One of the favourite arguments of Polish centrists is this: unlike the left and right, we are open to dialog and compromise.
It seems to make sense. By definition, the centre must search a way to reconcile the demands of law and left. However, erstwhile we look at Polish political formations, which most frequently like to advertise as a “reasonable centre”, i.e. the Civic Coalition and the 3rd Road, we will see something else.
The last fewer years of Polish politics have shown that our centre parties are highly stubborn and reluctant to make concessions. Especially as regards concessions to left-wing and progressive demands.
Laugh compromises
Let us take the Act on Signallers, prepared by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy under the direction of Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk from Nowa Lewica. The law was intended to cover, inter alia, employees reporting violations of labour law. First the Senate, and then the Sejm struck this evidence out – and they did it with the voices of the KO and the 3rd Way.
Let's face it, it wasn't a large deal. The left did not effort to shorten the week of work, did not effort to change the taxation system, did not effort to carry out any revolution. The sole aim was to defend those who study violations of the existing law. KO and the 3rd Way could easy show the coalition a small goodwill in a just cause. Even if they do not agree (and do not care for the gratitude of the staff), they could just wave their hand over it. Let the Left have something from this coalition. But no! Even specified a tiny concession would be besides much.
The 3rd Way is akin in relation to partnerships. all minute he reports any “but”. The members of the PSL specialize in this. Not for adoption of children. Not for a wedding ceremony. Not for a common name. In a moment, it will be “not for smiling during the formalization of the relationship”.
Third Way politicians say they're trying to compromise with the Left, but that's bullshit. Partnerships enjoy wide public support, especially among the voters of the ruling coalition, where it reaches 97 percent. Even the further request of marriages for single-sex couples has 86% support among KO voters, 3rd Way and Left. This has long ceased to be a controversial left-wing postulate.
In negotiations with the Left 3rd Road, yes, it creates a compromise, but between the utmost right-wing approach and the centre-right approach, and the Citizens' Coalition looks passively at the side, although it speaks of its own electoral agenda. And this is simply a sad image of the state of Polish politics and Polish centrrism.
Talk is not working.
This stubbornness of the Polish centre makes Poland tread in place. We are 1 of the last European Union countries without the right to formalise partnerships. We have an absurd taxation strategy in which the mediocre pay proportionally more than the rich. We spend ridiculously small money on wellness care against another developed countries.
This is all the "deed" of our centrists who love to discuss dialogue, openness and compromise. In fact, their conversation comes down to hysterical shouting “radicalism, communism, maoismEvery time they find a postulate a small out of their minds.
What about 500 plus? – ask. Isn't that the best proof that the Polish centre can compromise? erstwhile KO politicians were against this program, present they boast that they changed 500 to 800 plus.
That is true, but it is worth a minute to consider how this change took place. As a consequence of dialogue? individual made a request that Poland must invest more in social affairs, the centrists started a conversation and went to compromise?
Well, in case you hadn't been in the country for the last 10 years: erstwhile the PiS introduced 500 plus, the KO-related environments first became hysterical. They said it was an empty electoral promise. Then, that tomorrow, the furthest day after tomorrow, Poland will turn into the second Venezuela. And along the way, they inactive produced quite a few texts about how pathology He'll take over and drink the money.. Money from them, theirs, their taxes!
They changed the conviction not as a consequence of dialogue, but due to the fact that 500 plus was introduced. Poland did not fall, it turned out that a large part of voters supported this programme. And there was no coming back.
The same can be seen from the discussion on free Sundays. present even Richard Petru declares that he is ready to compromise – possibly all another Sunday free of trade, possibly crucial increases for people working that day. But this readiness came only after the introduction of the free Sunday rule. erstwhile again: there was no request for dialogue, but to force the centrists before the fact of the change of law.
Of course, this does not bode well for the parliamentary Left, which, unlike the Law and Justice, is besides weak to force "compromise" on centre groups through legal changes.
Common sense and ideology
I know what any of you will say. There is simply a simple explanation why the Polish centre is not inclined to dialog with the left – due to the fact that it is simply the right, both in cultural and economical issues.
Agreed, Poland is inactive a powerfully conservative and neoliberal country against the background of Europe, so it is no wonder that our centrists have a right-wing tilt. However, there is another reason for closing the dialogue. More like, pardon the word, philosophical.
When a individual declares himself straight as a left or right, he is mostly aware that he advocates, well, left or right values. In another words, he takes a circumstantial position on the political phase and on perfect disputes.
The centrists have a tendency to see themselves as people who are not so much standing on this phase as they look at it from the side. And they break their hands: oh this ideological left, oh this ideological right – why do they fight so much!? Can't they just be like us? common sense? Confess common sense (not ideological!) views on the economy, number rights or democracy as such?
To specified centrists as the hive matches what Korean economist Ha-Joon Chang wrote about marketplace fundamentalists:
"So erstwhile economists say that certain regulations should not be introduced due to the fact that they would limit “freedom” in a market, they simply express their political opinion that they reject the rights of those whose proposed restrictions are to defend. They put on an ideological mask to convince us that their policies are not truly political, but are nonsubjective economical truths, while another people's policies are political. In fact, free marketplace economists are politically motivated as their opponents.”
Centrists are reluctant to admit their ideological or political condition. erstwhile they claim to be above ideology, they ignore the fact that their positions are besides shaped by certain values and beliefs. And that may be 1 of the reasons why in practice they find it so hard to compromise. Why would a political common sense bend to any ideology?
Their reluctance to admit this makes it a failure to effort dialog with another political camps. Especially with the left, to which the Polish centrists are further ideologically than to the right.
The Centre’s Conscience Survey
The Polish centre must realize that real dialog and compromise require more than just declarations. They require a real readiness to perceive to the voices of others and to revise their positions.
Without this, Poland will proceed to trample in place, remaining a hostage of uncooperative political groups. We request openness to fresh ideas and readiness to change – qualities that Polish centrists, unfortunately, cannot show so far.
And if they can't do it, it's time to start calling things by their first name. Modern Polish centrism more than real political dialog is curious in maintaining the position quo. Even if this is manifestly detrimental to our country, as in the case of the taxation system, or is contrary to social expectations, as in the case of partnerships.
