Rethinking poverty

My recent introduction to Latin America via some great documentaries got me thinking about how on earth are these countries poor? They are naturally blessed and have plenty of food and land and yet considered poor. This brings us to the question who is deciding poverty and how. Higher education, technology, material goods may be deciding factors. But if these people are eating plenty of organic sea food and meat, have non polluted air, and freedom of expression even in how they dress, they are no way poor in my opinion. In fact these countries must try to hold on to these virtues as much as possible.

Restoring sanity in America

It is a common desire to restore sanity in America. People are looking for outlets for expressing this desire at rallies and tea parties. I must say that even the government wishes this. It does generate humor to make it look like it is someone's fault but serves little purpose. Let us take a look at the efforts of the new government's attempts at restoring sanity and what can make these efforts better.

1. Unemployment benefits. This is a cushion that is softening the free fall. Some people like it I do not.

2. Encouraging small business. This is good but it should reach the common man. Unemployment bureaus across the country can bring in this program that guides the common man. Yes we need small business. More farms, industries, tailoring units, shops, etc. to restore quality if not sanity.

3. Terrorism. This is where the US is not doing too good. US must get out of conflict and protect its borders. I agree to what Stewart says that a person should be called a racist if he has the resume for it. Similarly a terrorist is one who has worked hard to become one and has a resume to show.

4. International relations. Us needs to rethink its relations with Cuba and other Latin American countries. It is a win win situation if both the parties get rid off outdated attitudes. Currently America's best friends are mostly rogue nations.

Illegal immigration in the US

Illegal immigration is bad. Forged documents and driver's licenses are dangerous for any country. But it is a humane problem that can be solved only by paying attention to the root causes. The first reason is poverty in Mexico and the scale signals exploitation. Without reforming Mexico it is impractical to expect people will not want to come to the US shores by any means. The second reason is the desire for cheap labor. Once human beings learn to pay a fair price for services there will be a huge reduction in human exploitation.

Where is justice?

There is crying injustice in Iraq. All the decent minded people of the world must take steps to stop this. The breakdown of justice is an act of fundamentalists of all faiths. It is sad. Faith is good and supposed to help. But faith now is bracketed to minting money and harassing innocent people.

Freedom of thought and Arundhati Roy

Arundhati Roy has expressed opinions that do not agree with mainstream Indians. But freedom of expression is her fundamental right. Yes there are people whose opinions have created havoc in the nation. If a nation adopts the policy of freedom of expression then they must be prepared to face the aftermath.

Arundhati says that Kashmir was never a part of India. I would say both Kashmir and Pakistan are a part of India. The partition was artificial and confusing. It also resulted in a failed state namely Pakistan.

It makes no sense to arrest Arundhati Roy for expressing an opinion that might be influential. No one dares arrest Bal Thackeray for his statements just because he has a huge backing. Arundhati has no huge following who will go rioting and that is the story of most honest people. A bit of honest conversations is the need of the day and I am glad she is initiating it.

There is a lot of injustice every where and the least people can do is talk about it. A democracy cannot succeed only by electing leaders but it will succeed only if the people also participate in the decisions leaders make. Because there is not much room for people's participation many leaders make false promises during elections which they do not have to worry about until the next.

Bursting some myths

There is a claim among European Americans that as soon as they immigrated to America they became Americans. They integrated and blended well. Did they now? They did with other European Americans. Yes they do not care much that their grandfather was French and their mother was Italian but they do care that their ancestors came from Europe.
I say European Americans have more difficulty blending with Americans from other cultures than immigrants from anywhere else in the world. It is a good time to do some soul searching.

Who should get the Nobel peace prize?

I would recommend Julian Assange the founder of WikiLeaks for the Nobel Peace Prize. He is trying to restore common decency in a world that has gone mad.

Tackling the unemployment problem

There is nothing more annoying than realizing that the only action taken against unemployment is talk especially with regards to women. One point that the new government is beating to death is about educating women. A honest survey of employment bureaus across the country will bust this myth. A lot of highly educated people (not just women) are unemployed today. Education is not the problem something else is. That brings us to reflecting on people who are in charge of the employment departments today. I find them a group of air bags who think nothing about trimming an excellent resume down to nothing. Hey they have jobs and you don't and they would rather keep it that way.

What I would like to see if people must talk about tackling unemployment is a chart of an honest survey of who and where people are unemployed and the causes that lead to this state. It is illegal for people to be unemployed like it is to be uneducated.
It is a trend that goes against the survival of the species.

A fresh approach to education

India now is increasing its academic strength mainly because of problems faced by Indians going to study abroad. We must at this time think of why Indians go abroad? Perhaps the education system in India is geared for working outside India. The present education system is a continuation of the system established by the British to generate clerks for their administration. Most of the real work that are useful to India is done by the not so educated or people who could not excel in the present system. It is time that India spends tax money on education that benefits India. A lot more attention to Agriculture, art, architecture, and environment will be awesome. People who go to the few Art schools in India are highly successful. It is clearly not the case that people do not want such schools.

Miners in Chile

The trapped miners have shown the world that at the end of the day they do matter. More respect for labor is always good. Chile has been awfully decent about this event.

The common wealth games of 2010

The common wealth games has now gained major attention in India. The opening ceremony in Delhi was beautiful because it was quite original. India will shine only when it explores more and more of the good that is original within it. Australia sends a huge team for the CWG. Australia is quite vested in India. The cricket rivalry of India with Australia now has turned in to an unexpected partnership. Never know where games can lead you. We all search for the original and the different time and again. It is nice that India never disappoints.

The illegal housekeeper

Meg Whitman a contestant to become governor of California is now accused of employing an illegal housekeeper. It is a sad fact in California that if you are employing someone for labor that person might be an illegal immigrant. That this woman worked at Whitman's household for 9 years shows the integrity of the housekeeper. Seriously immigration status does not matter in the quality of services provided. It is time America stops attacking the dignity of these hardworking people and get to getting their papers in order.

Babri Masjid and the court

Though it would have reflected better on India to go to court before demolishing the Babri Masjid it is still a good thing that they are in court now discussing what to do in that area. We all do wish that governments and courts should not be dragged in to religious issues but its happening all over the world. The authenticity of whether the place was Ram Janam bhoomi lies on how old the belief is. If it is a belief that just originated in recent politics then it does not hold any ground. Typically property ownership is decided by who owns the papers. But considering hindu sentiment (not cooked up political sentiment), if this place was for thousands of years before Babar, considered Ram Janam bhoomi then muslims should be gracious enough to give room for a temple. After all Babar is just a King to everyone including muslims and Ram is god to hindus. The temple builders are in general considered trouble makers but there might be some solid facts in all the noise. Discussions will help discern the situation.