As a small child, like all children, I adored amusement-park rides. Chair swings, roller coasters and Ferris wheels. When they accelerated to the limits of their capabilities, some children’s faces showed terror, others’ curiosity, and still others’ delight. When the wild ride ended, some climbed off those machines with relief, while others asked for more.
Election conventions remind me of such a ride. Sometimes it is a hands-off ride and practically asking to be thrown off the carousel. The first thing one can conclude when watching politicians is that we are a very wealthy country. When I hear that party leaders will hand out PLN 50,000 to young married couples for their first home, when I hear that in 20 years we will be like a second Germany, or that we will cut taxes, raise the minimum wage or introduce six-packs, I wonder what else politicians will give us. Among party leaders, giveaways are growing, as is the race to see who can make the better promises. Which party has the better carousel.
How many voters realize that the government has no money of its own and is funded by taxes? The future government—one way or another, it must—will have to choose between groups of taxpayers: it will take from some and give to others. When listening to election conventions, does it not seem to us that politicians are detached from reality and, when talking about their plans, truly have no idea how to finance their ideas? They only care about being elected to parliament, and then somehow things will work out. The carousel is spinning faster and faster, and politicians will promise more and more.