Red Tape Hot Box On getting back what is rightfully yours

The liquidation of the free market and its base - individual property rights - was one of the major sins of the Communist government in the days of the Polish People's Republic. Now we are back in capitalist economy and it seems that most people understand that the key to success lies in privatization. Unfortunately, not much attention is given to the problem of re-privatization. After World War II, hundreds of mansions, small factories and other assets were taken away from the rightful owners and nationalized. During the next 50 years, most of them went bankrupt. Now, big households and palaces, especially those in rural areas, are completely devastated and ruined. A major dilemma has now arisen for contemporary governments. They understand that the time has come to give back what the previous system took away. But, some places have been turned into schools or museums to fulfill social needs, thus, the only way to compensate owners who have been previously wronged is by suitably compensating them. What's preventing government officials from doing this is the fact that they have no money to undergo such a program of compensation.

It's an understandable dilemma, but what's annoying me is the fact that they don't want to hand back all of the buildings that haven't been used in any sensible way and are now in a state of total ruin as a result. These palaces and mansions are considered now to be historic buildings, so it would be in everyone's interest to see them renovated and renewed. Meanwhile, the government has come to the conclusion that, as long as they are the owners of these properties, they can sell them. In 1997, to look magnanimous, the government passed an Act which says that those who have had their property expropriated have the right to repurchase them. I don't have to mention that most of the legitimate owners have declined such a "kind" offer. They would rather just wait for the verdicts that would grant them what is rightfully theirs. Let's just hope that when they'll finally get them back, the buildings won't just be huge piles of ruins...