The deepening economic crisis caused a marked deterioration in quality of life of ordinary citizens and resulted in increasing political instability. Rationing and queuing became a way of life, with ration cards (kartki) necessary to buy consumer staples. The ration cards were utilized by the government in order to avoid allowing market regulation of income and prices and thus risking social unrest. As Western institutions were no longer willing to extend credit to the de facto bankrupt Polish government, access to goods that the Poles needed became even more restricted.
Martial law had to be declared.
Capitalism is freedom. Everything the state gives you can be taken away.
Rationing and queuing have been way overstated. The most you had to wait was an hour, and I spend just as much time in the grocery store. What's the difference between waiting in line and being handed what you want and going through the store and getting it yourself? Martial law wasn't because of protests over the lack of material goods, but repression of Polish Nationalism and the Papacy.
It literally collapsed.
Martial law had to be declared.
Capitalism is freedom. Everything the state gives you can be taken away.
Rationing and queuing have been way overstated. The most you had to wait was an hour, and I spend just as much time in the grocery store. What's the difference between waiting in line and being handed what you want and going through the store and getting it yourself? Martial law wasn't because of protests over the lack of material goods, but repression of Polish Nationalism and the Papacy.