Nowhere have I denied it. Even by your own words, the growth during Soviet times improved the quality of life of Poles significantly beyond what they had prior, only halting during the 80s and 90s as the Warsaw Pact collectively entered recession and then endured shock therapy. Are you suggesting that entire period of socialist governance is the dark period or only the 80s and 90s?

Though there has been further growth, income inequality has hugely increased, and there's the compromises in sovereignty the EU imposes on its member states. Poland is a vassal.

[–] encelado748@feddit.org -2 points 6 days ago

No, Poland is not a vassal. Hungary demonstrates it is quite possible to have a foreign policy that is literally hostile and still being part of the Union. At any time any country can leave the Union as UK demonstrated. So all member in the EU wants to be part of the union, they are not vassal. Poles do not want a communist government influenced by Russia. This is a fact. As of 2022, 97% of poles view Russia unfavorably and 89% view EU favorably. You cannot be more clear than that.