Anniyan - Patriotism

Nov,

Indian democracy is a myth. There are indirect checks and balances springing straight out of the caste system where top 3% control over 93% of power and properties. Despite its own peculiar systemic weaknesses (that you pointed out), Malay model seems to have worked rather well in pulling millions out of farms into factories within a single generation.

Size does not matter. There are several smaller republics still caught in squalor even in Europe like Moldova. The quality of leadership reflects the quality of the nation.

Let me give an example of the rot in Indian system. Last winter, Junior Vikatan carried an article that it was so easy to get an affidavit for literally anybody in the world in the Chennai High Court. Their undercover reporter bribed the registrar to get an affidavit for none other than Saddam Hussain. They did not even check the photo. The affidavit duly declared that Saddam was the lawful President of Iraq and resides in Chennai. Signed by Saddam Hussain. (At the time of that article Saddam was still in the run.)

:lol: :rotfl:

There is inevitable brain-drain in the country which exports skilled labour nowadays even to Sub-Saharan Africa which offer greener pastures.

hey crab u ok?
theres been 6 bomb blasts in london.
u live in london rite.

Hi gaayu,

How u doing?

Am alright. But we got a noisy ruckus here after the Tube was shut down. Taxis galore amid drizzle as congestion charge has been suspended. You can't come into the capital anymore.

Meanwhile, Her Majesty is appalled at the dreadful things going on in her backyard. :cry:

Guys, i think everyone is stretching here a bit far..........with all due respect to Malaysia and other countries- India is huge.....Infact Indian economy is bigger than Germany,UK,Japan,Italy- can u believe it????
yes it is....India is next only to China in growth.....wake up guys, EVERYTHING IS NOT GOOD WITH INDIA but its not EVERYTHING IS BAD WITH INDIA- u have to realise this......

if graduates of 90's have put India in top10, we the graduates of 2000's will take it to no.1.......that day is not far.......Lopsidedness will also be eradicated in due course of time.....if anyone wants the reason how India economy will become balanced i'll answer it :D.....

Jai Hind

Well Crab,

I am not sure if democracy exists in its true form in India but I could term the Indian system of governance right now as a mixture of oligarchy, aristocracy and lawlessness. The lawlessness leads people to do whetever they want and they know they cannot be punished for little things (like say throwing their garbage on the road).

Maddy,

Yes the Indian economy is Huuge but look at the percapita. I think the results will be interesting. :roll:

I think last time I looked it up on an edition of economist.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crab

Nov,
Indian democracy is a myth. There are indirect checks and balances springing straight out of the caste system where top 3% control over 93% of power and properties.

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Absolutely! However, "democracy" as we know it, be it in India, U.S.A or Timbuktoo is not actually that. Merely electing leaders is not democracy but the point is India is not alone in this.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crab

Malay model seems to have worked rather well in pulling millions out of farms into factories within a single generation.

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I don't think farms are evil and we have to evacuate people from farms into urban areas in totality. Remember, agriculture is the main determinant of GDP (in most countries) and a good monsoon (in India's case at least) means a good GDP and a bad one will have an adverse effect.

You made a very good point about the caste system and

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crab

where top 3% control over 93% of power and properties.

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Couldn't agree with you more. In fact, this is true of every capitalist power following the so-called globalization (pl note i'm not against globalization, i'm just saying the present model is not actually globalization) including U.S.A and other major powers. However, obviously they better social and economic indicators than India.

Someone was mentioning BPO, IT industry etc. I'd like to remind them that IT/ITES don't contribute a considerable chunk in the GDP pie. It's agriculture, small industries, manufacturing and other mass-employment generating "things" which constitute the bulk.

The Scandinavian countries are the best in terms of per capita income and more importantly, as Crab mentioned, their leadership takes care of social spending and welfare measures that are loathed by other so-called capitaists. The result? - They have a very educated work force, good health (health plans and all) and other infrastructure.

A final word on "economic growth" etc in general. Economics is nothing but the balance between scarce resources and unlimited wants - meaning, distribution of wealth and equitable growth, keeping in mind that resources are scarce. Our "India shining" campaign clearly showed the lack of this. And all the chest thumping about IBM prefering India and all is good, but has to be viewed in the right context. It's like the father of a starving family saying, "gee, people..... I could manage an extra 2 idlies today for myself!". OK, the analogy was too simplistic but that's the drift.

Sorry for the long post and fortunately NOV, Unlimted Meals and Cinefan have already made some points i wanted to make :)

All of you just go to news.google.com and type India. See the first two pages of the result and more if you want. Of courses, the hot news would about the current Ayodhya crisis. Look at the rest of the news and continue your discussions.

Here are some of the headlines that I read:

Toyota and Daihatsu to invest 89 million in India and set up a plant.
Alcatel to invest $600 million
Shell may set up refinery in India
Something about Iran Gas pipeline talks
India on G8 summit (Apart from "the 8" only India and China take part). India is going to oppose something.
India and China may be invited to join G8 :Blair
Thales (Some french defence major) for a JV with India.
Yamaha mulls third plant in India.
India's oilmeal sales fall down --- bad news -- but good news is that it seems India is the Asia's largest oilmeal exporter.

I don't want to infer or interpret anything. You can do it, though, in whichever way you want.

That should make you happy and not like the world press has a grudge towards India as a nation.

This is great and every country will have results. We should now look at improvement.

alwarpet_andavan
The idly analogy was so good. It is totally true! I was very amused

:lol:

People,

Does the concept of respect for labor exist in India? I want to know how aware our public are about sweatshops and all that. With the way they are hanging out their toungue for FDI these days, I doubt the govt has any incentive to fight for the working class.