tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78663334553058827252024-03-08T10:12:18.979-08:00Jaguar JungleUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-5279406727340006162012-07-30T09:26:00.001-07:002012-07-30T09:26:18.688-07:00The RSS game plan<p>World over the fascists has one strategy, victimhood, cry baby politics, and fear mongering. Fear is not generated in the opposite side or minorities, but in the mind of the majority. </p> <p>Herman Goring, the Nazi is quoted as saying: “ Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”</p> <p>This the RSS and its cronies adopt very well. Everything in this country is against the Hindus, against Hinduism, against India, etc. Everything is a conspiracy and you can see the right wing rumor factory in social media spreading that fear. “unite or you will perish” kind of messages are spread to instill fear in the minds.</p> <p>Everything is an opportunity for right wing fascists. They spread from pure lies to half truths to exaggerated truths and believe that everything they do is justified. </p> <p>To create this fear they need the trigger as well. Couple of years back they had Ayodhya, but when that died down they need to find more issues. I always thought why can’t Muslims just leave Ayodhya to them. But a friend told me the truth which I realized later, it is not about Ayodhya, it is about the power. Once Ayodhya is over they will start something else till the time the other side reacts. It will not stop with Ayodhya. </p> <p>As Göring observed it is easy to bring people to fascist bidding, you just have to tell them they are attacked. Now, for that you need the enemy to react. In the crazy Islamists RSS find an easy ally. They are easily offended and people looking for reactions see only their reaction. This is a strategy taken from Israel. Israel irritates and provokes, but when the Palestine side reacts we are pointed out that reaction.</p> <p>The game plan is evolving and there is more to come and unfortunately they are succeeding in my India. Watch out for the fascists. </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Niem%C3%B6ller">Martin Niemöller</a> </p> <blockquote> <p>First they came for the communists, <br />and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.</p> <p>Then they came for the trade unionists, <br />and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.</p> <p>Then they came for the Jews, <br />and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.</p> <p>Then they came for me <br />and there was no one left to speak out for me.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Niem%C3%B6ller">Martin Niemöller</a> was a German pastor and theologian born in Lippstadt, Germany, in 1892. Niemöller was an anti-Communist and supported Hitler's rise to power at first. But when Hitler insisted on the supremacy of the state over religion, Niemöller became disillusioned. He became the leader of a group of German clergymen opposed to Hitler. Unlike Niemöller, they gave in to the Nazis' threats. In 1937 he was arrested and eventually confined in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sachsenhausen_%28detention_camp%29">Sachsenhausen</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dachau_concentration_camp">Dachau</a>. His crime was "not being enthusiastic enough about the Nazi movement." Niemöller was released in 1945 by the Allies.</p> <p>That is the fate that awaits those semi liberals or those watching the game. It will come for you, fascism is not targeted just at the minority community. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-41982842656075087882012-03-20T04:01:00.001-07:002012-03-20T04:01:26.964-07:00“Poverty line” and the “Rich line”<p>Indian middle class is making fun of the new poverty line at Rs. 28. They are pointing out how difficult it is to live with Rs. 28 and how they spend Rs. 150 for a dinner. I totally agree with them, but instead of making fun of the poverty line they should realize that there are a lot of people who does live below Rs. 28 when they spend Rs. 150 for dinner, maybe the rich spend Rs. 10000. </p> <p>Just by putting the poverty line at Rs. 50 will not make poverty go away. Are you ready to reduce your petrol subsidy? Are you ready to take more taxes? Are you ready for more railway ticket charge? No, I do not think so. Without that this outrage is fake and empty.</p> <p>The focus of the government should be on the poorest of poor and the poverty line should be adjusted according to the number of people under it. If there are more poor people below Rs. 10, then that should be the line. If 50% people lives below Rs 20, then that should be the poverty line.</p> <p>Poverty “reduced” but inequality is growing. I ‘m sure those super rich will drop more bread crumbs that the poor can eat. Like the poverty line there should be a “rich line”. Just having income tax limit is not enough. But talking about the upper class is a sin even for the middle class. I think we just replaced caste system with money.</p> <p>That brings me to another question. If the poor people are the majority in India why isn’t the democratically elected government’s policies directed at benefiting them directly? How can we spend money hosting big events when majority of our people are hungry? How can we buy the fighter jets from UK/Europe? Some democracy we have.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-52893260430465711772011-08-18T02:28:00.001-07:002011-08-18T02:28:35.942-07:00Lokpal, Anna, Democracy and Opposition<p>During my interaction with those supporting and opposing Lokpal, Anna, Democracy, Right to dissent, etc, I realized there are 4 different groups here. One person can be part of one or more groups. </p> <p><strong>Number 1: Those who believe Anna is pure and want whatever he wants. </strong></p> <p>This group do not understand Lokpal or what the issues are. They know that corruption need to end and think Anna knows what needs to be done. </p> <p><strong>Number 2: People who genuinely think Lokpal is going to solve corruption and thinks Anna’s version is the right one</strong></p> <p>This group starts with the previous group. Most people in this group are mainly from the previous group, but think they know what Lokpal bill is all about.</p> <p><strong>Number 3: People who think Anna’s bill should be tabled in parliament by government. </strong></p> <p>They want parliamentary process. The democracy supporter, those who want the bill to be discussed.</p> <p><strong>Number 4: People who do not care about Lokpal Bill, but think Anna’s arrest is wrong</strong></p> <p>This group can contain people who are against Anna’s lokpal bill as well as those who do not care. They thought government didn’t do it right to arrest Anna. This also consists of the group that thinks that Government should have played the game better not to arrest Anna at that time and with tact.</p> <p><strong>Number 5: People who are against this government for political reasons. </strong></p> <p>This group can be both the BJP supporters and others who are generally tired of corruption news of 2G and CWG. I want to separate the BJP supporter from others </p> <p><strong>Number 6: People who think Indian democracy is not working and want a change. </strong></p> <p>They are fine with even the case of democracy falls, or at least they did not think or they do not care. Can be the middle class that thinks the democracy is not going their way. [There is an ultra left wing and religious fundamentalists that always want democracy to fail] [Also there might be foreign powers that want democracy to fall or keep India under check] </p> <p><strong>Number 7: People with no interest in anything. Who are there just for the fun</strong></p> <p>The London riots kind of people. In this just for fun, nothing else to do. </p> <p><strong>Number 8: India’s main opposition party</strong></p> <p>They are a separate group because they are in multiple boats with multiple standards on most things. Their stand and needs need to be analyzed separately from others</p> <p> </p> <p>[Coming up: Analyzing these groups and counter points for each of them. Watch this space]</p> <p>[References: ]</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-4715263901483071652009-07-12T12:22:00.001-07:002009-07-13T04:44:03.092-07:00Western hypocrisy<p>Western media and governments cried foul when Iran arrested Britain’s diplomats in Iran. The same media that turned a blind eye when Iranian diplomats were arrested in Iraq by occupying American military. They made us believe that those arrested are terrorists. It is easy to call everyone a terrorist when they do not fit in the imperialist plans for the world.</p> <p>I have no special love for Ahamdinejad or the Iranian government, I do not know them enough to make an opinion. If Obama, an African American, lost in US presidential elections and if the African American community in America felt that the elections were rigged by the white majority, and they started street protest, will America tolerate comments of support by world governments to African Americans?. </p> <p>If West is so eager to import democracy to world, then they should first try Saudi and other American crony countries. Then you realize it is not democracy they are after, it is self preservation. </p> <p>Western media is extremely biased, I am sure about CNN because I am forced to watch it.  </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-44319650508392044722009-05-24T11:00:00.001-07:002009-05-24T11:00:46.499-07:00British Expense Scandal<p>Indian parliamentarians will find the British expense scandal amounts amusing. British is making lot of fuss about such low amounts. </p> <p>My conspiracy theory tells me that this is the way Business leaders get back at Political leaders. Politicians were acting like angels when they attacked business leaders on their bonuses, which is also legal. Now business leaders are getting back at political leaders on their expenses, which is also legal. Soon they will have a truce and continue to swindle money. </p> <p>I think the law is to be blamed for expense scandal and bonus scam. If the law allows expenses without setting a limit, then you cannot blame someone for milking it to extreme. </p> <p>This fight also shows evils of Communism (state control, more political power) and Capitalism (less state control, more business power with business leaders).  </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-63580002444136574522009-05-24T02:13:00.001-07:002009-05-24T11:00:57.850-07:00Privatization of Public transport<p>Middle class points out that better<strong> service </strong>is advantage of privatization. I cannot disagree. Privatization comes with a cost, a cost that affects the poor more than the middle class. </p> <p>Privatization can discontinue non-viable services to <strong>improve</strong> efficiency and be <strong>more</strong> profitable. This affects the poor as they do not have any other means for travel, unlike the middle class (and rich). </p> <p>Privatization can increase cost of travel, those who can afford this cost justify it with increase in service quality. Now this cost is something middle class might consider value for money. But value for money for poor is not same as that of middle class; poor does not care about this service quality on an empty stomach. </p> <p>Middle class is hypocritical in their views. Rich is not very amused when the air travel costs were reduced, they complained about lack of <strong>service quality</strong> in low cost airlines. They even complained that cost reduction increased number of flights and this is causing pollution. The same way middle class is complaining about poor.</p> <p>A country which cares for its people should make sure that the services are directed towards the poor and not to the middle class and rich. Why are roads made only for cars and other motorized vehicles? Roads should be made more friendly to pedestrians and bicycle travel. Roads should be made friendly for handicapped, especially who cannot afford cars.</p> <p>A country or government that focus on projecting the rich and middle class, without a focus on poor and their needs is inhumane. Chief ministers in some Indian states (example Naidu of Hyderabad) are celebrated by media (again middle class and rich) for <strong>development</strong>. What is development that is targeted towards middle class and rich, ignoring the poor. </p> <p>In a developed country (read west), I advocate making public transport virtually free. Current high public transport costs are encouraging people to use private transport – adding to traffic woes, pollution and costly resources. Let private transport be enjoyed by the rich, and let them pay a very high cost of unequal-resource-usage. Till the time world cannot afford to have every citizen driving a car (reality – if everyone drives, there are no enough roads and no enough petrol and pollution will be too high) cars should be discouraged. </p> <p>The story is same about all privatization steps. When you think about service quality, think about the people who cannot afford this increase in service quality.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-86027034802814692002009-02-08T09:05:00.001-08:002009-02-08T09:05:50.120-08:00Growth, Bonus, Greed = Irresponsible risks<p>During corporate meetings which discuss future targets, I used to be amused at the growth targets set. When growth targets are linked to fat bonuses, we cannot blame the executives for irresponsible risks they take to achieve those targets. </p> <p>The system is flawed, greed for money cannot be a good driver of human civilization. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-54454718127805013362009-02-02T06:44:00.001-08:002009-02-02T06:50:14.797-08:00Protectionism, Fascism, Nationalism are cousins<p>It is feared that world economy is moving to protectionism. This is shown by American fiscal stimulus bill provisions for buy American. I would like to equate this to Fascism or Nationalism and also explain why Nationalism will one day lead to regionalism and casteism and all kind of hate between people.</p> <p>When you protect American interests you are caring people in one region distressing countries which are exporting to America or the country that is showing protectionism. This is very close to Nationalism that is shown for example fascists in India. This nationalist financial protectionsim is closer to the regionalist financial protectionism shown by MNS - regional nationalist Hindu party in Mumbai. (In Mumbai these parties wanted jobs to be reserved for locals)</p> <p>This nationalism can easily mutate to the regionalism shown by MNS in Mumbai - Attacking Biharis from the poorer parts of India. Soon you will have one region turned against another, one caste turned against another. Once you detonate the nationalist bomb (hate, fear against a community/nationality), you will never have control over it.</p> <p>People who support and confuse patriotism with Nationalism should realize that Nationalism can easily mutate into other dangerous cousins that will be very difficult to cure. If you see India now you will realize what will happen when you elect a fascist party like BJP to power. (I always avoided naming the party directly, but I think it is time that people talk about it as that party is not just another party)</p> <p>America should stay away from protectionism, India should stay away from nationalism and regionalism its side effect.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-87254685323212531502009-02-01T05:37:00.001-08:002009-02-01T05:37:01.543-08:00Western economic hypocrisy - Asset prices, interest rates, government spending<p>America and western countries advised countries and regions facing crisis in the past to do following:</p> <p>1. Do not prop up asset prices</p> <p>2. Keep interest rates high</p> <p>3. Reduce government spending</p> <p>Why west is not ready to take their own medicine? Is it because it is Chinese money that America is spending? </p> <p>Free market or capitalism means hegemony of rich economies. (I would not like to call America a rich economy, America is like Citibank, poor but critical to the system) </p> <p>There should be more participation from poor economies in world economic affairs. World is living by fleecing poor economies especially in Africa. One day world will have to answer to the atrocities being committed against them even now. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-25184279529620771602009-01-29T04:36:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:21:08.694-08:00Indian Taliban show their true color - Karnataka CM comment on Pub culture<p>Now they are playing to their traditional support base, losers and goondas. <br />This is same stand as they have when people are burnt in India. Their stand is - you should not burn people, but victims should have behaved well. It is same as telling women are raped because they dress provocatively. You are condoning an act when you criticize the real victim. <br />Now people who commented that Mumbai attack happened because of the genocide/massacre in Gujarat. If you say that in some way you are condoning the terror attacks. When Mumbai attack happened, I chose not to think about reasons. I did not want to hear the reasons - attacking people is wrong - end of argument. <br />BJP is not a mainstream party or just another party, it is a party with a hidden agenda and it will always remain that. India does not have a good opposition party, BJP is winning seats just because of that.</p> <p> </p> <p>Modifying the poem <br />"In India, they came first for the untouchables, And I didn't speak up because I wasn’t an untouchable; <br />And then they came for the Muslims, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn't a Muslim; <br />And then they came for the Christians, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Christian; <br />And then they came for the Biharis, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn't a Bihari; <br />And they came for pub goers, And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a pub goer; <br />And then they came for ...... <br />And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up."</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-63849097188654559622009-01-27T12:02:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:14:46.237-08:00American Blaming China For Currency Manipulation<p>America and West cannot blame others for the mess they are in. </p> <p>Nixon removed Gold standard. You can only manipulate a fiat currency. America manipulates the market, its interest rates, reserve ratio, etc. How do you draw a line on which intervention is acceptable and which is not? America cannot define that - quoting Obama, World has changed. </p> <p>Americans evidently lived beyond their means funded by Chinese. In a normal society we call a person with such huge deficit, dependant on money from his foe, an irresponsible person. He will be cast out of the society. </p> <p>Are Chinese going to buy the American treasury bond in future? That will mean that Chinese are financing the American fiscal stimulus package. </p> <p>Chinese should ask America for better say in American fiscal policy, considering it is Chinese people’s money that America is playing with. It is time world force America to control its spending.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-1165530663495648112009-01-27T04:55:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:18:46.378-08:00Racism or innocent joke - Comments on Language, Color, etc<p>I recently read a forwarded mail that makes fun of English usage of a nationality. My question is, do you treat it as racism or innocent joke? </p> <p>Will Indians be ready to take jokes on them like this? I have seen that people do not, and take offence if they are made fun of like this generalizing the nationality. </p> <p>I am not saying whether it is racism or is an innocent joke. Hope we all treat others the same way you want you to be treated. When you make fun of someone's color, poverty, language (any language) - please understand that you are not perfect yourself. If you are a person who can take open criticism, you can go on and joke, but may be there are people who cannot take the criticism same way. </p> <p>From my experience I know Indians are very sensitive about comments on them, but are very generous when they give it on to others. </p> <p>Special comment for 'protectors of Indian image': My comments are my views from what I have seen in general not on any specific incident or person. As an Indian I criticize my country and does not mean that I have to criticize other countries when I do not care about it. If you are of view that if a person loves his country he should not criticize it, then I think you are very wrong (and might be a fascist view). (When you criticize your kids does not mean that you do not love them.) </p> <p>I do care if someone make fun of Indian accent or usage of English language. My answer is English is not their mother tongue and you cannot expect them to be perfect, if they are trying to talk English with you, it is a favor because you do not speak his/her mother tongue. Same goes for people who speak Hindi when it is not their mother tongue, especially people from South India. Please understand it is a favor by the person who speaks a language other than his mother tongue (unless it is required in your work). If you think everybody should understand your language or language you speak (at least till the level you know), you are not the one to decide the level and as Obama said World has changed. Learning and speaking a language other than your mother tongue is tough for most human beings. </p> <p>As one good friend of mine said - Language is to lower boundaries not to create boundaries. </p> <p>Note: English is my second language. I try to improve my English as it is required in my job, but I do not plan to be perfect in English any time soon.</p> <p>(This specific mail I referred to had a reference to Hinglish, so it passes 'my' racism test and is considered a joke.)</p> <p>If you do not like to get my Notes/comments, I am sure you can find ways to avoid getting it from the application that you use. You can chose not to get updates from me. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-4729308643527824032009-01-24T04:52:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:14:46.237-08:00US treasury secretary blaming China for currency manipulation-- Remember Nixon<p>American treasury secretary is blaming China for manipulating the currency. I suggest that he read the presidential archives kept in Washington to understand how China is able to do that. How can a country manipulate a real currency? Who removed Gold standard in the first place? </p> <p>China does manipulate currency, America does manipulate markets and interest rates, we all do that. Who are you to define what is right and what is wrong? If there was a Gold standard, China would not have been able to manipulate, who is to blame for that?</p> <p>Again you cannot keep blaming China for your deficit problem. You should learn to live within your means. China should respond by stop buying US treasury bonds and make America officially bankrupt. America is already bankrupt. </p> <p>It is in Chinese interest that America stays on its feet so that it can pay back to China ;). </p> <p>I do not understand the reasons why a $2trillion deficit country calling itself economic power. In normal society we call such people irresponsible and cast him out of the society. Strength of America is that the alternative is much worse.</p> <p>I predict America will default soon. China, as unpredictable it is, may not buy the US treasury bonds and this will inevitably cause America to default and Dollar will crash. If you are long on Dollar, you get gambler status.</p> <p>No amount of fiscal stimulus is going to work. Confidence is at its nadir. America is just increasing its deficit and risking a total collapse of its economy. </p> <p>My comments are based on 10% data, and 90% sentiments/gut feeling. But that is the whole point, you do not need a lot of data, it all works on sentiments. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-19574634358719341322009-01-24T04:45:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:25:57.228-08:00Vatican - Youtube - Stones from the glass house<p><a title="http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=OEnO2FgbcnQ" href="http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=OEnO2FgbcnQ">http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=OEnO2FgbcnQ</a></p> <p>Vatican has started a youtube channel to give regular update on Pope's take on major problems facing the world today. </p> <p>I think he should give up some of his luxuries in Vatican to help the suffering poor. I wonder how a religious head can live in such luxury and still preach he is closest to God. May be God already heard about the saying -- Keep your enemies closer --- ;)</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-85217622692478066452009-01-24T04:07:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:14:46.237-08:00Capitalist economy and riding a Tiger<p>Living in Capitalist economy is like riding a tiger. You cannot get off from it without being eaten. </p> <p>There is too much money in the economy, bank created money, fiat currency money. (The crisis world is facing is not about less money in market, but that people do not trust each other to lend. ) Without this organized banking fraud is not ended, economy will not stabilize. </p> <p>if that money is taken out from the market, you cannot predict what will happen. There will be market crashes all over the world, industries will fail, etc. That is the right thing to do, unless you do not mind this big ponzi economic fraud that we are living in. </p> <p>What is the right thing: There should be some standard for currency, gold, silver anything that is not easy to produce. Money creation by banks should be stopped. For a start increase cash reserve ratio step by step. Interest rates should be decided by the market. </p> <p>Consequence: Economy will shrink when the money created by banks are taken out; shrink is a small word considering the ridiculous reserve ratios. Non productive industries will loose market. </p> <p>I hope we can continue riding the tiger and let another generation solve the problem or get eaten.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-3751655367161823192009-01-23T10:46:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:19:24.020-08:00Special envoys - Obama's step in the wrong direction<p>Appointment of special envoys and hawkish Clinton as Secretary of State is a bad move by Obama. World had enough of American arm-twisting diplomacy. </p> <p>Obama should think of engaging world leaders as equals. As he said in his inauguration speech, the world has changed. You will make enemies if you act like king of the world. You are definitely the most powerful man in the world, be humble. Your inauguration pomp showed the world that you are not what world expected. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-44749005222573999092009-01-22T11:10:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:19:57.247-08:00Microsoft cutting 5000 jobs<p>This from a company that sits on huge cash reserves. </p> <p>Why can't they invest people and fix windows software for once? Why can't they put more into R&D? Answer is they just do not care. I hope all those laid off can work to make Free Software better in their free time. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-73266624668993126282009-01-22T01:14:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:21:08.695-08:00Economic criminals(Satyam's Raju), China's Tainted milk scandal<p>Seems like Raju is a thief. </p> <p>With so much financial irregularities happening involving white-collared executives, how safe are the pension funds managed by companies? </p> <p>Accused, I won't call them guilty as China's justice system is not open, in the tainted milk scandal is awarded death penalty. I agree it is too harsh, but what about the economic criminals? They are still enjoying their high salaries and probably bonus and safe with a golden parachute. </p> <p>[ Pension funds managed by government agencies is fraud anyway. But most of the fraud there is because of inflation and pension funds not able to catch up with inflation without taking undue risk on the pension fund money. ]</p> <p>[ Again, my point is that this kind of growth is not sustainable. There is no way out other than to let the world economy shrink, but as much as possible with a soft landing. ]</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-47740866118725889372009-01-21T04:53:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:23:24.759-08:00Expectation from Obama<p>I expected much more from Obama. I though he will reduce the pomp in the inauguration, and give a more humane face to the presidency and American diplomacy. There should be strong steps from Obama if he wants world to believe that America is ready to change course from arm twisting the world. But I appreciate when he accepted that the world has changed and America cannot act like it did before. </p> <p>His first act of halting the Guantanamo Bay trials sends the right messages to the world. Hope this is an example to governments and agencies around the world that these kind of high-handedness does not work. America or other world governments cannot do things based on their economic or military supremacy. Same message for those Indians who wants Pakistan to be attacked and to Israel. (I too felt India should give a reply to Pakistan, but I think it will not solve the problem)</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-41596801612646588222009-01-21T04:41:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:14:46.238-08:00Alan Greenspan policies, Bailouts and Future inflation/Huge bubble<p>After the dot-com bubble, most people praised Alan Greenspan about the way he handled the economy by not letting things cool. He cut interest rates. Now everybody is blaming him for the mess that is created now. </p> <p>Why don't people learn from mistakes, why create stimulus packages and bailouts that you are going to regret later. As a layman, I do not understand how the stimulus is going to work. If it works, it will end up postponing the crisis to a later date to a bigger crisis. If economy is in a mess, you need to solve, not postpone it. </p> <p>How is America planning to solve the 2 trillion dollar deficit? Being the leading economy, if America fails, every one fails with it. </p> <p>If bailouts are not going to work, what is going to work. What can be a solution which does not cause problems for so many people? Is there a way out? </p> <p>I think pumping more money into this market is going to create a huge inflation sometime later. God knows what these wise economists have in mind to solve it. I could not find anything on how the extra money supply will be solved. How the central banks plan to suck the money from the market. Do you think they can suck it off the market?</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-78429951123479230982009-01-19T05:56:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:14:46.238-08:00ICICI best saving option for British<p>After Bank of England reduces interest rates, ICICI is the best savings option for the British. </p> <p>ICICI gives 4.65 per cent for a 12 month bond. How does this affect ICICI? Will this positively / negatively impact ICICI stock in India?</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-45300338968337643432009-01-18T02:51:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:22:39.010-08:00Slumdog Millionaire - Depiction of India in slums<p>Let me first start by telling that I am not in denial about India's poverty and problems we face, including atrocities done in slums, rich and poor contrast, riots, etc. I always thought Bollywood mainstream films always projected the ultra side of India and does not in any way reflect the real heart and soul of India. </p> <p>Slumdog millionaire made me cringe. We do have slums, we do have violence, we do have riots. But you cannot kidnap a girl from a main railway station (is it VT?) at knife/gun point, a game show host will not tease the poverty of a Slumdog, audience will not laugh along with the host if he did. These are fine in a normal film, but the director did decide to show reality in the film, so he has to conform to only reality. </p> <p>The theme of the film and cast is good. It could have been a better film, if the director's vision of India was not so 'colored'.</p> <p>It is fine for a film to show poverty in slum, begging syndicate, child prostitution, riots, rich poor contrast, etc.. We do have problems - Slums and poverty are a reality, but when you show all problems in one film and mix it in unreality, it gives an image that India is barbarian and a lawless country. Yes, we do ignore the poor and concentrate on the rich and middle class, but India is not in slums. Slums do not represent India, nor does the rich cities, tall buildings and people in suits traveling in cars. India lives in the villages, people with a beautiful heart and dark skin. You will never find these problems in India's villages.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-74125790115658721532009-01-17T11:20:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:14:46.238-08:00Million dollar question - Economic crisis and Economic stimulus<p>They say that too much credit is what got us into this mess. How would more credit get us out of it ?</p> <p>If answer is that economic stimulus will generate demand, etc, then why did economy fail when demand was so high? What is guarantee that it won't fall steeper than this time?  </p> <p>IMHO there is any way out from a deep depression and correction of asset prices. If you try to artificially prop the economy, it will lead to a much bigger crisis.</p> <p> What governments and wise economics should do is to ensure this foolishness is not allowed in the economy again. Take this opportunity to change the system, stop fiat currencies, make markets transparent and simple,  make companies more open, no more secrets. If you do not correct, people will correct it with a revolution as Marx promised. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-15492421503976010292009-01-17T02:52:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:14:46.238-08:00Crony capitalism and Indian real estate<p>Why is government helping real estate companies hold prices high and continue to fleece the customers? Hope people see the irony, My tax money is used to support the rich real estate companies so that they can charge me higher prices. Same with the way RBI is forcing or helping banks restructure the loans taken by these companies, taking a risk on depositor's money, again consumer's money.</p> <p>When asset prices have fallen around 40% around the world ( ET editorial), why it is not happening to Indian real estate? Why is government partial to an industry, unduly favoring their corrupt practices? </p> <p>Favors to one company/sector/industry is Corruption. Crony capitalism is not fair. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866333455305882725.post-1174222879421326892009-01-16T13:12:00.001-08:002009-02-01T03:14:46.238-08:00Citi - Fall of a giant -Example of executive greed<p>Problems Citi face, as I read in articles, is because of the greed shown by its executives. Making profits and pocketing huge bonuses by excessive risk taking. If this is the best capitalism can give, I think we need more regulation not less regulation. I would like to know how less regulation can regulate this greed and living to the moment attitude shown by these executives. </p> <p>The damage brought on the world by these criminals, that brought the financial industry down and along with lives of millions around the world, is higher than what Osama Laden could do to the world.</p> <p>These capitalist criminals need to be punished.</p> <p>I wonder how Citi split will affect Indian IT industry. How do I find which all Indian IT players are doing business with a company, for example Citi, and the percentage revenue coming from that client? Does IT companies publish these information to stock market?</p> <p>It is time Vikram Pandit and other Citi executives be punished. There should be some accountability for these executives for the damage they did to the financial industry by their excessive risk taking. If these executives are not punished it will lead to moral hazard.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0