Hereditary kings ruled Poland in the past. This custom has been adopted by the communist-related regime in modern times. After the last re-partition of Poland between the neighboring countries, Marshal Josef Pilsudski acted as an absolute king. In his late years he attempted to relinquish power to the Parliament with mediocre results. A corruptive and argumentative Parliament headed by a Pilsudski promoted President Ignacy Moscicki, weakened Poland so much that it was easy prey for Nazi Germany. After WWII, Josef Stalin kidnapped members of the post-war government and parachuted his own team in to govern Poland. Now their descendants rule Poland in a typical hereditary tradition.
Hereditary politics are one of the reasons that Poland is not a progressive country despite many benefits and advantages. It is a well known fact that in-bred repetitious genetics lead to stagnation and sickly demise. Fish always spoils in from the head. In a similar fashion, hereditary circles of the Polish political elite are of a hermetic nature that does not welcome fresh initiatives or ideas. They have become grossly degenerated. A mouse will always give birth to a mouse, and a communist mentality will always spawn post-communist bastards famous for their greed, for their corruptive power and money. We have never seen even one post-communist's scion of enough worth to admire.
For this reason members of the Polish political elite are the strongest opponents of the democratic initiative of direct majority elections for the members of Parliament. They much prefer the hereditary right of the proportional elections where they have a guaranteed place high on the voting list. They fear the possibility of a fire test of direct majority election as they fear their own in-bred ignorance, arrogance and stupidity.
Polish communists during decades of their rule developed Russian style bureaucracy that resists any progress and change. What they fear the most are new ideas that would threaten the established pecking order and procedural games. When I was close to the presidency of Poland I perceived this communist-built bureaucracy as the biggest threat to progress, to modernize the country and to help our people enter the 21st century. For what at one time was good for the large Russian Empire is not applicable to a much smaller country such as Poland. In simple words, for Poland to have a fighting chance it has to get rid of bureaucracy at all costs. For there has always been a symbiotic relationship between bureaucracy and Communists in Poland where one could not exist without the other's help.
A typical example of a hereditary politician is the President of Polish Senate Mr. Longin Pastusiak, married to a daughter of a former leader of the Communist Party of Poland, Edward Ochab. Mr. Pastusiak is a second-generation political "aristocrat" who, despite his communist roots, expects to be treated like a prince. We had opportunity to see his antics during his recent visit to Canada where he arrived on a government-owned airplane. Accompanied by a group of 30 Polish businessmen, Mr. Pastusiak supposedly arrived to promote Polish business in Canada. But in fact he arrived to receive homage from officials of the Canadian government and multitudes of Polonians who, like weasels, paid him lots of compliments hoping for his grace. Mr. Pastusiak had a "reality shock" when upon departure from Canada, the border security personnel manned by turbaned Sikhs, almost strip searched him and members of his team. In his rage he threatened the officials of the Polish Embassy and even cursed officials of the Canadian government for his treatment that was below the dignity of a stately prince. The next day, the post-communist daily "Trybuna" cried foul with a racial slur headline directed towards conscientious border Sikhs.
Mr. Pastusiak's behavior is not unique among members of the Polish establishment. Spoiled rotten by decades of absolute power that was guaranteed by the Soviet Armies stationed on Polish soil, these individuals have been accustomed to believe that they have the power of God. Now that the Soviet Army is gone they eagerly seek support of the NATO armies to feel secure and safe. I am not surprised that Canadians ignorant of their past will treat them with respect. But it boggles my mind that so many Polish Americans and Canadians kiss their feet despite a full knowledge of their background. Being favored by a master, are you any less a slave? Have they forgotten that the hand that receives is always under the one that gives? Mr. Pastusiak is not even very self-confident politician, as he did not allow for an open press conference during his visit in Toronto.
By sheer coincidence I had some email exchanges in May of this year with the personal assistant of Mr. Pastusiak, related to the refusal of an entry visa to Poland for my wife, a Chinese citizen. His assistant was encouraging me to write a pleading letter to Mr. Pastusiak who might help us in return. However I could never write a letter to a former communist as Russians killed a few members of my family, and others suffered from the Russian supported communist regime. For these reasons nobody in my family would ever become a member of the oppressive Communist Party of Poland. A "weasel letter" would not help anyway as another hereditary post-communist, Wlodzimierz Cimosiewicz, is now the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Poland. He is ultimately responsible for issuance of tourist visas. I had the opportunity to beat him during the presidential election in 1990 and I do not expect any favors from this mean, conceited and vengeful man.
Not getting a tourist visa to Poland is sad but it is not the end of the world. One day my wife will become a Canadian citizen and we will freely cross the Polish-German border, arriving from the UE side. No need for us to cower to the post-communist demand of false respect. After years of life in free countries I expect to be treated like a citizen, not the subject of a post-communist prince.
My heart does not hold vengeance towards hereditary post-communists. I just want them to go away and give room to patriotic Poles who are honest and full of new ideas for the good of the country. Instead of a cowardly attitude we must develop resistance to their coercion and greed for eternal power. Otherwise Poland will never be able to grow and prosper.
For where there are post communist aristocrats, there must be the greatest cowards. Man's souls are enslaved and refuse to run risks readily and recklessly to increase the power of somebody else. But independent people, who refuse to "kiss ass", taking risks on their own behalf and not on behalf of others, are willing and eager to go into danger, for they themselves enjoy the prize of victory. This is the secret weapon and essence of modern democracy.
The change of only one word is needed in the Polish Constitution to allow Poles to elect their true political representation. The word "proportional" must be replaced with "majority" vote. This single change would have tremendous implications in Poland to break the chain of hereditary politics and come back to reason. The change of one word is needed to help 40 million people become citizens rather than slaves. People want be free to make a decent living in a competitive world.
Poland still has a chance of being a nation. By that I mean not simply the realm of a ruler, not simply a state or political identity, but a self-conscious, self-aware unit characterized by common identity and loyalty and by equality of civil status. Nations can reconcile social purpose with individual aspirations and initiatives and enhance performance by their collective synergy. The whole is more than the sum of the parts. Citizens of a nation will respond better to state encouragement and initiatives. Conversely, the state will know better what to do and how, in accordance with active social forces. Nations can compete and Poland is still waiting to have a fighting chance.
Stan Tyminski
stan@transduction.com