

I don't know about ZOMO but when I was in primary school there was girl whose dad was quite high in Police ( UB) and she told me that she was frightened as she heard that Solidarity people have addresses and would come and kill children of people like her dad ....it sounds ridiculous now but Society was divided and still is in this aspect.

My mum in 1970 -ties worked as accountant . She was very good but she was told that to be promoted as an Account Manager she would have to join party ( PZPR). She never did.

Child benefits .......What about UK - all generations provided with houses, benefits ( not just 500zl) never worked day in their life but than some hard working Brit can't get proper treatment on NHS as there is not money. There is much more inequality in UK than in Poland so I am surprised that you are so agitated.

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


ZUS pension is the same as state pension in UK - Where is the difference? hardly to survive.

In Poland it is becoming the same like in UK - people need savings, assets, private pensions unless it is living in poverty. Where is the difference? Free buss pass, drugs in UK....you are contradicting yourself as if PIS try to introduce slowly things like this you just attack them. So it is ok in UK not in Poland?

I hate state pension contribution/rules in UK it is the most SOCIALIST and unfair thing I have ever seen in my life- Someone earning 100 K a year after 30 years proportional contribution gets the same as cleaner earning 18 K a year. £160 a week. Radiculous for me.

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


As it is dangerous statement/assumptions if saying someone has racism in his blood. Relating to my mum - to say the truth she had a choice - she chose what her conscience told her to do. Lots people would join PZPR not believing in it just to move on in their career. I suppose as British are very pragmatic lots would probably join party just to move on career ladder. Polish have different mentality.... As you say about socialism in blood....no I think that every nation is affected by history and Polish are just like they are . Maybe it is different for you to understand as your nation ( at least in last 200-300 years) were acting as invader we were always invaded.

Dolnaslask

As an employee:
you pay National Insurance contributions if you earn more than £166 a week.
you pay 12% of your earnings above this limit and up to £962 a week (for 2019-20)
the rate drops to 2% of your earnings over £962 a week.

How is it fair ?- plain math. You pay percentage of your income but final pension is the same for everyone ( it depends on working years only). Clearly someone on 100k contributed much more than someone on minimum wage.

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


As an employee:
you pay National Insurance contributions if you earn more than £166 a week.
you pay 12% of your earnings above this limit and up to £962 a week (for 2019-20)
the rate drops to 2% of your earnings over £962 a week.

Plain math says it is not fair. That is why people save for private pensions to have decent income when retired.