Polish American Agenda 2004[]
Polish American Agenda 2004 was a list of Poland's foreign policy objectives presented by a group of little known activists to the candidates in the 2004 Presidential Election (George W. Bush and John Kerry) ostensibly as postulates of the Polish American community.
The text of the Agenda follows:
- Polish Americans from across the U.S.A. have gathered to uphold the vision of Ignacy Jan Paderewski, the eminent Polish statesman, scholar, composer, and virtuoso, who promoted freedom and democracy throughout the world. Paderewski's spirit guides and informs the Polish American Agenda of today, which includes the following:
- Increased Assistance for Poland: Increase economic and military support to bolster America's most reliable and trusted ally on the continent of Europe, especially in this time of increased threats from global terrorism.
- Political Appointments: Increase the number of qualified Polish Americans in public office, including cabinet-level appointments, so that America's sixth largest ethnic group is equitably represented.
- Visa Waiver for Poland: Eliminate the Visa requirement for Poles traveling to the US as soon as possible. Only one of the 24 countries participating in the extended visa waiver program currently matches Poland's commitment to the US-led reconstruction of Iraq and global war on terrorism.
- Research & Development (R&D) Cooperation Agreement: Negotiate, sign and implement an R&D Cooperation Agreement between the United States and Poland to increase mutually beneficial opportunities for cooperation and exploration in technical, medical and other scientific areas of research and development.
- Base Realignment: Establish a significant US military presence in Poland in order to strengthen America's security at the gateway to Eurasia and reinforce Poland as the model of democracy and stability for her neighbors to the East.
- Facilitate Contracts for Polish Firms in Iraq: As one of America's top three allies in troop contributions during both WWII and now in Iraq, fairly acknowledge Poland's contribution by facilitating participation of Polish business in the reconstruction of Iraq.
- Immigration Reform: Extensively reform the immigration system so that it recognizes the de facto situation that hundreds of thousands of immigrants, already contributing significantly to our communities, have earned the right to be US citizens.
The Agenda was a particularly egregious example of a small group of activists usurping themselves the privilege to speak to U.S. government on behalf of the Polish American community and not only representing the interests of a foreign country (Poland) but ignoring the festering issues that genuinely affect the lives of Polish Americans, such as the forcibly imposed citizenship of Poland (see Passport trap).