If I were to assess the condition of the Polish state today, it would not be a good assessment. Quite the opposite. As a former criminal police officer—“a commie” to cowards—I assess the situation of the structures of the Polish state and the country’s administrative division as a division based on the influence of criminal groups.
What has happened to the unity of Poles? Politicians from all sides have painstakingly dismantled it over the years. They have been equally consistent and brazen in depriving society of authorities and figures of respect. They began arrogantly consolidating a system for managing information. Publicly released content is supposed to agree with the mere fact that a given situation occurred, while simultaneously giving it a new meaning. The same event is presented in a way that suits the authorities in power—regardless of their level.
Systems have been created to enable the flow of public funds beyond real social control. Of the principles underlying a democratic state, only an empty shell remains. As I wrote earlier, almost every step taken by society has been criminalized. People have been deprived of the right to decide about private property, and instead the “production” of unwitting criminals has begun.
Criticism of the authorities has become risky, as in traditional regimes. The few media outlets that do not flatter those in power are attacked, insulted, mocked, and entangled in lengthy legal proceedings.
For years, we have been writing about the harmfulness of commercial-law companies operating on public assets. Not only has this appeal gone unheeded, but structures and methods for strengthening them are also being created.
Considering the recent events related to the merger of hospitals in two neighboring counties and the case of the famous coordinating physician from Warsaw, we are dealing with the effects of a system created for a specific purpose. That purpose is money, not the patient. Above all, the system looks after the welfare of people connected with healthcare.
The division of society has been so effective that serious rifts are now appearing even in families. This situation gives the so-called authorities freedom to act and the opportunity to secure their own benefits. There are no longer any political colors in this area. The rule is: “we take as much as we can,” because the system cannot be interpreted otherwise.
What is the first thing every new authority does? It changes the composition of company boards. The issue is not competence, but party affiliation. And here there is complete agreement between the parties. This is particularly clear at county level. There, something occurs that I call “political polysexuality”—everyone agrees and equally suppresses critics of their actions.
With the system that has been created, there is no real chance for change or for limiting the ability to move public funds outside the budgets of the state and local governments. Foundations, transferring assets to front persons—regardless of the degree of kinship—all of this serves the system and was created for its continued existence.
As a police officer, I am aware of the mechanisms of this system. That is why, together with friends, we prepared draft laws on public lying and official accountability. As it happened, regulating these areas of public and social life did not interest any Polish political party known to me. Meanwhile, introducing just these two laws could significantly limit pathological practices.
Of course, all social initiatives can be mocked and dismissed, especially from a position of strength and power. An example may be the conduct of the mayor of Bolesławiec, who interrupted a session because he could. He also said that someone had shown him a “fisheye.” This is typical behavior for people with unlimited power. The mayor can behave this way because he knows that no one will forbid him.
Ordinary people would like a change of power and more dignified conduct from those in authority. Here, however, the system once again rears its head, seriously limiting such possibilities. The Polish state does not react because it created this method of selecting those in power, in which the voter is merely an extra. Laws are being created that are incompatible with the Polish legal system or stand in enormous contradiction to its principles.
It is good that shortly after 1989 Poland managed to join the European Union and NATO’s defense structures. Today, given the actions of contemporary politicians, this would already be impossible. Hence the stirring of anti-Western sentiment. Those in power do not like society and independent journalism watching their hands—let alone the European Union.
To blackmail society effectively, artificial enemies and artificial threats must be created. People must also be convinced that we ordinary citizens are to blame for everything—from the climate to wars. When we take these blameworthy burdens upon ourselves, the authorities remain “holy.”
I wonder whether representatives of the authorities studied the Galician slaughter and its causes. A bow can be drawn for a long time, but who will stop the arrow?
Leszek Stanisław Socha
(personal assessment)