Poland elected a conservative party adding to the European list of countries that have turned to the right. Thoughts?

SrA Art Siatkowsky — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 03:59:16 -0400

Poland voted conservative on Sunday following England, Germany, and even France. I hope its a sign people are waking up to failed liberal philosophies and embracing conservative ideals. Its good to have a balance between the political views but I prefer a conservative government kept in check by the liberals instead of a liberal government that will not allow any checks to their policies.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 26 at 2015 4:02 AM

PO1 John Miller — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 04:02:42 -0400

I'm afraid that so many people already do and will start to drink the liberal Koolaid that this will not matter. The US liberals will be so sure of themselves that they will think they have it all figured out and the rest of the conservative world is stupid. They will hold on to their beliefs even as our country collapses in on itself and becomes a Second World nation!

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2015 8:25 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 08:25:16 -0400

.... to the RIGHT? .... I hope that is actually what the right I know of ... not the right that the liberals keep claiming what right is.

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Oct 26 at 2015 8:42 AM

SFC Everett Oliver — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 08:42:07 -0400

Don't you know that the big "D" can do no wrong? Did you not get the memo?

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Oct 26 at 2015 11:42 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:42:51 -0400

I'm always a bit leery of the labels "left" and "right". It's often relative. For example, compared to Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton appears to the "right". Thus, if Hillary wins the White House and her Administration fails, Bernie and his clan will scream "See, the Right is wrong!" So forgive me if I withhold judgment until I get a sense of where Poland is really headed...

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2015 12:03 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 12:03:21 -0400

The rise of the "right" and "conservative" parties in Europe is primarily driven by xenophobia, and the farther you go to the East, a resurgent Russian threat. It's not the same kind of social/economic split as it is in the US.

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Oct 26 at 2015 1:05 PM

1LT Aaron Barr — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:05:48 -0400

My guess would be that the people of Poland have had enough of being invaded by a horde of illiterate, disease-ridden, dirt-farming peasants who hate their culture, don't speak the language, have no skills good for anything but brute labor and/or applying for welfare and that breed like rabbits on a cocktail of speed & ecstasy....

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Oct 26 at 2015 1:33 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:33:32 -0400

This is largely fear driven rather than ideological. Besides, in most of the World, "Right" is still Left of what we consider "Left."

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Oct 27 at 2015 2:54 AM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 02:54:04 -0400

well considering Canada went back to being liberal... you wanna talk about failed ideas, look at Kansas with an all republican gov and the train wreck its become.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Oct 28 at 2015 3:45 PM

COL Ted Mc — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 15:45:43 -0400

SrA Art Siatkowsky - Ariman; You should have headed that as "Poland elected a "POLISH conservative" party adding to the European list of countries that have turned to the "European right".

The "Polish conservative" is one whole lot different from the "American conservative" and the "European right" is one whole lot different from the "American right". Heck, until a few days ago the government of Canada was in the hands of "Canadian conservatives" who were to the "left" of the "American liberal" Democratic Party in the US.

To help you along, it might assist you to think of the label "liberal" (or "conservative" if you prefer) as being analogous to the label "dog". The label "dog" encompasses everything from the Affenhuahuas through to the Deutsche Dogge and confusing one with the other can cause serious problems.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2015 6:13 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 18:13:30 -0500

I think it is more of a sign of the populace's displeasure with the "establishment" parties. In Spain, Canada, and etc. we're actually seeing a surge to the left. Regardless of which direction these countries go, the common result is that the traditionally successful parties are losing ground. Obviously there are many unique regional and cultural factors that go into these elections, but I think there are several dominant factors that have contributed to this shift. The parties that are taking losses were in office and oversaw the financial crisis, a resurgence in Islamic terrorism, and the Syrian refugee crisis. Couple current unemployment and a wave of immigrants and you get a recipe for political unrest in Europe.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Dec 23 at 2015 12:44 PM

COL Ted Mc — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 12:44:10 -0500

SrA Art Siatkowsky - Airman; Any comment about the French people rejecting the French "conservative" party in the second round of their elections?

Or is that just something where all we can say is "That's different."?

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2015 6:06 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 18:06:18 -0500

The spectacular victory of PiS (Law & Justice) party has been due largely to a failure of the previous PO (Citizen Platform) government to translate Poland’s spectacular economic success into tangible gains in Polish citizens’ pockets. Arrogance of PO’s leaders did not help either.
On the other hand, the nationalist PiS party’s promises before the elections (i.e., $250 monthly allowance for every child) wooed many needy, poor, extremely religious, or uneducated among largely disillusioned electorate. There is still no allowance and the projections of its cost have been deeply underestimated. Other than change of the administration and unconstitutional appointment of two Supreme Justices, this government has not offered anything tangible yet to the voters, who now are having second thoughts…

In my prediction it is unlikely this government will survive next election cycle, if it manages to govern that long.