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

To be honest I wish you all the best when you return to UK but as old saying says 'The grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence.'

Lots people are employed now on 'zero-hour contract' They don't get anything. Lots contract are that they pay you hardly any sick leave.

I don't understand why you were not paid anything when on sick leave? if someone is employed they are paid. If you have your own business? I don't think you are paid in UK unless you pay some insurance to cover it.

As in relation to my previous post about state pension- from plain math and numbers point of view it is not fair.

It is like group of mates goes to pub have 'kitty' - one puts £10, another £5 and another £20 - but they all drink the same.

I don't make polish as saints - my uncle was in party. For some people it was not so important issue. And yes some believed in it. At least in the beginning.

It was just example - I think being pragmatic is positive thing sometimes ....

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

It is different in Poland than in UK.

In UK Government workers, ( not sure about policemen but they retire early) have final salary pension which us usually very good.

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

I don't know if it still now but I remember that there was 'open day' in Austrian Embassy in Krakow. It was open for public to get inside, walk through...There were also some stalls promoting Austria.

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

@Dougpol1

I suppose I can see and compare both countries. I worked few years in Poland and I have some 'initial capital' from ZUS. It is hardly anything when I get to retirement age. My parents got final salary pensions in Poland which are quite good. Now it is interim period in Poland and people don't quite understand that ZUS pension will be very low so they will have to start saving in private pensions. It will be obvious for next generation. In this aspect I am glad to live and work in England as I have chance to retire on decent pension.

I think policeman retire earlier -I know someone - he was quite high rank - just retired at 54 and he will get police pension now. I guess he will get state one at 66.

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


I suppose comedy 'CK Dezerterzy' helped to keep this 'image'.

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


Why was it illegal? There are always business with are not private but state supported....Can't independent country decide which one they want private and which do not?

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


That is why they lost but instead learning the lesson I hear these 'arguments' that only rural, and uneducated people voted/support PIS.

Just example family 2-3 children wife shop assistant, husband bus driver- live in middle size city,have mortgage- whom they would vote ? PIS with extra 1000-1500 a month plus chance for tax reducting or for PO' banana republic'?

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

Pawian/Mafketis.

I suppose they started well and not all reforms are bad- with sure bad is reducing retirement age to 60. It is very bad idea with less children born, people living-working longer it will turn into disaster. Clearly there will be no money.

Unfortunately all this political over patriotic actions put people off. All these 'wieczernice'? it is over the top.It was tragic but it was accident.

I don't have polish tv- When I ma in Poland I don't watch news as they are unwatchable. They are all PIS praising but to be honest previous ones were not different sarcastic , malicious anti PIS. Again no balance. I don't understand why there are no any debates where you can have politicians, members of public and have balanced discussions?

No chance for it - previous one were too arrogant current are not interested.

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


It is sad but it is true.

Just thinking what is going on in Paris now with 'yellow jackets' riots. Can you imagine if it happened in Poland? There would be shouts about lack of democracy/ mistreating people by government, police....threating about cutting our funds.....removing us from EU

In Paris it is just normal, accepted- perfectly fine and democratic.

Life / Equivalent of American televangelists in Poland? [11]

We are too cynical for these sort of mad televangelists...

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


Do you write these things to stir up ?

Language / Extremely Hard - Polish the hardest language to learn [226]

AMERICANS are the best in everything and everything is the biggest there....including people's sizes :-)

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


By PO supporters.

Life / Equivalent of American televangelists in Poland? [11]

I don't think so but I think American ones visit Europe.

Is Tony Robins televangelist? or life coach. I think he visited UK.

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.

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 / 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]

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

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]


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

News / Should Polonia and expat Poles lose voting rights in Polish elections? [63]

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]


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? [63]

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?

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 / 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]

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]


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]


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]


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]

@cms neuf

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