Article

2005-10-24 Europe

Exit Polls: Kaczynski Wins Polish Runoff

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Posted by Fred 2005-10-24 00:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Show me a Euro voter who will vote against the welfare state ...

If it were only that simple. This election was about getting rid of that rancid scandal-ridden circle of ex-communists that held power for the last 16 years. They did nothing for the country but fill their pockets.
Ironically, Tusk actually fought against communism. So why did he lose? He got the so-called kiss of death: the backing of the ex-communists. Why? Because the other candidate threatens to make life hard for the ex-commies as payback for all those nasty scandals.
On the other hand, this other candidate, Kaczynski, who also didn't like communists, is an economic socialist (in other respects he is a conservative). As the article mentions, he promises a welfare state, and lower taxes at the same time (except for the upper income bracket). He expects the rich to pay for his promised social safety net. Assuming this is a good idea, there's a slight problem with his plan: there's not that many rich people in Poland in the first place. It's also the rich people who tend to provide jobs.

All this is not lost on the Polish people, and the lack of a real choice in this election was evidenced by the lowest voter turnout ever. Even so, I would have given Tusk the benefit of the doubt, on purely economic grounds, and in spite of the ex-commies' support for him. But the people want blood, I guess.

Posted by Rafael 2005-10-24 01:05|| 2005-10-24 01:05|| Front Page Top

#2 Keep in mind, Poland is still transitioning from a planned economy. It is not yet at its full potential. Unlike Old Europe, people here have a legitimate claim for wanting a welfare state. Workers have essentially been left to create their own jobs after communism collapsed. Hard to do when you lack the capital.
Solidarity fought for rights and freedoms, and better economic conditions. Little did they know that the fruits of their labor would leave them unemployed. Its not what they had in mind.
That said, welfare isn't the answer in the long run. I hope they don't get used to it.

Posted by Rafael 2005-10-24 03:32|| 2005-10-24 03:32|| Front Page Top

#3 "Show me a Euro voter who will vote against the welfare state"

They are all in the UK working.

Polish economic collapse in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6...

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2005-10-24 07:20|| 2005-10-24 07:20|| Front Page Top

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