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* Lots and lots of Polish-Americans live in Illinois. At one time, Chicago had more Poles than any city in the world other than Warsaw. So this makes plenty of homer politics sense…
If Gov. Bruce Rauner achieves the anti-union, pro-business reforms he has made the hallmark of his administration, he plans to travel the world to promote the state — and the first country he’ll visit will be Poland, he said Sunday.
Rauner made the pledge to the large Polish congregation of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1118 N. Noble St., whose parishioners celebrated Polish Constitution Day over the weekend.
“On May 3, 1791, Poland became the first nation in the world to join the United States in democracy and freedom by constitutional right. The people of America have no greater friends in the world than the people of Poland,” Rauner said.
“We are working hard in Springfield on reforms so we can grow our economy and get more value for taxpayers and fund our schools properly,” he said. “I hope soon we’ll have those reforms accomplished, and then I’m going to travel the world to create stronger ties with the people of Illinois with nations across the globe.”
* But the country’s authoritarian government has pushed demonstrators into the streets. A quarter million folks protested the other day, the largest since the fall of Communism…
The protest comes amid a mounting political crisis in the central European heavyweight, triggered by changes the populist-oriented Law and Justice (PiS) government has made to the constitutional court.
In December it pushed through legislation to stack the court and modify its decision-making rules.
The court itself struck down the changes as unconstitutional in March, pitting it against the PiS majority government, which wasted no time to dismiss the ruling.
The resulting deadlock means the court is paralyzed, leaving Poland without a fundamental check on government powers.
The PiS moves have drawn sharp criticism from the EU and the European Parliament, which Warsaw has dismissed as unnecessary interference in its internal affairs.
Markets have also reacted strongly to the controversy, hitting Poland’s zloty currency and the Warsaw stock exchange.
* From Carnegie Europe…
Fundamentally, over a quarter of a century since the demise of the Communist regime, the differences are now over the direction and reach of the EU, particularly when it comes to values. For Law and Justice, the EU’s values—such as gender equality and a secularism that plays down Europe’s Christian traditions—are intrusive and damaging for Europe’s and particularly Poland’s identity.
The onslaught of globalization is another issue. It has left Law and Justice supporters, especially conservative, rural communities, without anchors—save for the Catholic Church. These parts of society were generally ignored by Civic Platform. Law and Justice now wants to rectify this.
But there is something else that perpetuates this kind of politics of revenge. It is the absence of an independent civil service culture. Professional and competent officials from the foreign and other ministries in Warsaw are being replaced or demoted. (The same thing happened in Hungary.) This robs ministries of continuity, of an institutional memory, and of loyalty. It robs them of ambition and independence.
Maybe it’s time for civil society—especially Modern, or Nowoczesna, a new and fast-growing political party led by Ryszard Petru—to begin campaigning for something that has eluded Polish politics since 1989: a well-paid, independent civil service free from the politics of revenge. This is something that civil society activists are in a position to do. They are the younger generation—free, hopefully, of Solidarity’s bitter, polarizing ideological disputes.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 9, 16 @ 9:32 am
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Previous Post: *** UPDATED x1 - Rauner reacts *** Rauner foiled by ISBE on CPS
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Maybe he’ll be popular there?
Comment by Honeybear Monday, May 9, 16 @ 9:40 am
He will go after his union bashing passes?
That congregation should be asking why he came in and told them that he would never go to Poland.
Comment by Gooner Monday, May 9, 16 @ 9:40 am
Odd timing, to say the least. There’s real fear over there that the Law and Justice party is establishing a dictatorship.
I wonder if the Superstars have been paying attention to the news?
Free advice: Careful who you get your picture taken with.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 9, 16 @ 9:41 am
I love Polish people. They make the best sausages!
Comment by PublicServant Monday, May 9, 16 @ 9:44 am
===“We are working hard in Springfield on reforms so we can grow our economy and get more value for taxpayers and fund our schools properly,”===
Read: Dismantle Unions.
“taxpayers”, “reforms” - dog whistle… “Vote Accordingly” to those willing to Hoot the same mantra.
To the Post,
The politics on the ground in Poland might overshadow what Rauner wants to build, and further, might lead to Rauner inserting him in a possible political struggle, “siding” with the governing, while the “people” may feel otherwise…
Governors travel ALL the time, we’ll see if this plan could lead to fallout or not. Rauner hasn’t even left yet.
Budget first, that’ll be interesting in of itself.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 9, 16 @ 9:47 am
Did anyone tell him about the trade union, Solidarity, that helped bring down communism?
Comment by AC Monday, May 9, 16 @ 9:47 am
He does know it was a labor movement that helped topple communism, right?
Comment by Nick Name Monday, May 9, 16 @ 9:55 am
I’m sure Bruce and Lech will get along great!
Comment by IllinoisBoi Monday, May 9, 16 @ 9:59 am
I guess all his work in Illinois is done. That’s nice.
Comment by Just Me Monday, May 9, 16 @ 10:00 am
There may be protesters, however the Law and Justice (PiS) party is strongly supported. In 2015 the party won 37.58% of the vote, giving it a majority in the lower house of 235 out of 460 seats. It is the first time a single party has won enough votes to govern alone since democracy was restored in 1989.
Comment by lech W Monday, May 9, 16 @ 10:08 am
The big problem is… he will probably come back…. While he is out of country, will Lt Gov takeover responsibility? Can she sign legislation?
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, May 9, 16 @ 10:09 am
So Governor Rauner just birthed a future trip to Poland that nobody asked him to make and then immediately made it a hostage to getting Turnaround Agenda passed?
Cool move, bro.
Comment by LizPhairTax Monday, May 9, 16 @ 10:10 am
Governors used to promote the state. Rauner likes to trash the state. So he’ll continue to trash the state until he get’s his way. Sad.
Comment by Norseman Monday, May 9, 16 @ 10:11 am
Rauner still believes he’ll get his anti-union TA policies passed? I don’t foresee a budget deal anytime soon with the anti-union demands, so it might be a long time before Rauner travels the world.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, May 9, 16 @ 10:15 am
Rauner pandering, yet again.
The bishop said it best:
The Mass was said in Polish by the Rev. Andrew Peter Wypych, one of six auxiliary bishops in the Chicago Archdiocese.
“Here we are to worship God, not politicking, but we are honored to have the governor,” Wypych said.
Comment by Anon221 Monday, May 9, 16 @ 10:22 am
On December 21, 1990, Lech Walesa, a member of the Independent Self-governing Trade Union “Solidarity” was elected President of Poland, effectively ending the Soviet Union communist hold on Poland.
So Rauner is going to tell the Polish People that he is destroying Illinois unions so that Illinois can do business with Poland….
Yeah, that ought to go down real well with the Polish population.
Comment by Rufus Monday, May 9, 16 @ 10:28 am
Could we write them a letter and ask them to keep him? /s
Comment by Mama Monday, May 9, 16 @ 10:47 am
If I get what I want, then I am going to really do something.
I remember trying that routine with my dad many years ago. As I recall his response was basically ‘good luck with that’.
Comment by zatoichi Monday, May 9, 16 @ 10:50 am
I am third generation Polish-American. My grandfather was a union coal miner in Southern Illinois in the 1920’s and 30’s. I don’t know what he would say about Rauner, but it likely wouldn’t be printable.
Comment by A Jack Monday, May 9, 16 @ 10:56 am
So when the State can’t afford to pay for social services, 1.4% is going to bust the travel budget with his useless globe hopping (state paid vacation in exotic locales) trying to drum up business for a State he denigrates.
Comment by Huh? Monday, May 9, 16 @ 11:00 am
My ancestor, Casimir Pulaski, will roll over in his grave when 1.4% steps off the plane.
Comment by Huh? Monday, May 9, 16 @ 11:03 am
Is he stopping off in the Caymans to check on his stash too?
Comment by PublicServant Monday, May 9, 16 @ 11:11 am
Guessin’ BigBrain saw the pierogi bill and wants to establish a world HQ for a new plant at the Mitshubishi ghost ship….we could lead the world
Great F* thinkin’
Comment by Annonin' Monday, May 9, 16 @ 11:42 am
Governor Rauner, please do the citizens of Illinois a favor and stay in Poland.
Comment by union leader Monday, May 9, 16 @ 11:50 am
Maybe he’s burnishing his credentials for Trump to make him Vice President?? /s
Comment by IRLJ Monday, May 9, 16 @ 12:16 pm
yes poland is looking to bust unions…..
Comment by Ghost Monday, May 9, 16 @ 12:42 pm
Maybe we can get Poland to keep him!
Comment by Retiree Monday, May 9, 16 @ 2:01 pm
So how much damage can Slip and Sue really so while he is out of the Country?????
Comment by illini Monday, May 9, 16 @ 3:31 pm
What is he doing traveling anywhere. He and the legislature should be locked in Springfield until we have a reasonable budget passed for FY17 and 18
Comment by Anonymous Monday, May 9, 16 @ 4:07 pm
==homer politics sense==
Simpson?
Comment by walker Monday, May 9, 16 @ 4:55 pm