I have family members who lived through it, (not in Poland, but next door), what they admit seems like a mixed bag, be it of course an authoritarian one, but a

I have family members who lived through it, (not in Poland, but next door), what they admit seems like a mixed bag, be it of course an authoritarian one, but a lot more mixed that what I initially assumed; for one the political system is much more open and free than under socialism back then, but they also say it's nowhere near as free as they imagined it would be. They say the selection and abundance of food and products is much greater now, but that the quality of food is lower. They're surprised when I tell them that I sometimes have to work during the weekend and oftentimes extra hours during the week as they assumed this only happens under socialism. They've also enjoyed more regular retreats that I do. They say that the general quality of education seemed higher, excluding the propaganda. They didn't have to pay tens of thousands for their education and be in debt as soon as they're adults. They also admit that they can't really imagine buying and actually owning a house during their lifetimes with current market prices and admit that they didn't really have to think that much about such basic sensitivities back then. But I am not in favor of that system, because as you may not be aware there are many more ways to implement certain socialist policies without eliminating the benefits of democracy and keeping the market free where it makes sense. Capitalism makes sense in some places, it just doesn't make sense everywhere.