Resolving to be resolute

   We here at the WBJ like to think ahead, so even though it's not yet Christmas we've already begun thinking about millennial resolutions. Such New Year's pledges can get pretty personal, however, and we don't want to bore you with meaningless promises to give up smoking or go to the gym instead of our favorite kielbasa shack. So we thought it would be more interesting, for us at least, to talk about the resolutions we'd like to see others make. Here are the ones we'd like to see:

   For Solidarity Election Action (AWS) – A resolution to take a course in recognizing the enemy. Political parties are supposed to slay their opponents, not engage in endless internecine struggles.

   For Telekomunikacja Polska (TPSA) – A resolution to embrace the ideas of taking part in a competitive market and customer service. (But heck, we'd be happy just to see a resolution to keep the phones working 24 hours a day, every day.)

   For Finance Minister Leszek Balcerowicz – A resolution to use resignation threats only once a year. We hate to see currency traders have more ulcers than is truly necessary.

   For former President Lech Walesa – A resolution to let dead political careers stay in the graveyard of history. When you're in you're a guest, when you're out you're a pest.

   For conglomerate Elektrim – A resolution to give up debt binges and focus on the here-and-now of its business. Barbara Lundberg can try and take over the world next year.

   For Bank Handlowy CEO Cezary Stypulkowski – A resolution to talk to all shareholders before trying to pull off a major merger that could derail a career. And a second resolution to understand that any time you do a deal with BRE Bank President Wojciech Kostrzewa, he's going to somehow come out ahead.

   For the Social Insurance Office (ZUS) – A resolution to get its act together and realize that the only way to get people to pony up contributions is to make contribution levels reasonable. Here's a clue: 45%=evasion, 20%=compliance.

   For the Warsaw Metro – A resolution to finish the line, expand and learn to accentuate the positive that's already inherent in the system. Suggested advertising slogan: "The Warsaw metro – one subway you won't get lost on."

   For the European Union (EU) – A resolution to come clean in accession negotiations and just admit they want to pillage the Polish agriculture sector and that the French are never going to stop subsidizing their farmers.

   For President Aleksander Kwasniewski – A resolution to just admit that everything he does this year is going to serve his re-election campaign and that he wants Santa to bring him a bag full of vetoes.

   We wish all our readers happy holidays and a healthy and prosperous 2000!