Who decided and who is to decide about…

Blogi28 marca 2010

A response to Professor Pienkos’ remarks on the Polish democratic development.     Let me start from the end of Prof. Pienkos’ statement:     Poland's method of election is a matter for the Polish people and its leaders to decide - pure and simple. We as Americans can watch and be of help, when and if we are asked. But that's it. The good Doctor for his part can argue his views there and I wish him well. But it is for the Polish people to decide for themselves what is best for them.      First of all, I am not some "good…

A Response to Prof. Przystawa’s statement on Poland’s…

Blogi28 marca 2010

I have the following comments on Prof. Przystawa's views about the need for Poland to change its electoral process.     1. First of all, it is important to stress that there is no absolutely "best" system for determining the will of the electorate in a democracy. The "single member district" system followed in the United States and in the United Kingdom of course has its plusses, but this system is by no means without its flaws. For example, in the U.S. we have many Congressional districts where "gerrymandering" occurs. Gerrymandering is the practice by which the borders of electoral districts are so drawn as…

How to Send the Rascals Packing?

Blogi10 sierpnia 2009

For a patriotic Pole, and I hope I have a right to consider myself as one, an idea of Poland being a part of a European Superstate is unacceptable and, in fact, abhorrent. It goes against all my education and upbringing, it invalidates everything that had been dear to me since I began reading books and learning my country’s history.      Because I happen to know that history I feel entitled to say that such an adherence to national sovereignity and independence has nothing to do with xenophobia or nationalistic shovinism. Since the dawns of history the Polish Monarchs, of the first Polish Royal…

A False and Damaging Political Paradigm

Blogi1 sierpnia 2009

A Spanish philosopher of politics, Jose Ortega y Gasset, in his famous book “The Revolt of the Masses” maintains that the condition of any democracy depends - in the most crucial way - on something that may look as a small technical detail: the electoral procedure. If this procedure is right, if in a proper way it corresponds to the society’s needs and demands, then everything is fine, the democracy may function. On the other hand if this procedure is wrong then everything falls down even if all other democratic institutions seem to be alright.     Political science divides the variety of electoral systems…