To go back and live like North American Indians, in harmony with nature. ;^)

Economically they even give a lot of lip service to supporting large families, supporting the elder, supporting unemployed. So from my more libertarian standpoint they are left of center.

Culturally they are traditionalist and conservative, and for many people nowadays that's almost equivalent to being Nazis... which to me reflects on how to the left those people are, rather than where PiS is.

Let's put it like this, as an immigrant in Poland, plus being culturally liberal and economically laissez-faire, PiS is almost diametrically opposite my beliefs, and even shows some totalitarian tendencies in rhetoric. And yet, I'm not alarmed.

Of course, I might be judging it all wrong...

Since this thread obviously won't die, can't we at least spruce things up a little and talk about a different country for a while?

There are many many wonderful nations out there on the brink of collapse and there is no logical reason why Poland merits more attention than them!

The difference is, that some of these other countries can't go down the drain any more, since the drain would be a step upwards for them!

True, but technically Missouri isn't a country.

why not for a change talk about something that doesn't go down the drain :p (if you can think of something)
it's friday after all, share something positive to lighten the mood.
all the negativity and drama in the news gives you this overwhelming depressive feeling at time.

Obviously you are full of crap since you are not buying DOS:EE for me on gog. Share the wealth. I want my fair share.

Marxism calls for killing like 25% of the people when it is put on your country like a warm leather jacket. Hence all the murdery 20th century yo.

I think the reason Poland is the focus of attention here is that GOG is based out of Poland, if I am not mistaken. Not to mention Poland having an interesting history, particularly in the 20th century.

I know. :P I was trying to lighten the mood and you ruined it by being logical. XD

Ok, no problem. Humor and sarcasm can be tricky to identify on forums sometimes. I read once that something like 85% of human communication is non-verbal (facial expressions, hand gestures, etc).

Anyway, that damn logic stuff is troublesome, isn't it? heh

But, even if Poland isn't a main topic of discussion, I think this forum needs a world affairs type of thread. Anyone else agree?

"Not that many people which know how to do discussion" Either you have a very low opinion of other people, or a very lofty opinion of yourself. Kind of pretentious either way, don't you think?

Also, it seems that the possibility of you being a paid troll has struck a nerve with you. A little too close to the truth, perhaps?

Why are you so interested in a comparison between Boris Yeltsin and Putin? Why not Dmitry Medvedev and Putin or Gorbachev and Putin or ( lol ) Stalin and Putin?

While I don't agree with the OP, I don't think the "low rated" is deserved. Why are people so eager to click (-) lately?!

Both. Look at the "discussion" between us - me - backed up by links information. You - links to hysterical press. "Putin and gulags, how awful of him". There are no secret prisons in Russia like gulag anymore, USA uses dozens of them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_site Oh, right, "Bargaining with russian nationalist". Yeah. "We are good by default".
So annoying. Much pissing me off.
It's because I was called "paid troll" 4 or 5 times already. It's annoying, to be honest. "You are troll", and disregarding everything I said.
Because Medvedev is in the same team with Putin, he's a nominal figure. For example, let's take Germany, I don't even know name of their president - Merkel is person in power; Medvedev was the "german president".
Gorbachev<>Putin is kind of unfair - too big difference in population and different GDP statistic due to changes in formulas.
Stalin<>Putin even more so. During Stalin's years assumed longevity on birth went from 44 years to 68. Incarcerated people, though...

Technically, you can do comparison, I don't doubt that Putin would win. Russia was a donor, which subsidized peripheral republics, From top of my head, Ukraine was 30% of population and 15% of GDP. Uzbekistan/Tajikistan still have their budgets by 30-40% filled by migrants working in Russia and sending money to their families.
When they became independent, Russia was "well, between buying goods from independent China or independent Tajikistan I will choose cheaper option" - so these "countries" went to shit, to the level of Chinese workers, without benefits China has - enormous amount of workers, money, educated people.

Isn't it obvious?