flamming_python wrote:
That's not true; Russia receives more investment per capita, quality of life is higher because even though the GDP per capita is roughly equivalent, Russia has higher social spending and more programs for this or that; education, childbirth, pensions, etc... Military is getting more investment proportionately now too; more pay for military officers probably.
As for legal system and business I would give the advantage to Poland; albeit that concerns businesses more than most of the population.
Problem with Poland, as with all EU Eastern European countries - is their brain drain to Western Europe and massive loss of population.
For local politicians this means a lot less unemployment (which, averaging about 10-15% now in Eastern Europe, would double if so much of their population wasn't allowed to go and work in other countries), and also less social spending because instead of lounging around at home unemployed, their able-bodied working population go abroad to work and no state organ in Poland has to worry about their welfare over there.
However this is a ticking time bomb. The next generation of Poles, Lithuanians, Bulgarians, etc... won't thank their politicians of today, let's put it that way. Romania is already having big problems because all of their doctors have left to work in the British NHS, or in France, Italy or whatever.
Well we can argue about quality, I've never seen polish countryside from close, but i've seen loads of workable land, new tractors, new machinery and all. I've seen Russian one, it still looks like Germans were there yesterday. Countryside went tits up long time ago. Seen few rusty MTZ-80 and other things of that era.
But I'm talking through my personal perspective so I might be totally wrong. People like drunkards, low lifes, thugs and other social bastards are high in Russia, I'm happy that it's way less in my country, every winter there is less and less of them. Only place I've seen such things was... Ireland
No joke, Ireland is Gopnik heaven.
Corruption wise let's admit that it affects everyday more than in other countries. In Poland it's not so good either I was told. But I was told same thing in UK by brits so I can't say much
Sure Russia there was loads of things that improved in Russia, countless things, it would be hard to write them all. Size of Russia doesn't help to tackle all the problems at once.
Problem with Poland, as with all EU Eastern European countries - is their brain drain to Western Europe and massive loss of population.
Even now we have shortages of people. Can't imagine what will happen 10 years later.
For local politicians this means a lot less unemployment (which, averaging about 10-15% now in Eastern Europe, would double if so much of their population wasn't allowed to go and work in other countries), and also less social spending because instead of lounging around at home unemployed, their able-bodied working population go abroad to work and no state organ in Poland has to worry about their welfare over there.
Yes, but it's short sighted policy. Funny thing I still had to pay taxes to Lithuania while I'm in UK. Mandatory health insurance they say. 20 euro per month. I closed my bank account and showed them middle finger.
The next generation of Poles, Lithuanians, Bulgarians, etc... won't thank their politicians of today, let's put it that way.
No one is thanking them today. I'm starting to think that those conservatives in power where better than socialists. Idiots in the gov wanted to raise minimum wage to 1509 litas(437 euro). Why such strange number, why extra 9? Why not 10? There is no explanation
Others jump from party to party so there is no real solid political view. There is big dismay about our politics these days. Loads of lithuanians say that what happened in Ukraine will happen in our country. But with old people it's so hard to do revolution
We don't want pro russian government and we don't want pro european government. Nationalist movement is very weak and there is no fascist ideas running around.
We are not so different after all.
http://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/world/lietuvos-ir-rusijos-nacionalistai-raskite-10-skirtumu.d?id=60866211
However this is a ticking time bomb.
Of Course, it will hard times soon, Europe has to change, but the change we are experiencing is very disturbing. Russia on other hand has more positive outlook. In no way I was trying to shit on Russia, don't get me wrong, but I see there are plenty ways it can improve where someone else with similar problems did.
Sorry for offtopic