According to 'Polska Times' newspaper (6.7.09) the government is fighting with the crisis. The only problem is that Poland hasn't been really hit with a financial crisis like other parts of the world, but the government feels that we need to raise taxes in many areas, while it gives itself a pay rise (which has been noted on the front cover of newspapers like Fakty & Dziennik.pl in recent months). That to me or anyone else, is not smart governing. Don't they realise that if they put the citizens first they would be better off in the long term and their career would not be cut short due to greed and foolishness. The problem here is that most of the politicians present, past and future, go into office in hopes of making themselves rich. At least that is the view from the outside.
The Times Poland, mentioned rises in excise tax (akcyzy) for fuel [why when the cost has dropped three fold per barrel do Polish petrol prices continue to be ridiculously high? – to put into perspective, the average Polish citizen will have to work 1 hour for 2L of petrol, someone on minimum wage, will work for 1hr for 1L of petrol].
A tax is planned for alcohol and cigarettes. Because I am a non smoker and rarely drink alcohol, I think this is a good idea. But the reason behind it should not be for the government to make some extra money to hoard into their pockets but to encourage people to stop poisoning and killing themselves. More and more people are dying from smoking and drinking related causes all over the world, yet governments are doing little to outlaw smoking which kills more people than illegal drugs like cannabis. But that's another issue.
The government doesn't seem to understand that by continuing to raise taxes they are not going to make more money, because people are going to stop spending it as they won't have enough. Instead of driving, they are going to use public transport, walk or cycle. Duh. But of course this is not relevant because by the time they get out of office, they will already have set themselves up for life. Something the majority of Poles don't have a chance to do.
I'm not saying that all politicians are like this here, however, the decent ones who actually want to help Poland, are being pushed aside, stomped on, and removed from parliament by any means possible.
It's rather disappointing to see the leaders of our country not learning from their mistakes in the past. Will Poland ever experience the reality they deserve and get themselves out of this slump that has been present for decades?
Have I been unfair in my comments? I'd like someone to tell me I'm wrong and that our politicians and ministers are doing everything they can to make this country better, more prosperous, safer, cleaner and wealthier than it has ever been. I just can't see it.
Who deserves a pay rise?
Minimum wage is about 850zl (US$280 per month). This is not enough to cover rent, pay monthly bills, put food on the table and have a life. While ministers are earning ten or twenty times this amount and regularly demand pay rises because they claim that they should be earning similar amounts to people in their positions around the world. Well, so should teachers, doctors, nurses, waiters, chefs, and shop assistants.
Minimum pension for someone who has worked for forty odd years is about 600 zloty (US$200 per month). How is an older person who needs to pay bills, buy food and medicine support themselves? The older generation have built Poland, they have lived through its horrid history and survived, and this is how they are being repaid for their efforts.
The last few pay rises that I have seen for pensioners on the minimum have been 10 zloty, maybe 15 zloty. Is that really going to make a difference, especially since they have to pay tax from these meagre funds?
This is disgraceful for a country who is a member of the European Union, has been a democracy for twenty years, and has the potential to be something great.
Thank you for listening to my venting and any comments are appreciated, afterall this is just my opinion.
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