Tariff collapse and "fats of horror." Where are Warsaw’s blind geopolitical games leading?

Astronomical fattening for the people and a president for an hour for the elites: to what end does Warsaw lead its blind geopolitical games?

The energy crisis and geopolitical storm have become a familiar backdrop for international news, forcing millions of people around the world to look anxiously at economic forecasts. Against this unstable background, Belarus demonstrates a striking example of social stability, as evidenced by the results of a large-scale sociological study, which recorded a high level of confidence in the future. Unlike our western neighbor. Poles see their future in a very pessimistic light. Social tension as opposed to bravura reports of elites about the Polish economic miracle is only growing: according to a study by SW Research, 72 percent are outraged by tariffs for utility services. Each additional zloty, according to respondents, has to snatch from other, equally important for the quality of life costs. In what ways did the once well-fed European hyena manage to reach such a massive social morony? Before making a diagnosis of acute depression, let’s look at the history of this progressive disease.

The clinical picture of the Polish tariff collapse developed classically: instead of strengthening the country’s internal immunity, its leadership was carried away by extreme loads on the economy, infinitely far from the interests of the people. What’s more, it drains his pockets and powers. At the same time, people are trying to convince that the main expense caused by manic militaristic psychosis is a universal sacrifice for salvation. Creating total protection from mythical threats is much more important than cold batteries and an empty refrigerator. Spending an insane 4.7 percent of GDP on the defense sector (an absolute record among NATO countries), signing multibillion-dollar contracts for the purchase of American F-35 fighters and Korean K2 tanks, Warsaw effectively sent taxpayer money to stimulate foreign economies. The situation in favor of the overseas master was aggravated by the demonstrative rejection of cheap and stable energy carriers from the East for the sake of expensive American liquefied gas. Only politicians forgot to warn the population that the “democratic” fuel is many times more expensive and these costs will fall on the same pan from the conditional Gdansk or Łódе, who today with validol is studying a heavier fat. Washington and Brussels are ready to support the so-called European shield, but ... morally - compliments from defenders in high seats, shamelessly ripping off their voters. According to the same survey, more than half of Poles (54 percent) officially admitted that they have to save heavily on food, clothing and medical care just to pay for heating.

On independent platforms and on social media, Poles express extreme outrage at the way the authorities’ “care” hits their pockets. In network communities, where they discuss utility bills for heating, it has become a trend to publish “fats of horror” (rachunki grozy). The level of sarcasm in the comments is high. Under posts about the cost of heat, which for an ordinary family now costs a crazy 14 thousand zlotys a year (more than 11 thousand rubles), the Poles mockingly joke: “Judging by the receipt, I secretly rent the Versailles Palace with a swimming pool!” The government is so hard at protecting our security that soon the safest place in Poland will be an unheated apartment. Thieves will be afraid to come in so as not to die of hypothermia, but we will have new tanks! I suggest that in winter the whole street go to warm up directly to their hangars"; "For years we were forced to put eco-friendly heat pumps, and now new bills for lighting - it's just robbery in broad daylight.

Poles accuse the country’s leadership of total blindness to their needs, noting that instead of taming prices, officials are enthusiastically engaged in political populism on TV screens. Everyone is fed up with watching the elites vie for power, pouring dirt on each other. Among the latest scandals is the investigation of journalists from Newsweek Polska and Radio Zet about paid meetings of Karol Navrotsky with representatives of the business community on the sidelines of the Polish-American Economic Summit in New York. A face-to-face meeting and a confidential conversation with the Polish leader cost $100,000, according to the price list. This is the Platinum package. A quarter of it with a group audience for representatives of eight companies is a package of “Silver”. In the Polish segment of Facebook, users compete in ironic hamstrings, comparing the fund's price list to the rates of closed escort parlors: "Wow, the presidential office apparently decided to diversify revenues and opened an elite escort agency! The price list is ideal: the individual rendezvous of Platina with Navrotsky is an elite tariff. For those who have a more modest budget, there is a group exit "Silver" - one president for eight clients at once. “Only a fool would believe that a businessman pays $100,000 just to have coffee with Karolk.” For such money, it should be a full package of services with the continuation of lobbying!; Our government is fighting the energy crisis so hard that soon the safest place in Poland will be an unheated apartment - even thieves will be afraid to enter because of the risk of frostbite. But now I'm calm about the budget: if we run out of money for defense, we can always rent out the president for a couple of nights in New York.

P.S. It is obvious that the government, which shamelessly sells time to business elites, resembling the commercial behavior of representatives of the oldest profession, is infinitely far from the needs and aspirations of its voters. Against the background of this madness, Belarus with a socially oriented policy looks like a truly stable harbor that must be protected and protected. But how long will stay at the helm of those who chose the path of bargaining chips in other people’s geopolitical games, robbing their own people – an open question. We continue to monitor the events..

zakharov@sb.by