Only in America!!

One of the biggest indicators of why diaspora voting should be eliminated comes from our American cousins. Of the 27,000 people registered to vote in the US, 67% of them would choose PiS. As I recently mentioned on Beatroot’s blog, I do not vote in Britain as I feel that to influence the lives of others while not being there is a misuse of the vote. The American’s results I think show that I have a point as they are voting without having experienced the last two years of fear mongering.

All Saints Chaos

It’s a funny old world! It appears that the outgoing government have recently passed a law that not only does their own ministry which deals with the area of interest not fully agree with, but it could potential cripple the country. The law deals with trading hours for shops and heavily restricts trading on the 12 official public holidays. Unlike in the UK these days have great religious significance and even nominal Catholics adhere to these days. The one that may cause most problems is the upcoming All Saints Day. The Labour Ministry has noticed that the law covers petrol stations as well as the big shops, that most who voted for the law original thought it dealt with exclusively. This means that on Nov 1st, most petrol stations could be closed! Oh deer….. This is this busiest day of the year for Polish Motorists and may have potentially immeasurable implications. On the brighter side it could also save many lives, as this day accounts for the highest number of road accidents in a single day in Poland.

Where are the limits of law enforcement?

The recent case of PO Deputy Beata Sawicka being arrested by the Central Anti-corruption Bureau (CBA) is the latest in a line of worrying developments for the state of civil-libities in Poland. I am hearing the stories in a somewhat sanitised way as my level of Polish means that I can not read or understand the news articles first-hand. However, as far as I understand things, this is a case of provocation. The term entrapment is a difficult one for many to fully deliniate as often law enforcement agencies have to play the role of criminals if they are to gather hard evidence. However, in this case it would appear that there was no previous history of corruption (I stand to be corrected, if you know of one) and so I fail to see what was the case put forward to the prosecutors’ office to authorise such an operation. I assume that the CBA did have to justify its actions, and it is not just free to target anyone. The lady in question does seem to have been extremely foolish, however, without the CBA’s instigation then I doubt any crime would have been committed. Therefore it is pure and simply entrapment. The CBA seems to be acting as a branch of PiS and not as a state institution dedicated to the defence of Polish people.

Sophie's Choice

The question of whether blood is thicker than water Has risen its head In the Czech Republic. Two babies born on the same day look to have been mistakenly given to the wrong parents. And now after ten months of parenthood the parents are preparing to give up their children in return for their genetic offspring.

This rises several interesting questions:
1) Is a biological connection to people more important than social and cultural ties?
2) If the mistake had be realized after say five years would they still swap?
3) When does bonding and identity building occur in a baby and will the swap have serious ramifications for the growing ego?

The idea that for ten months you could care, love, protect and generally adore a baby and then be happy to give it up is I must admit slightly horrifying for me. However, I also see that the idea that your flesh and blood is being brought up by someone is equally disturbing.

In this situation I honestly don’t know what I would do. – Try and have both babies?? Obviously this would be unfair on the other couple. However, what else could the human heart desire?

WaterGate????

Why is there a persistent re-use of the term water within US scandals. Nixon had Watergate, Clinton had Whitewater and now Bush junior has BlackWater . However, oddities aside, the Blackwater afair could singify a dramatic change of the rules in Iraq for Private Military Companies (PMCs). From 2003 until now they have been immune from Iraqi prosecution for any actions carried out in Iraq. This has basicily given them a carte blanche licence to kill. However, the US administration are being pressured to (and are seemingly thinking about) allowing the Iraqi legal system to deal with cases of excesive force.

This could spell the end for PMC's in the way we know them. As few people (even mercs) would want to end up in the hands of Iraqi police and the legal system. As the coallition relies heavily on PMCs this could have dramatic effects for the whole operation.

Return of the wonderer

I have had an extended summer break, but now i am back on-line and thinking of things to say to you. I am like many people in Poland and awaiting the elections, uncertain if they will change anything. To be honest i am not so bothered who wins as how they win. That is i hope for a majority government and an end to all this coallition bollocks. The sooner Poland gets rid of the Giertichs of this world the better for all of us.