Facebook Follies of Friends and Families

[Brazen]

Heh, I googled that, hoping it was real. 

[Martinus]

What happened to the "reformed" communist party? Aren't they sort of social democrats now? Have they been utterly annihilated during elections?

They have become a "social democrat" party but quite liberal by Western European (especially Scandinavian) standards. For example, during their time in power in late 1990s/early 2000s, they flattened personal income tax rate (from 3 to two levels) and generally lowered the taxes (thanks to them I am paying 19% flat income tax rate on my income ).

They suffered a major defeat in 2005 elections, following a series of bribery scandals, and never recovered power. Finally, in the last elections, in 2016, they were utterly annihilated, failing to get even one MP.

Of the parties in the Parliament at the moment, PiS is the one with actually the most "social" programme but with a definitive traditionalist slant. For example, their flagship social programme is the recently introduced "500 plus" programme, where people with two or more children are eligible to receive a flat monthly stipend from the state, for every child in excess of the first one, irrespective of their actual financial status. So rich people with 2 or more children are technically eligible (but would probably not bother to get it, as it is just 500 zlotys, which is like EUR 150, per child) and poor single mothers with just one child are receiving zilch.

Outside of the ex-commies and PiS, there is also a new party with Scandinavia-style socialist ideas (in Poland, they count as Marxists), called "Razem" ("Together") which managed to get 3% in the last elections but did not get any MPs. But hopefully they will never matter much.

Two main Parliamentary opposition parties are liberal in the same sense as German FDP is/was.

[derspiess]

Heh, I googled that, hoping it was real. 

As soon as I saw 420 I knew it was a joke.

[Norgy]

What happened to the "reformed" communist party? Aren't they sort of social democrats now? Have they been utterly annihilated during elections?

They have become a "social democrat" party but quite liberal by Western European (especially Scandinavian) standards. For example, during their time in power in late 1990s/early 2000s, they flattened personal income tax rate (from 3 to two levels) and generally lowered the taxes (thanks to them I am paying 19% flat income tax rate on my income ).

They suffered a major defeat in 2005 elections, following a series of bribery scandals, and never recovered power. Finally, in the last elections, in 2016, they were utterly annihilated, failing to get even one MP.

Of the parties in the Parliament at the moment, PiS is the one with actually the most "social" programme but with a definitive traditionalist slant. For example, their flagship social programme is the recently introduced "500 plus" programme, where people with two or more children are eligible to receive a flat monthly stipend from the state, for every child in excess of the first one, irrespective of their actual financial status. So rich people with 2 or more children are technically eligible (but would probably not bother to get it, as it is just 500 zlotys, which is like EUR 150, per child) and poor single mothers with just one child are receiving zilch.

Outside of the ex-commies and PiS, there is also a new party with Scandinavia-style socialist ideas (in Poland, they count as Marxists), called "Razem" ("Together") which managed to get 3% in the last elections but did not get any MPs. But hopefully they will never matter much.

Two main Parliamentary opposition parties are liberal in the same sense as German FDP is/was.

That was clarifying, thanks.
The difference between Norwegian Labour and continental so-called socialists isn't that huge, really when it comes down to brass tacks, but the trade unions still have sway here. Thankfully. The Swedish socialdemocrats are more continental both in politics and rethoric. The Danes, I've written off long ago.

[Razgovory]

Libertarians hate trade unions.  Seems odd that they would all belong to one.  Hell, the American AFL-CIO sent money and equipment to the Solidarity movement.

It's complicated. In 1980s it was a worker movement but mainly because a worker movement was the only type of movement that the regime would listen to - just like the French revolution started with upset aristocrats and bourgeoisie despite ending up as a popular revolution.

But almost all of the elites that grew out of the movement and took over in the 1990s belonged to two camps - pro-free-market neoliberals and Catholic conservatives. There were hardly any socialists there.

The AFL-CIO isn't socialist either.  You can be pro-worker without being a red.

[Razgovory]

One of my idiot cousins fell for it.

[The Brain]

One of my idiot cousins fell for it.

We know. Also, cool!

[viper37]

"Do not forget, tonight the moon will be visible from all over France."
"That last time it happenned, it was yesterday night".

[Norgy]

Libertarians hate trade unions.  Seems odd that they would all belong to one.  Hell, the American AFL-CIO sent money and equipment to the Solidarity movement.

It's complicated. In 1980s it was a worker movement but mainly because a worker movement was the only type of movement that the regime would listen to - just like the French revolution started with upset aristocrats and bourgeoisie despite ending up as a popular revolution.

But almost all of the elites that grew out of the movement and took over in the 1990s belonged to two camps - pro-free-market neoliberals and Catholic conservatives. There were hardly any socialists there.

The AFL-CIO isn't socialist either.  You can be pro-worker without being a red.

Never met a pro-worker who wasn't a red, but to each his own.

[Razgovory]

The US is perhaps odd in that respect.  US unions are typically (and have traditionally), been virulently anti-communist.  Union members are often quite conservative.  I have quite a few in the family, none were in it for radical politics.  Mostly they just want a good job with a good wage.

[Valmy]

Never met a pro-worker who wasn't a red, but to each his own.

Even the National Socialist German Workers Party?

[Norgy]

Never met a pro-worker who wasn't a red, but to each his own.

Even the National Socialist German Workers Party?

Heart exploding to commence in 3-2-...


Raz, well, so were most Norwegian trade unions. The only examples I can think of that were truly "communist" in a sense, and that being Trotskiist, were the elevator fitters, installers and repairs union. The UK saw the Labour Party locally and a lot of unions being taken over by Trotskiists in the late 70s and early 80s.
I'm no communist, and barely socialist in most socialists' eyes, but I could get on the Bernie Sanders bandwagon, as he's representing the kind of democratic socialism I identify with.

[Valmy]

Heart exploding to commence in 3-2-...

[Habbaku]

Why.

[11B4V]