President hails Slovak 'march of freedom'

The Daily Telegraph ^ | February 25, 2005 | Staff

[MadIvan]

Slovakia is also notable for telling Germany to get stuffed when Schroeder demanded they raise income taxes.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[sanchez810]

A notorious part f the whole European Project is that it transfers German regulations to its members.

[Capriole]

The problem in Slovakia, so far as I can see it, is that there is little concept of the American work ethic. They do not understand the American concept that if you want to be a big economic success in a capitalist economy you work 70 or 80 hours a week. They still have the idea that one should do the minimum one can get away with.

When democracy came to Slovakia, there was a widespread belief that embracing capitalism would mean that the streets would immediately be paved with gold just as they are in the US (as everyone in the world knows), and when they didn't all get rich right away some resentment arose.

[MadIvan]

Well the old joke in Communist countries used to be, "The government pretends to pay us, and we pretend to be working". It is a psychological shift that all those countries formerly in the Communist bloc are having to make - I don't see Slovakia being alone in this, nor particularly encumbered. It is clear that their leadership has embraced a positive, pro-business, low tax set of policies, and they are to be commended for that.

Regards, Ivan

[nutmeg]

Great article, Ivan... thanks!

[nutmeg]

Great article ping!

[nutmeg]

At last President George W Bush found some European fans yesterday. After three days of muted receptions, Mr Bush received a far cheerier welcome behind the old Iron Curtain as enthusiastic Slovaks applauded him for visiting them on the last stop of his tour across the continent.

Thousands of Slovaks defied swirling snow and a bitter wind to wait for several hours to hear Mr Bush speak in the heart of their capital, Bratislava.

"We love him," said Arlena Turceanova, a 47-year-old lawyer, bursting with the pride felt by many Slovaks that Mr Bush chose their little country for his third and last stop. "He is president from a great country. It is wonderful that he comes here..."

Great article ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

[nutmeg]

ping!

[nutmeg]

ping!

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[RushCrush]

That is a problem in any former communist country.

The Slovaks are learning....

[doug from upland]

Yep, these are our real friends. This is the kind of place where our bases should be.

[Grzegorz 246]

"The problem in Slovakia, so far as I can see it, is that there is little concept of the American work ethic. They do not understand the American concept that if you want to be a big economic success in a capitalist economy you work 70 or 80 hours a week."

Really ? Could you provide some statistics ? I saw some list a few months ago and Americans were somewhere around the middle of the second ten. UK was the only country from the "west" in the first ten. The rest were central/eastern European countries (Hungary, Czech Republic...) and Asians (S.Korea, Japan...).

[Tribune7]

Slovaks are the rednecks of Europe. (said proudly)

[Lukasz]

Well the old joke in Communist countries used to be, "The government pretends to pay us, and we pretend to be working".

There was no need to pay more cause shops were empty anyway. Whole Poland and others worked for our great friends and strategic partners the Soviets.

Another joke:
Communistic leader about western prosperity:
“People! In France is such a poverty that they are eating frogs and snails!”

[MadIvan]

And you got Nowa Huta in return. A town that positively bursts with song. Wasn't that sweet of them? :)

Regards, Ivan

[dfwgator]

And they got that monstrosity, the Palace of Culture in downtown Warsaw as a "gift" from Stalin.

[MadIvan]

And they got that monstrosity, the Palace of Culture in downtown Warsaw as a "gift" from Stalin.

Ah yes, but I recall the moment I fell in love with Poland; it was when I discovered they turned that building into a casino. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[Lukasz]

You see, tell me other country which had songs or poems about ironworks. :)

The greatest gift for Polish nation from our Soviet brothers,” Palace of culture and science” in Warsaw. Brilliant Soviet architecture, real artistry!

[Capriole]

I saw some list a few months ago and Americans were somewhere around the middle of the second ten. UK was the only country from the "west" in the first ten. The rest were central/eastern European countries (Hungary, Czech Republic...) and Asians (S.Korea, Japan...).

A list of what? Of number of hours per week worked by rich people or entrepreneurs? I have not seen such a list. My statement was based on my observations during extensive travel in Slovakia. I have also compared notes with one of my closest friends, who lived and worked there as a business consultant. Most of my extended family is still over there so of course there are frequent visits back and forth, constant correspondence and phone calls, email, and reading of the print media there. I try in my modest way to keep informed about what is going on there though naturally my views tend to be informed by the ideas of my relatives.