Poland: Government agency fines private TV station for coverage of protests(bbc.co.uk)
bbc.co.uk
Poland: Government agency fines private TV station for coverage of protests
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42316307
4 comments
Sounds like the 3rd/4th item in headlines on Democracy Now tomorrow. Censorship and facism are on the rise globally because history repeatedly shows the majority are ignorant fools and always fall for populist hate and false promises to ameliorate their discontent with scapegoats and quick-fixes.
> the majority are ignorant fools and always fall for populist hate and false promises
But why is it on the rise. Did the majority get more foolish or is it just more of them so foolishness is amplified disproportionately?
But why is it on the rise. Did the majority get more foolish or is it just more of them so foolishness is amplified disproportionately?
I can recommend Timothy Snyder’s book “On tyrany”. It is easy too loose your democracy too populist once they start attacking democratic institutions like news and the courts.
Please also read 14 characteristics of facism. Warning point controlling the media. https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html
Please also read 14 characteristics of facism. Warning point controlling the media. https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html
An article on fining a TV "news" station which is in one portfolio with Food Network and Travel Channel of some media giant, and suddenly... fascism!
As much as I dislike the ruling party, it's all politics and the major TVs in Poland are just foreign influence agents and they lie to their teeth about everything. For a weaker country like Poland to break out of foreign rule, they have to muster the power and get rid of foreign agents. Free speech has nothing to do with mass media which are just propaganda tools used by whoever is their real owner.
Free speech in Poland is doing way better than almost anywhere else in the world. You can think, write and say what you want. There is no official or unofficial wrong-think commandos, or ideologies shoved down everyone's throat. You can actually have a public discussion there, without fear of retaliation, being ostracised, fired and unemployable forever, etc. In some parts of USA you can't even say "Merry Christmas" anymore without fear of being labelled a bigot, racist or whatever and having a talk with an HR.
And comments about fascism etc in Poland are offensive and ignorant. Polish people like noone else in the world are wary of ideologies like communism and fascism. A lot of people here making such comments, wouldn't recognize fascism and totalitarianism if it hit them in the head. Otherwise, they would be discussing American universities, antifa, PC police etc all the time, not "raise of fascism in Europe". Poland, as lame as it is in some respects is an awesome place if you value freedom of speech and mind. Come and visit.
Free speech in Poland is doing way better than almost anywhere else in the world. You can think, write and say what you want. There is no official or unofficial wrong-think commandos, or ideologies shoved down everyone's throat. You can actually have a public discussion there, without fear of retaliation, being ostracised, fired and unemployable forever, etc. In some parts of USA you can't even say "Merry Christmas" anymore without fear of being labelled a bigot, racist or whatever and having a talk with an HR.
And comments about fascism etc in Poland are offensive and ignorant. Polish people like noone else in the world are wary of ideologies like communism and fascism. A lot of people here making such comments, wouldn't recognize fascism and totalitarianism if it hit them in the head. Otherwise, they would be discussing American universities, antifa, PC police etc all the time, not "raise of fascism in Europe". Poland, as lame as it is in some respects is an awesome place if you value freedom of speech and mind. Come and visit.
Allowing Poland into the EU was a mistake. It takes decades for a country to build up its democratic political culture. Something like this wouldn't even be conceivable in Denmark or the Netherlands.
This has more publicity today because this TV station was taken over by US based company last year. Department of justice made a statement because US based company was fined. If this TV station would be owned by last owner today then things for sure would be different..
Do not judge Poland, if you want to judge someone then judge polish government. This government is a result of populism wave that also elected Trump in US, made Nazi party entering Bundestag in Germany, made UK leave EU etc.
Before Law and Justice party took over, Poland was ruled by pro democratic, very pro EU and liberal-centric party. Poland (polish people) is the most pro EU country in whole Europe (source: eurostat) and was for last x years every year.
Do not judge Poland, if you want to judge someone then judge polish government. This government is a result of populism wave that also elected Trump in US, made Nazi party entering Bundestag in Germany, made UK leave EU etc.
Before Law and Justice party took over, Poland was ruled by pro democratic, very pro EU and liberal-centric party. Poland (polish people) is the most pro EU country in whole Europe (source: eurostat) and was for last x years every year.
TVN is American-owned station producing American-style "news". The main reason probably why this incident is getting international attention.
> result of populism wave that also elected Trump in US, made Nazi party entering Bundestag in Germany
That escalated quickly.
> result of populism wave that also elected Trump in US, made Nazi party entering Bundestag in Germany
That escalated quickly.
So what exactly is wrong with 'american-style' news and why it deserves a government punishment?
They were fined for reporting protests agains the ruling party, but you somehow try to imply it was because they did it in american style?
"Independent media" is very new in Eastern Europe. You'd be amazed at the links politicians have with TV stations and newspapers.
> You'd be amazed at the links politicians have with TV stations and newspapers.
As if it wasn't the case in any other country as well... US in particular...
As if it wasn't the case in any other country as well... US in particular...
>Do not judge Poland, if you want to judge someone then judge polish government. This government is a result of populism wave
The government is elected by the people, it's perfectly reasonable to judge those people for the result of their actions.
The government is elected by the people, it's perfectly reasonable to judge those people for the result of their actions.
Damn, you might be right but I'd rather die than have to be judged for Berlusconi :-/
Weird, everything was fine when we had a pro-EU government, now we can't even sneeze without making it to the international headlines.
Sneeze, don’t fart aloud
Oh please, Poland are the only EU country with a spine.
This is (unfortunately?) true, and whoever downvoted you doesn't know Poland well.
I'm Italian but live in Poland, and it makes me cringe seeing the difference between a country that has no balls and does whatever Germany-controlled EU asks it to-- despite the huge damages inflicted to its citizen--and a country that puts its citizens first like Poland does.
I go to Germany often and besides a few outskirts, Munich feels like some Arab country where you hardly hear any German spoken. Nuremberg could be renamed Little Istanbul and no one would complain. It's a mess. In the meantime, Italy is in even worse conditions because we can't seem to make people respect the law. If you go to any city you'll see dozens of African street vendors selling counterfeit Gucci and Valentino bags undisturbed, in front of actual stores that pay taxes and sell (or try to sell) the real thing. All this to lower the cost of labor (unless you believe the "helping people" lie that politicians tell you).
I'm glad Europe exists, but we need some balance between what's good for the community and what individual countries need.
I'm Italian but live in Poland, and it makes me cringe seeing the difference between a country that has no balls and does whatever Germany-controlled EU asks it to-- despite the huge damages inflicted to its citizen--and a country that puts its citizens first like Poland does.
I go to Germany often and besides a few outskirts, Munich feels like some Arab country where you hardly hear any German spoken. Nuremberg could be renamed Little Istanbul and no one would complain. It's a mess. In the meantime, Italy is in even worse conditions because we can't seem to make people respect the law. If you go to any city you'll see dozens of African street vendors selling counterfeit Gucci and Valentino bags undisturbed, in front of actual stores that pay taxes and sell (or try to sell) the real thing. All this to lower the cost of labor (unless you believe the "helping people" lie that politicians tell you).
I'm glad Europe exists, but we need some balance between what's good for the community and what individual countries need.
No spine, greed and fear instead
Perfectly rational fears.
They're not pulling a Sweden and censoring politically incorrect truths.
They're not pulling a Sweden and censoring politically incorrect truths.
Yeah, because that sure happened! (no)
You're free to link any examples.
You're free to link any examples.
http://www.friatider.se/gigantisk-databas-ver-invandrares-br...
https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/extremhogersajt-och-nazis...
This was fairly recent, as I understand it, SVT is the more "reputable" news source and they don't seem to be refuting any of the data. Shortly after the migrant crisis began, Swedish police stopped recording information about the ethnicity of perps.
https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/extremhogersajt-och-nazis...
This was fairly recent, as I understand it, SVT is the more "reputable" news source and they don't seem to be refuting any of the data. Shortly after the migrant crisis began, Swedish police stopped recording information about the ethnicity of perps.
Huh, what's the issue with those articles at all?
Sweden has laws how you have to handle personal information, a database like that would potentially breach that law.
It's basically like a smaller version of GDPR from the EU.
How is this governmental censoring?
You'd breach the same law if you made a database with people that like Nintendo games.
Jeez.
Sweden has laws how you have to handle personal information, a database like that would potentially breach that law.
It's basically like a smaller version of GDPR from the EU.
How is this governmental censoring?
You'd breach the same law if you made a database with people that like Nintendo games.
Jeez.
Why comment when you have no idea what you're talking about?
Wow great argument. I hope Poland has a better one at the next EU council meeting.
Your post didn't deserve an argument, but ignoring for a second your ignorant comment about letting Poland in Europe, you're welcome to enlighten me as to how this: https://edri.org/new-danish-law-can-lead-substantial-interne... is not 100 times worse than what's in the article.
Stealing Poland from the Warsaw Pact into NATO was an unbelievable coup.
Allowing the country to EU kind of enabled populism to gain so much voters - thanks to all the EU money going through politician's hands they (socialists) grew in power, they're the masters of the economy in Poland now and half of business in PL depends directly or indirectly on money distributed by the state. Not mentioning 100% of public administration depends on it.
So i assume this is a first step to a grand failure, full socialist style. And then we'll face angry mob - now they're angry because they want more socialism, but this is just because the stupid need to hit the wall with their own heads before they understand how messed up this is.
I don't even get what you get all this from, surely you know socialists actually don't like the EU in general?
The EU giving money to "socialists" makes no sense.
The EU giving money to "socialists" makes no sense.