[gypsyharlot]

The world's largest bureaucracy (EU) will continue with its bullying of everyone with different opinions. In a worst case scenario, this won't be optional, and they will cancel everyone with different opinions, like Hungary and Poland.

[loriverkutya]

If the opinions are homophobic as they are in case of Hungary, I'm very happy that the EU is "bullying". I wish it would also be the case with the ongoing corruption in Hungary.

[ricardobeat]

What “opinions” do Hungary and Poland hold?

[mrtksn]

"opinion" is probably the wrong word when we are talking about countries but people in Hungary and Poland seem to favour more nationalistic and conservative politics and have a thing for strong leaders.

It's a bit like California v.s. Alabama situation. Also, not limited to Poland and Hungary, it pans along the West v.s. East, so it's like North vs South in the US.

For example, EU says you have right to bring your partner to EU. Then Denmark says that you can register a long term relationship and have the full rights without a formal marriage, Poland will say that you need to marry.

It also goes beyond the social issues as the strong leaders tend to mangle with the judiciary system to make their ways and EU is really not happy about it. When that happens, the countries get fined and their leaders will bash EU in a similar way like some American politician bash the federal government.

[sabjut]

You can check for your self in the username of your parent comment, which includes a racial slur. This specific slur is common in Hungary so make of that what you will when judging the amount of bias in that comment.

On a side note I am not sure if that username complies with HN TOS.

[Muromec]

hating on gays, muslims and separation of judiciary from executive are definitely opinions

[samhw]

An opinion is something that can be represented as a proposition about the world. It's the non-factive superclass of a fact: i.e. the structure of a fact, but not requiring/entailing the property of truth. Hatred is not an opinion, it's an emotion.

For more information, have a look at this fantastic Buzzfeed article: https://www.buzzfeed.com/ludwigwittgenstein/fantastic-ways-t...

[mschuster91]

> everyone with different opinions, like Hungary and Poland

The human rights of LGBT people and refugees or the right to freedom of the press or to a fair trial in front of an independent court are valid EU wide, guaranteed by the contracts that Hungary and Poland signed when they joined the EU.

Opposing these human rights is not an "opinion", it's an assault on the core values that make up the European Union - and the rest of the EU (particularly Germany, given that the former Chancellor's party was a sister party of the Fidesz for a long time!) has stayed silent for far too long.

[sabjut]

The entire point of the EU is to form consensus for the betterment of Europe. Different opinions are important but create friction. Agreement, yes sometimes against ones own opinion, is necessary to strengthen the EU. Individuals in an alliance that regularly strive against agreements and consensus are hurting the alliance, hurting Europe.

If consensus is apparently not desired we can go back to the European patchwork where the rules change significantly every 100km and doing trade is 10x harder.

[toyg]

Sadly the UK took that hit for the others, making the disadvantages of leaving very clear. So these guys will continue staying in the tent while pissing inside of it, sadly. But sooner or later a reckoning will happen, either in Europe or in their own countries.

[jyounker]

Ah yes, opinions like "promotion of homosexuality or other disorders of sexual behavior" should be punished with up to eight years in prison. (A proposed amendment to the Hungarian constitution.)

Or opinions such as the government take-over of all independent broadcasters in Poland.

[samhw]

I mean, hey, SCOTUS decided in Citizens United that political donations were constitutionally protected expressions of opinion, so all bets are off...