this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2025
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I imagine from Polands point of view, it is another step towards being a wealthy country, rather than a poor country on the edge of Europe. It’s not necessarily bad to compare, nor does it change things in Poland. However, knowing that you get paid the same as many in the USA, with, I would assume, cheaper prices for most things and better social support is a big deal for those on minimum wage. 50 years ago, countries like Poland looked up to the USA. Now they are seen as a larger peer, but it’s less about the USAs decline, more polands arrival.
I don't know if you're Polish, but if they see themselves like that it's probably time to stop. Not only are they the 10th largest economy in the EU, but even looking at GDP per capita they easily lead the pack among the Eastern European members.
Look, I get it, it's easy to carry that sense of history having made you miss the boat when it comes to European/Western standards. Been there, done that. For whatever is worth, Poland has been out there as a tech hub and a mid-sized player in the EU for long enough I haven't thought of them that way for at least this decade.
I think of them as being one of the early dumbasses to get their far right propped to power by general stupidity, which is another metric where they're trading blows with the US.
Can't win them all, I suppose.