“Spain vs. Poland” could alternatively have been written as “A bloated, inefficient public sector vs. A thriving, efficient private sector”. The BBC’s Peter Day explores the differences in this most excellent podcast. More info here.
It’s so brutally and blatantly obvious, yet socialists the world over will never understand.
Socialism is a withering, wasting disease whose most obvious symptom is that its carriers remain remarkably immune to factual evidence.
The thing is socialists do understand. They just don’t want to work and they’ll destroy everything you (the worker) have earned through hard work in order to get it. In the old days, you had every right to protect your person and your property…not so anymore.
My dog sleeps about 20 hours a day.
He has his food prepared for him. He can eat whenever he wants.
His meals are provided at no cost to him.
He visits the Dr. once a year for his checkup, and again during the year if any medical needs arise.
For this he pays nothing and nothing is required of him.
He lives in a nice neighborhood in a house that is much larger than he needs, but he is not required to do any upkeep.
If he makes a mess, someone else cleans it up.
He has his choice of luxurious places to sleep.
He receives these accommodations absolutely free.
He is living like a King, and has absolutely no expenses whatsoever.
All of his costs are picked up by others who go out and earn a living every day.
I was just thinking about all this, and suddenly it hit me like a brick …….
My dog is a Socialist!
Spain’s Pedro Schwarz (2:45) talks about the lack of jobs for college grads and then contemptuously mentions flipping (burgers) at MacDonalds.
In Poland, 20 minutes later in the podcast, there is the exemplary entrepreneur Andre B. who had a summer job cutting cabbage in Norway to earn startup money for a very successful company.
Btw, if you have time for only half the podcast, pick the second half.
I’ve spent half my life in Canada, but still travel a lot to my old country. Poland has definitely changed dramatically from the drab days of communism that I had a misfortune to live in. In many ways it makes me proud to visit there and witness this unbelievable change. However, Poland is still far from perfect – my biggest concerns are a still highly bloated public sector and the bureaucracy. Red tape is out of this world – seemingly really easy things that can be done in one visit to let’s say city hall in Canada, can take years in the Polish system. There are still many laws on the books going back to the communist period. Once those two biggest obstacles are fixed, the economic growth can really outpace the rest of the world. Yet, I am very skeptical if this can be changed any time soon.
That being said, it always makes me warm inside and smile to touch down at YYC after the trip overseas – home sweet home…
“It’s so brutally and blatantly obvious, yet socialists the world over will never understand.”
Robert, this isn’t about what works the best, and it never was. These people KNOW their “theories” won’t work. The obstruction and ruination is deliberate.
They don’t want to live in nations where free men go about their business unmolested by some ruling class. They want to live in a nation where the miserable serfs bend the knee when the ruling class walks by. With them as the ruling class.
The chronic, terminal disease that is eating away at Western Society isn’t necessarily socialism, and it isn’t runaway capitalism – it’s BIG, USELESS GOVERNMENT.
In Canada, there are entire federal and provincial ministries that could (and should) disappear overnight. Ministries of Culture, Official Languages, Status of Women; and a host of other useless, pathetic agencies that we all pay for – such as “Assisted Human Reproduction Canada.”
Now, on those notes, back to the topic.
Well, I’ve never been to Spain
But I kinda like the music…
Weren’t the rest of the lines something about:
They don’t abuse it
Never gonna lose it
and…
can’t refuse it.
Doug @10:13 Thanks for the chuckle of the day.
Redneck, I don’t know about “highly bloated public sector and the bureaucracy”, but when we visited the Gdansk area last September we were impressed with the hustle and bustle we saw. Granted it was only for one day and we would not have been exposed to what you refer to.
The young Polish guides we had wanted nothing to do with a return of the Soviet system and neither did their parents. They said that some of the senior citizens wanted the communists back as their pensions were not adequate in a growing economy.
The sad thing about this is that the Poles and other growing economies will be expected to help bale out the socialist loafers.
The “The Spending Is Nuts” video fits many of the countries in Europe.
Jamie, exactly.
Doug, like your story about Comrade Dog.
Correction, Doug. You dog is a CUDDLY socialist! 🙂
An article concerning Poland’s rebound:
http://www.nuwireinvestor.com/articles/polands-economy-is-thriving-as-europes-most-capitalist-country-54961.aspx
So true Doug, unfortunately they will not be discussing how good your dog has it, but checking on you to make sure (he/she) gets 2 walks a day and is properly groomed.
pray…even if you’re an athiest..PRAY…that nobody uses truedough’s charter to claim their ‘human right’ up here….cellphones are expensive enough now in this country
Free cell phones are now a civil right
8:30 AM, August 1, 2011 ι Abby W. Schachter
Pennsylvanians on public assistance now have a new ‘civil right’ — free cell phones. Meanwhile, the rest of us get to pay higher cell bills as a result.
Recently, a federal government program called the Universal Service Fund came to the Keystone State and some residents are thrilled because it means they can enjoy 250 minutes a month and a handset for free, just because they don’t have the money to pay for it. Through Assurance Wireless and SafeLink from Tracfone Wireless these folks get to reach out and touch someone while the cost of their service is paid for by everyone else. You see, the telecommunications companies are funding the Universal Service Fund to the tune of $4 billion a year because the feds said they have to and in order to recoup their money, the companies turn around and hike their fees to paying customers. But those of use paying for the free service for the poor, should be happy about this infuriating situation, says Gary Carter, manager of national partnerships for Assurance, because “the program is about peace of mind.” Free cell service means “one less bill that someone has to pay, so they can pay their rent or for day care…it is a right to have peace of mind,” Cater explained.
Well, the telecommunications companies don’t seem to love providing this ‘right’ to poor folks because they are trying to renegotiate the deal with the FCC. The telecommunications companies like Verizon and AT&T want more paying customers, but their desire to reform their deal with the feds dovetails nicely with the political ideology of the current FCC chairman Julian Genachowski, who like all Obama administration flunkies sees ‘rights’ where others see ‘priviledges’. Just listen to how the agency put the question of providing broadband and cell service to those in rural and poor communities. “The goal of reform is to provide everyone with affordable voice and broadband,” the agency said.
Between 14 million and 24 million Americans lack access to broadband, “and immediate prospects for deployment to them are bleak,” the FCC said in a report last year. “Many of these Americans are poor or live in rural areas that will remain unserved without reform of the universal service program and other changes,” the report said.
But who says that cheap or free broadband is anything more than a luxury?
Well, another Obama flunkie, Rahm Emanuel, that’s who. As we reported in June , the new mayor of Chicago was all excited to proclaim the wonderful news of free internet service to poor kids in Chicago’s worst neighborhoods. And how could Mayor Emanuel pay for this new ‘civil right’? Well, because the federal government extorted the money from Comcast when it wanted to buy NBC-Universal. Once again FCC chairman Genachowski was all about “helping the kids” by forcing the internet provider to give poor kids free netbooks, laptops, and internet service, indefinitely. And who is going to pay for this gift? Well, of course the rest of us poor saps who actually pay our bills.
Doug, mind if I use that?
Poland is not as well off as you think it is, especially under its miserable governing coalition.