I worry about the Poles working in the UK

Probably because they haven't invested as much capital in their lives in Britain... and, well, they can always go home.

Nah you got it Sean bang on mate, i'll help where needed. Money is money, no big deal, it comes it goes. Friends can be truly counted when the shite hits the fan. Ironically thats when you find out who your true friends are. If i have it and can help i'll lend everytime.

The Poles know the value of needing to 'wykombinować'. They are accustomed to hard times and know where those magic trees are :)

There is something in the determined man's mind that will never let them believe that anyone owes them anything, they will always stay flexible and adept to achieve their security... Though eventually a generation or two of prosperity may change that.

In any case, If unemployment is still higher in Poland and wages lower they will continue to be better off abroad and they will know that. Those who found it difficult will probably have already left...

What a laugh, "free market economy". It's not about free market economy, it's about lowering your labor costs to maximize profit. Unfortunately this business model doesn't work as it eventually destroys demand. The native Irish cannot compete with the immigrant Poles. The exchange rate alone between the zloty and the pound Sterling is enough to give the Pole a huge advantage.

The ROI uses the Euro.

Sorry had to go and meet friends, do some odds and ends with the wife. You know - guy stuff. How was the evening on the internet?


True. I didn't want to single out Britain as the only racist society but you'll find discrimination everywhere and the UK is not immune to it. The best selling newspaper is the Daily Mail, the BNP was winning seats in local government recently and it wasn't too long ago that you could watch shows like the Black and White minstrel show and Bless this house on nationwide TV - look for the episodes on youtube and there'll be a dozen people commenting that it was a shame they were taken off the air because everyone, including black people, found them funny.


OK OK. The point is that Poles and other migrant workers are probably going to get treated more roughly (through harrassment, ostracism, possible violence) by the local people as conditions worsen. This happens in every country to all national / ethnic groups.

I wonder what kind of effect this will have throughout the world? It might not be so wise to go about slashing everything so quickly. What good does shrinking the economy do?

Good question! The only benefit of mass unemployment I can see is for large business owners, who gain a large disposable pool of labour who are willing to put up with low salaries and poor conditions (the function Poles have been serving for the past couple of years). However, in the long run, nobody can buy products and services and the economy stalls.

Yes, Indeed! Very true. Should they now go back home?

Whether or not they go home will be based on how well they have assimilated into British society, whether they have employment and so on. I'm not saying they should or shouldn't.

Should they stay, even if they are nothing but a disposable pool of labour? In Poland now they won't be treated otherwise.

I'd suggest those who do will survive as the crappy jobs are usually the ones which are needed boom or bust. Funny how McD's always note a rise in employment (and useage) during recession.


agree 100%


Apparently the new Matt Lucas show is full of 'blacking up' and it's caused a stir.

dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1342025/David-Walliams-Matt-Lucass-BBC-spoof-Come-Fly-With-Me-accused-racism.html

(it's a bit of a joke to say it's 'pushing boundaries' by using a style from 30 years ago)

I suppose it would depend on the individual. I know some Poles working as consultants in the NHS who are obviously needed by the country and would be difficult to replace. Then again, I know others who are in low paid factory jobs which could be done by local British workers. Some of them would probably be better off moving to Germany for example and finding work there but it might be difficult for others who have started families. What do you reckon? Should they stick it out and wait for the upturn?

If they've made the commitment and started a family etc it would probably be better to stay (unless they are guaranteed a good job when they come home).

If you're working then I don't think benefit cuts are going to be an issue for you.

There are violent individuals in every country, belonging to all kinds of nationalities and races, and for as long as people are unhappy about their differences and/or situations, not much will change. To keep a long story short: I would not worry more about a Polish person who works in the UK any more or less than that I would worry about myself or someone else if they worked in the UK. It is just a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but unfortunately the media will report such incidents in a way which will fit their political agenda. I would hardly call this news. (Pun intended!)