I was rooting for Chicago to win, although I had predicted it won't. I also predicted that Rio would win the 2016 bid for holding Olympics. (I am not being smarty pants here, but I had predicted it nevertheless..)
My rationale being, in the new Globalized environment, Americans don't hold the lead torch anymore. World is a different place and even if it would have been assumed that Chicago would grease the palms of IOC members to ram through and win, it could not be assumed that Madrid,Rio and Tokyo won't.
They are no paupers. They got some real money muscle too. In fact, lot would say, the opposite is true now. For what we know, Chicago could be the real pauper amongst these cities.
Anyhow the real reason Chicago did not win and had little chance is Numbers. Look at it this way. It was competing against Rio, who it can be safely assumed had all of South America voting for it (except may be Argentina). Now most of South America would generally go with the US, if Rio wasn't a part of the deal. But this was their best chance. Most flights going to Brazil, will have stops in one of those countries.(Just a simple example)
So they probably voted en bloc to Rio. Then comes Europeans. They would again have voted en bloc for Spain, barring a few nations. That leaves Asians and Africans. It became clear from question from Paki IOC dude, that the middle east and large part of Asia was not voting for Chicago. That leaves the continent of Africa. Well, assuming that Obama-Oprah duo may have influenced a bunch of African votes, that wasn't good enough.
Hence I am not wee bit surprised by the outcome. What surprised me though, is how many people actually liked the fact that Chicago din't win. Specially in my office. There were people actually rooting for Chicago not to win. And they may have a point.
Check this Link
Anyhoo... as my friend suggested, who the F knows, where we will be in 2016. Quite true. Who the f really knows.. We may be in Rio for all we know. And honestly, I would love to be there. If you have seen some pictures from Rio, you should no why.. ;)...(My wife calls me pervy pervertson for good reasons )
Bill Maher, though, put it best.."When it came to decide, the Olympic Committee thought- where would you like to spend summer vacation? A land where models invented bikini wax or the land where fat guyz invented deep dish pizza"...
Haha.. Couldn't agree more!
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Race factor
I was scanning some news channels yesterday of all hue and found Larry King..(ye, that guy who was born in ice age and wears suspenders..) discussing the 'race factor'...
I find it interesting..(stupid, actually) for people to assume that just because O is the new President, racism will vanish from America!
That's naivety. It's like saying, since the most powerful politician in India is woman , and we have a woman President and several female Chief Ministers, and Indira Gandhi ruled India for good part of 2 decades, the discrimination against Women was over...
It will take 100 Os to change this, if at all. Point being, certain discriminations like race, gender, sexual orientation have nothing to do with leader of the day. It's ingrained through decades if not more.
And racism does exist (not that I have personally experienced it yet), and I may add, in both directions (yes please..), and it has taken centuries to come to this point..lest we forget.
**
Good post in NYTimes
I find it interesting..(stupid, actually) for people to assume that just because O is the new President, racism will vanish from America!
That's naivety. It's like saying, since the most powerful politician in India is woman , and we have a woman President and several female Chief Ministers, and Indira Gandhi ruled India for good part of 2 decades, the discrimination against Women was over...
It will take 100 Os to change this, if at all. Point being, certain discriminations like race, gender, sexual orientation have nothing to do with leader of the day. It's ingrained through decades if not more.
And racism does exist (not that I have personally experienced it yet), and I may add, in both directions (yes please..), and it has taken centuries to come to this point..lest we forget.
**
Good post in NYTimes
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Good one
Obama's speech on health care tonight was good. It was measured, and my fear that he is being pushed towards extreme left by his own base was unfounded.
Which is cool. I have argued that you have to rule from center as far as possible. Some of the most popular Presidents have been centrists. Right from Kennedy to Clinton.
He found his voice tonight. He was assertive but not aggressive. He came out as the 'good guy'. Anyhow, the real trouble for Obama is not from Republicans. They are a lost cause for a few years atleast. It's really from his own base. If he can handle them smartly he is in for a long haul.
Reminds me of a famous quote I read about Winston Churchill.
Faced with hostile parliament once, the invincible Churchill stood up to deliver his speech. He said, if you want to look at my enemies, don't look on that side (pointing to the opposition benches), look behind me. They are my real enemies.
Only Churchill could have said that. O, a person of history can take a cue.
Which is cool. I have argued that you have to rule from center as far as possible. Some of the most popular Presidents have been centrists. Right from Kennedy to Clinton.
He found his voice tonight. He was assertive but not aggressive. He came out as the 'good guy'. Anyhow, the real trouble for Obama is not from Republicans. They are a lost cause for a few years atleast. It's really from his own base. If he can handle them smartly he is in for a long haul.
Reminds me of a famous quote I read about Winston Churchill.
Faced with hostile parliament once, the invincible Churchill stood up to deliver his speech. He said, if you want to look at my enemies, don't look on that side (pointing to the opposition benches), look behind me. They are my real enemies.
Only Churchill could have said that. O, a person of history can take a cue.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Exactly
Yep, this is as close as you can get to put the finger on the pulse. This commentator has done exactly that. He has spelt out what's ailing the country right now. The 'ideologues'. And mind you, on both sides. (The word 'both' is significant)
I like his second point in explanation.
America is not a monolithic society like say Sweden or Switzerland. Moreover it is huge in size and population compared to other western puny little nation-states. Most of them having at most one big metropolis to 'brag' about. It's racially and socially diverse nation. To compare it with other puny ones is apple and oranges. Can't apply a readymade template and go for cut-copy-paste.
Hence it is all the more imperative for a ruling formation to tread a centrist path so as to accommodate maximum views. (Clinton was popular for a reason. He chose to become a centrist, reconciling figure) If one administration tries to push something down a vast majority people's throat, it risks loosing the goodwill of independents (and political agnostics)
When you are driving at full speed, it's dangerous to take a sharp left (or for that matter right) turn. Omaba's 'advisers' should have known better.
[..], we tend to listen only to like-minded opinions as media fragmentation encourages us to filter out varying perspectives. If you're a liberal, you avoid FOX News. If you're a conservative you revile MSNBC. The dynamic is even more pronounced online, where a niche media source can be found for any outlook.The fringe extremes on both ends has taken over the debate thus rendering any reasonable, moderate, centrist approach, impotent.
I like his second point in explanation.
Second, our lifestyles favor knee-jerk reactions. The way we think, work and live in the Digital Age demands we quickly categorize information without investing time into rich interaction, research and understanding.Yep, perfect.
America is not a monolithic society like say Sweden or Switzerland. Moreover it is huge in size and population compared to other western puny little nation-states. Most of them having at most one big metropolis to 'brag' about. It's racially and socially diverse nation. To compare it with other puny ones is apple and oranges. Can't apply a readymade template and go for cut-copy-paste.
Hence it is all the more imperative for a ruling formation to tread a centrist path so as to accommodate maximum views. (Clinton was popular for a reason. He chose to become a centrist, reconciling figure) If one administration tries to push something down a vast majority people's throat, it risks loosing the goodwill of independents (and political agnostics)
When you are driving at full speed, it's dangerous to take a sharp left (or for that matter right) turn. Omaba's 'advisers' should have known better.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
There you go!
Wisdom prevails. USA intends to invest good in High Speed Rails. I like it.
It was about time; as I had hoped earlier.
It was about time; as I had hoped earlier.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Pittsburgh
[Warning: Long post..]
The only other place, outside India, I had ever visited before coming to USA was our friendly neighborhood Nepal. And Nepal was not really foreign, coz we clubbed that trip with Sikkim and Darjeeling.
Quite frankly Sikkim felt more 'foreign' than Nepal. At least people in Nepal understood Hindi. So much for Nepal being alien.
Quite frankly Sikkim felt more 'foreign' than Nepal. At least people in Nepal understood Hindi. So much for Nepal being alien.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was where I landed and started my professional journey in USA. Like any other Desi who first arrives here, I had little clue what to expect. The cab ride from Pittsburgh Airport to the hotel (Holiday Inn,Greentree) felt surreal. It was late evening and our African-American cabbie was listening to some random radio channel. He also had a walkie-talkie which for some reasons constantly emitted messages. We were three of us, me and my two co-workers, who were going to lodge in the hotel for a few days before we could find ourselves more regular accommodation.
The idea of our company booking us in Holiday Inn had impressed us. But once we landed at the hotel reception our temporary effervescence fizzled like a flat soda bottle. Signs of human existence seemed far fetched. It was also scarily silent. It was around 10:30 pm alright, 'but still', we thought. No "salute" wala doorman, no one to pick our luggage, no one at the 'reception' to receive and to register. The contrast with Holiday Inn, Pune was telling to say the least.
It hit me that we had finally arrived in a country where any kind of service will be at a premium. All three of us looked at each other with complete zero-ness and vacuum; something usually associated with a long travel or, say a, tough Viva question.
After waiting for about 10 minutes at the reception counter, a grumpy looking fatso appeared on the scene. She registered us without a smile or small talk and showed us our way. No "welcomes" or anything. (Our desi blood expected that on our first day in America for some reason). It was plain. We went into our respective rooms without talking and walked silently towards it. Thankfully the rooms were in a much better shape than the fatso at reception.
My company had given all of us a list of "Dos and Don'ts" for the client office visit next day, where we were expected to work on a seemingly long project. It had some random draft about American work culture and how Desis should behave and more importantly *not* behave etc. This must be some CMM level 5 shit my company usually had up it's sleeves, I thought to myself during the 'orientation' routine.
(It's a little weird that a few years down the line I got another similar "Dos and Don'ts" list, but only this time from my current company, which is American. It was for my first official visit to India. The classic role reversal. This time I was the Client visiting our offshore Vendor)
Inside the room, I took out some thalipeeths from my bag and ate some of them, thinking it was morning breakfast time in India. I tried to channel surf my way through boredom but it was futile. The overall SILENCE of the entire premise was killing me.
Next day morning we went to have breakfast. It was plain-jane again. Waffles,Bagles, Bread etc. Man, I had already started missing kande pohe, idli sambar, khuchkara. The plain-jane-ness of this whole place was just sinking in. Yet we were all prepared to face our clients in downtown. We had formal attire with laptop bags. Holiday Inn had a free downtown drop off shuttle and that was a relief, because the notion of ordering a cab was alien to us. In India it would have been simple - just yell for a rickshaw and hop into it.
The address was xxx, Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh. I told the shuttle driver we have to go to Duquesne street. I pronounced it - Dukuznee. It was supposed to be more like - Dukane - where 's' was silent. He had a smirk and a smile when he understood what I wanted to say.
I found my self in an embarrassing dialect situation with my pronunciation of a Noun even as my colleagues enjoyed a vicarious laugh at my expense. My first lessons in American-English had officially begun.
The ride from Greentree to Downtown Pittsburgh was impressive. That city has a very Ooty kind of feeling. Hilly terrain, topsy-turvy roads and tall pine trees. There was minimal honking of cars or not at all. I also saw a series of bridges around downtown. Finally we reached our office right on the river boulevard. This was Fort Duquesne. The office building was imposing even as we waited for someone to fetch us at the office reception.
The dude from the client end who was co-ordinating our stay was Gerald. Gerald had few idiosyncrasies that are hard to describe. He had a way about him. He introduced us to all other team members and let us settle in our respective cubicles.
After a while he came back and asked us out for team lunch. Since it was our first day, it would be a good start to know each other over lunch, he thought. Not a bad idea, I thought.
All three of us made a presumption that the lunch will be on the house or on the client actually.
As it turned out, it was not. It was a soldier payment system. We were now like a deer on the headlights. Almost stranded. We looked at each other again clueless ly as others started chipping in cash on the bill book after the lunch was over. (It was called 'check' here in USA, something I remembered from that "Dos" List).
It was our first day in this country. We had yet to open bank accounts so there was no Debit card. We din't have any credit history so there was no Credit Card. We had lot of traveler checks, if the restaurant was ok with it. But I don't think they'd take. Finally we chipped in cash, which our company had provided before leaving for US.
I got my first lesson in American office culture. Always expect soldier or dutch payment. "Atithi devo bhava" is not valid here. And I don't know why it should be valid anywhere.
It feels like it has been a while since I first landed here and much water has flown through Allegheny and Ohio river. I have been living in Chicago for last few years. Have got pretty well acquainted my self with American culture, both work and social. At least I think I have. My current company is native and is as cool as it gets. Non-fussy and Non-bureaucratic. Over the years I have not been able to keep in touch with those 2 dudes I came with. I last visited Pittsburgh in 2004. Last year I did pass through it but did not go inside the city. (I don't know why;I think I should have).
Pittsburgh was not as big as Chicago for sure, but had a neat little downtown. The Heinz field would be filled with yellow T-Shirts every Steelers game and from the distant bridge that was on my bus route the field would look like a big bowl filled with yellow custard.
There were countless number of bridges going into downtown; and I think Pittsburgh used to be called "City of Bridges" if not "City of Steel". It is special in the sense that it was my first city in an alien land. That's where I started this so far short journey and learnt whatever positives and negatives about this nation. As I connect my dots backwards, I can't help but mention Pittsburgh as an important station where I halted for a brief period whilst I discovered more of my own - America.
The idea of our company booking us in Holiday Inn had impressed us. But once we landed at the hotel reception our temporary effervescence fizzled like a flat soda bottle. Signs of human existence seemed far fetched. It was also scarily silent. It was around 10:30 pm alright, 'but still', we thought. No "salute" wala doorman, no one to pick our luggage, no one at the 'reception' to receive and to register. The contrast with Holiday Inn, Pune was telling to say the least.
It hit me that we had finally arrived in a country where any kind of service will be at a premium. All three of us looked at each other with complete zero-ness and vacuum; something usually associated with a long travel or, say a, tough Viva question.
After waiting for about 10 minutes at the reception counter, a grumpy looking fatso appeared on the scene. She registered us without a smile or small talk and showed us our way. No "welcomes" or anything. (Our desi blood expected that on our first day in America for some reason). It was plain. We went into our respective rooms without talking and walked silently towards it. Thankfully the rooms were in a much better shape than the fatso at reception.
My company had given all of us a list of "Dos and Don'ts" for the client office visit next day, where we were expected to work on a seemingly long project. It had some random draft about American work culture and how Desis should behave and more importantly *not* behave etc. This must be some CMM level 5 shit my company usually had up it's sleeves, I thought to myself during the 'orientation' routine.
(It's a little weird that a few years down the line I got another similar "Dos and Don'ts" list, but only this time from my current company, which is American. It was for my first official visit to India. The classic role reversal. This time I was the Client visiting our offshore Vendor)
Inside the room, I took out some thalipeeths from my bag and ate some of them, thinking it was morning breakfast time in India. I tried to channel surf my way through boredom but it was futile. The overall SILENCE of the entire premise was killing me.
Next day morning we went to have breakfast. It was plain-jane again. Waffles,Bagles, Bread etc. Man, I had already started missing kande pohe, idli sambar, khuchkara. The plain-jane-ness of this whole place was just sinking in. Yet we were all prepared to face our clients in downtown. We had formal attire with laptop bags. Holiday Inn had a free downtown drop off shuttle and that was a relief, because the notion of ordering a cab was alien to us. In India it would have been simple - just yell for a rickshaw and hop into it.
The address was xxx, Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh. I told the shuttle driver we have to go to Duquesne street. I pronounced it - Dukuznee. It was supposed to be more like - Dukane - where 's' was silent. He had a smirk and a smile when he understood what I wanted to say.
I found my self in an embarrassing dialect situation with my pronunciation of a Noun even as my colleagues enjoyed a vicarious laugh at my expense. My first lessons in American-English had officially begun.
The ride from Greentree to Downtown Pittsburgh was impressive. That city has a very Ooty kind of feeling. Hilly terrain, topsy-turvy roads and tall pine trees. There was minimal honking of cars or not at all. I also saw a series of bridges around downtown. Finally we reached our office right on the river boulevard. This was Fort Duquesne. The office building was imposing even as we waited for someone to fetch us at the office reception.
The dude from the client end who was co-ordinating our stay was Gerald. Gerald had few idiosyncrasies that are hard to describe. He had a way about him. He introduced us to all other team members and let us settle in our respective cubicles.
After a while he came back and asked us out for team lunch. Since it was our first day, it would be a good start to know each other over lunch, he thought. Not a bad idea, I thought.
All three of us made a presumption that the lunch will be on the house or on the client actually.
As it turned out, it was not. It was a soldier payment system. We were now like a deer on the headlights. Almost stranded. We looked at each other again clueless ly as others started chipping in cash on the bill book after the lunch was over. (It was called 'check' here in USA, something I remembered from that "Dos" List).
It was our first day in this country. We had yet to open bank accounts so there was no Debit card. We din't have any credit history so there was no Credit Card. We had lot of traveler checks, if the restaurant was ok with it. But I don't think they'd take. Finally we chipped in cash, which our company had provided before leaving for US.
I got my first lesson in American office culture. Always expect soldier or dutch payment. "Atithi devo bhava" is not valid here. And I don't know why it should be valid anywhere.
It feels like it has been a while since I first landed here and much water has flown through Allegheny and Ohio river. I have been living in Chicago for last few years. Have got pretty well acquainted my self with American culture, both work and social. At least I think I have. My current company is native and is as cool as it gets. Non-fussy and Non-bureaucratic. Over the years I have not been able to keep in touch with those 2 dudes I came with. I last visited Pittsburgh in 2004. Last year I did pass through it but did not go inside the city. (I don't know why;I think I should have).
Pittsburgh was not as big as Chicago for sure, but had a neat little downtown. The Heinz field would be filled with yellow T-Shirts every Steelers game and from the distant bridge that was on my bus route the field would look like a big bowl filled with yellow custard.
There were countless number of bridges going into downtown; and I think Pittsburgh used to be called "City of Bridges" if not "City of Steel". It is special in the sense that it was my first city in an alien land. That's where I started this so far short journey and learnt whatever positives and negatives about this nation. As I connect my dots backwards, I can't help but mention Pittsburgh as an important station where I halted for a brief period whilst I discovered more of my own - America.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Damp Squib!
What a pathetic response from Bobby Jindal yesterday. I mean come on.... People!
Here's a President, fresh from a massive win (his body language is showing), who's oratory was never in question, and one who makes an awesome speech. And then your response? A little boy called - Bobby!!
I mean Obama can carry Bobby in his pocket and no one would notice. OK, and by the by, Jindal needs a few things to get going. How about a speech writer for a start. We can work on making him look more 'presidential' in next 20 years or so. (Won't be easy though, given his performance yesterday)
I mean what a sorry reply to another remarkable speech by O. (I could see Nancy Pelosi getting orgasms sitting behind; At least it was refreshing to see her smile for a change)
I mean if Republicans think, that Jindal is the best they have got against a formidable guy like Obama; good luck to them really.
As Anderson Cooper of CNN said ... "Sarah Palin had a great night". U bet. Could not have said better.
Here's a President, fresh from a massive win (his body language is showing), who's oratory was never in question, and one who makes an awesome speech. And then your response? A little boy called - Bobby!!
I mean Obama can carry Bobby in his pocket and no one would notice. OK, and by the by, Jindal needs a few things to get going. How about a speech writer for a start. We can work on making him look more 'presidential' in next 20 years or so. (Won't be easy though, given his performance yesterday)
I mean what a sorry reply to another remarkable speech by O. (I could see Nancy Pelosi getting orgasms sitting behind; At least it was refreshing to see her smile for a change)
I mean if Republicans think, that Jindal is the best they have got against a formidable guy like Obama; good luck to them really.
As Anderson Cooper of CNN said ... "Sarah Palin had a great night". U bet. Could not have said better.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Whats with him?
I had made a deal with myself of not writing about Obama (or news related to him) for a while because my wife made me realize that I have been rambling about Obama for long time in last one year or so. I needed an Obama-break. But looks like the world around me won't allow that to happen and I will need to dis-honor that self contract ...
So now this Chomsky guy; looks like he has some issues with O and his policies too.
Noam Chomsky, by the way, was one the leading lights of hate-Bush campaign for last 8 years and his quotes, thoughts and opinion were liberally (pun intended) quoted in blogosphere. He can be quite a polarizing figure.
And that is why I got a little surprised when he had to say this about Obama : "I think Obama looks more aggressive and violent than Bush."
... ugh!!
So now this Chomsky guy; looks like he has some issues with O and his policies too.
Noam Chomsky, by the way, was one the leading lights of hate-Bush campaign for last 8 years and his quotes, thoughts and opinion were liberally (pun intended) quoted in blogosphere. He can be quite a polarizing figure.
And that is why I got a little surprised when he had to say this about Obama : "I think Obama looks more aggressive and violent than Bush."
... ugh!!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Freeze it!
Picture courtesy : CNN.com
Such moments don't come everyday or even every century. Freeze it! Freeze it because this picture symbolizes humanity's progress itself. This picture embodies empowerment, smooth transfer of power and Power itself.
Salut to Choice. Salut to Judgement.Salut to Democracy.Salut to you - U S A
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Mr. President
To Dear Mr. Obama.
Sir,
As you inherit a much maligned and tarnished legacy on 20th Jan 2009, I understand you have a daunting task ahead. The biggest challenge for you is restoring confidence of this nation and that of the 'average Joe' - the guy who's name was liberally used and milked during the campaign preceding your historic election to the highest office.
As a non-citizen and super-average Joe though, I have some simple suggestions to make. I am sorry, but I am taking this liberty to give you suggestions. You, who has been elevated to a Demi-God status and almost have become a messiah of sorts (at least in some circles). Although I find this idol-worshiping of yours a little too much to digest, I understand that there's an extraordinary thirst for change in your country. And you Sir, somehow offer that mirage of hope to a lot of folks. They believe (and unfortunately for you) that you have some magic wand to undo all mess.
As you try not to get too overwhelmed with this huge hollywood type hype and expectations and try to be grounded and deal with 'real' things, here are a few simple things you might want to consider. Again you are a super-hero, so you may as well ignore them. But anyways..
1. Please make your term a term of Common Sense Presidency. Keep it simple. In fact on day one, declare loudly and clearly - I am a Common Sense President. What this will do is release some of the air from the over hyped balloon. When you talk 'common sense' and remove hyper oratory and big talk, people 'get it'. They understand it's not easy. Please help lower some of the expectations. It will help you the most. Now since you have won the elections, the long, rousing, oratory speeches that you and me are habituated to can be freezed into your Oval office lockers for next four years. You'll need that spin again. But not now. I know you know what I mean.
2. Declare your presidency - a Common Sense Presidency - and actually use common sense. Something the last guy did not.
I am not an Economist or an Ivy League r by any stretch of imagination but yet as a simple working professional of this great nation I can "see" things around me. I can understand the basics and think we have some common sense solutions.
For example, the 'mass transit' system in your country is a mess. What if you used a fraction of that huge bail out for Wall Street to kick start a huge infrastructure initiative in partnership with private companies. Something that FDR did. Imagine a 'Bullet Train' between Chicago and DC or a Bullet Train between NYC and DC or SFO and San Diego. Think of the kind of Economic stimulus this would mean. All ancillary industries, such as steel, cement and technology would go bonkers. Not to mention great employment generation apart from the fact that this would be cleaner for environment. I know special interest groups and Detroit won't like it. But that's precisely the point. You have to act on your words, no?
You know the Airline Industry messed up because there was no competition from any other sector to it. They became greedy at some point, over-extended themselves and whoosh... lost it. If people of this country had an alternative choice in form of great railways, a robust choice which was cheaper than driving own car and better than using Greyhound, the Airline industry would have also been on their toes managing themselves well. Remember the middle class is the driving engine of the economy. You are missing the game if one the the latent needs of middle class in this country, an efficient alternative mass transit, is not available.
Think!
3. The second thing you can use common sense is on Immigration laws. Imagine what kind of revenue would have been generated if all the 12 million+ illegal Mexicans were appropriately taxed. Now those poor guys are hiding and earning with fear and not paying taxes yet using all resources. Instead they can live without fear, pay taxes and live a better life. You can start a program for those people to come forward, register their names and make sure they are assimilated in the society with respect. But they should also be made aware that there are no free lunches here. They have an obligation too. I am sure at least 90% will come forward and help the economy. You can also simplify laws for legal migrants and actually convert this into a revenue generating law. There are still millions and millions of people around the world who line up to your consulates. You can milk this cow like anything. Imagine a revenue generating fast track. I am sure you got the drift.
4. Sir, you have an overwhelming good will not only across the nation but around the world. You have a golden chance to leverage this good will into far more greater achievements. You should ideally declare the most harsh steps in your first year of office or as they call the 'honeymoon' period of your tenure. This is the time when hard pills can be swallowed as your support base is still dizzy with your win. Once things settle and they start analyzing you and your presidency, that's where water starts getting muddy. You have a clean slate. Make tough choices right away. You will get away now. Else never.
Thats it from me, the super-average-Joe of a developing nation, working here in your country.
Just one more thing. In school we used to be given tests to write essay on a topic called - "If I was the President of the Country" and all of us would write a wish list making pompous claims. You don't have that liberty of wish list or to be pompous. But Sir, you can write a great essay for this nation.
All the best!
Sincerely,
Joe
Sir,
As you inherit a much maligned and tarnished legacy on 20th Jan 2009, I understand you have a daunting task ahead. The biggest challenge for you is restoring confidence of this nation and that of the 'average Joe' - the guy who's name was liberally used and milked during the campaign preceding your historic election to the highest office.
As a non-citizen and super-average Joe though, I have some simple suggestions to make. I am sorry, but I am taking this liberty to give you suggestions. You, who has been elevated to a Demi-God status and almost have become a messiah of sorts (at least in some circles). Although I find this idol-worshiping of yours a little too much to digest, I understand that there's an extraordinary thirst for change in your country. And you Sir, somehow offer that mirage of hope to a lot of folks. They believe (and unfortunately for you) that you have some magic wand to undo all mess.
As you try not to get too overwhelmed with this huge hollywood type hype and expectations and try to be grounded and deal with 'real' things, here are a few simple things you might want to consider. Again you are a super-hero, so you may as well ignore them. But anyways..
1. Please make your term a term of Common Sense Presidency. Keep it simple. In fact on day one, declare loudly and clearly - I am a Common Sense President. What this will do is release some of the air from the over hyped balloon. When you talk 'common sense' and remove hyper oratory and big talk, people 'get it'. They understand it's not easy. Please help lower some of the expectations. It will help you the most. Now since you have won the elections, the long, rousing, oratory speeches that you and me are habituated to can be freezed into your Oval office lockers for next four years. You'll need that spin again. But not now. I know you know what I mean.
2. Declare your presidency - a Common Sense Presidency - and actually use common sense. Something the last guy did not.
I am not an Economist or an Ivy League r by any stretch of imagination but yet as a simple working professional of this great nation I can "see" things around me. I can understand the basics and think we have some common sense solutions.
For example, the 'mass transit' system in your country is a mess. What if you used a fraction of that huge bail out for Wall Street to kick start a huge infrastructure initiative in partnership with private companies. Something that FDR did. Imagine a 'Bullet Train' between Chicago and DC or a Bullet Train between NYC and DC or SFO and San Diego. Think of the kind of Economic stimulus this would mean. All ancillary industries, such as steel, cement and technology would go bonkers. Not to mention great employment generation apart from the fact that this would be cleaner for environment. I know special interest groups and Detroit won't like it. But that's precisely the point. You have to act on your words, no?
You know the Airline Industry messed up because there was no competition from any other sector to it. They became greedy at some point, over-extended themselves and whoosh... lost it. If people of this country had an alternative choice in form of great railways, a robust choice which was cheaper than driving own car and better than using Greyhound, the Airline industry would have also been on their toes managing themselves well. Remember the middle class is the driving engine of the economy. You are missing the game if one the the latent needs of middle class in this country, an efficient alternative mass transit, is not available.
Think!
3. The second thing you can use common sense is on Immigration laws. Imagine what kind of revenue would have been generated if all the 12 million+ illegal Mexicans were appropriately taxed. Now those poor guys are hiding and earning with fear and not paying taxes yet using all resources. Instead they can live without fear, pay taxes and live a better life. You can start a program for those people to come forward, register their names and make sure they are assimilated in the society with respect. But they should also be made aware that there are no free lunches here. They have an obligation too. I am sure at least 90% will come forward and help the economy. You can also simplify laws for legal migrants and actually convert this into a revenue generating law. There are still millions and millions of people around the world who line up to your consulates. You can milk this cow like anything. Imagine a revenue generating fast track. I am sure you got the drift.
4. Sir, you have an overwhelming good will not only across the nation but around the world. You have a golden chance to leverage this good will into far more greater achievements. You should ideally declare the most harsh steps in your first year of office or as they call the 'honeymoon' period of your tenure. This is the time when hard pills can be swallowed as your support base is still dizzy with your win. Once things settle and they start analyzing you and your presidency, that's where water starts getting muddy. You have a clean slate. Make tough choices right away. You will get away now. Else never.
Thats it from me, the super-average-Joe of a developing nation, working here in your country.
Just one more thing. In school we used to be given tests to write essay on a topic called - "If I was the President of the Country" and all of us would write a wish list making pompous claims. You don't have that liberty of wish list or to be pompous. But Sir, you can write a great essay for this nation.
All the best!
Sincerely,
Joe
Saturday, November 22, 2008
A phenomenon called 'O'
Long before Obama was Chicago's most famous 'O' there was the other O, the real O - Oprah. The O that has ruled pop-culture-America like no one before her, for about a quarter of a century now.
They say Oprah Gail Winfrey has more credibility than the President of the country. She has been consistently ranked most powerful women time and again and is beyond doubt, not just a media icon. She is beyond icon. She is an Institution by her self.
What makes O tick? I once put this question to my cousin sister who lived in Chicago for 15 years. 'What is the big deal with her?' I asked. Of course my cousin, a suburban 'soccer mom' herself, was Oprah's prime demography, the perfect target audience if you will. I assumed, she would know better. And she did. Her answer was simple - "She chooses the 'right' topics and good topics'.
I wonder what are those topics that can be so devastatingly popular. I haven't seen any of her shows till date. I mean a complete 1 hr (I am assuming it is hour long at least) show. I have seen glimpses of the re runs in passing, but haven't sat through an entire show. I guess I am more of a Jay Leno kinds - quick, fast consumption audience. But again, O's success is fascinating for me nevertheless. She surely is not only talking women on her shows. Or to women. I have a feeling her reach is beyond the fairer sex. Else you can't hit it such big.
I think the reason she ticks is because she's REAL. That is the only way you can explain this phenomenon called Oprah. FAKE will last only so far. But REAL will last much much longer. Her durability is testimony to that fact.
Again, it is hard for me to gloss over the fact that a poor Black girl, born to abject poverty, sexually abused in her teenage can reach such enormous heights in her career. Again salute to you - US of A. Yo gotta somethin goin far ya. For sure. If you got talent, you can go places in this nation. Thanks, USA, for not suffocating the rise of this immensely talented individual, who was lucky not have been born in a Venezuela, or a China or Europe.
O is the richest African American in the world. And every bit of her success is well deserved.
"I mean this is a woman that came from nothing to rise up to be the most powerful woman, I think, in the world. I think Oprah Winfrey is the most powerful woman in the world, not just in America. That's — anybody who goes on her program immediately benefits through the roof. I mean, she has a loyal following; she has credibility; she has talent; and she's done it on her own to become fabulously wealthy and fabulously powerful"
These words were not spoken by a NY-Times journalist or a media mogul or some random politician but by - hold your breath - Bill O'Reilly. For some, this dude is the very anti-thesis of Oprah herself. And if O can bring out such massive praise from a guy who stands almost at the opposite end of her spectrum, you know she has DONE IT.
You Rock 'O', you do.. and this coming from a guy, who probably does not understand women or her issues like AT ALL.
They say Oprah Gail Winfrey has more credibility than the President of the country. She has been consistently ranked most powerful women time and again and is beyond doubt, not just a media icon. She is beyond icon. She is an Institution by her self.
What makes O tick? I once put this question to my cousin sister who lived in Chicago for 15 years. 'What is the big deal with her?' I asked. Of course my cousin, a suburban 'soccer mom' herself, was Oprah's prime demography, the perfect target audience if you will. I assumed, she would know better. And she did. Her answer was simple - "She chooses the 'right' topics and good topics'.
I wonder what are those topics that can be so devastatingly popular. I haven't seen any of her shows till date. I mean a complete 1 hr (I am assuming it is hour long at least) show. I have seen glimpses of the re runs in passing, but haven't sat through an entire show. I guess I am more of a Jay Leno kinds - quick, fast consumption audience. But again, O's success is fascinating for me nevertheless. She surely is not only talking women on her shows. Or to women. I have a feeling her reach is beyond the fairer sex. Else you can't hit it such big.
I think the reason she ticks is because she's REAL. That is the only way you can explain this phenomenon called Oprah. FAKE will last only so far. But REAL will last much much longer. Her durability is testimony to that fact.
Again, it is hard for me to gloss over the fact that a poor Black girl, born to abject poverty, sexually abused in her teenage can reach such enormous heights in her career. Again salute to you - US of A. Yo gotta somethin goin far ya. For sure. If you got talent, you can go places in this nation. Thanks, USA, for not suffocating the rise of this immensely talented individual, who was lucky not have been born in a Venezuela, or a China or Europe.
O is the richest African American in the world. And every bit of her success is well deserved.
"I mean this is a woman that came from nothing to rise up to be the most powerful woman, I think, in the world. I think Oprah Winfrey is the most powerful woman in the world, not just in America. That's — anybody who goes on her program immediately benefits through the roof. I mean, she has a loyal following; she has credibility; she has talent; and she's done it on her own to become fabulously wealthy and fabulously powerful"
These words were not spoken by a NY-Times journalist or a media mogul or some random politician but by - hold your breath - Bill O'Reilly. For some, this dude is the very anti-thesis of Oprah herself. And if O can bring out such massive praise from a guy who stands almost at the opposite end of her spectrum, you know she has DONE IT.
You Rock 'O', you do.. and this coming from a guy, who probably does not understand women or her issues like AT ALL.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Education System of Yankees
Few years back, a co-worker friend of mine made a very interesting comment - "We have to hire people from India to make software because we Americans don't find I.T jobs very sexy".
The words 'job' and 'sexy' in same breath was striking for me. I always thought a profession like say Advertisement was a sexy job or I don't know.. movies may be. But I.T? Why would Americans want even their regular jobs to be sexy. Never mind.
In other words, either the I.T job is too geeky or not macho enough for young white kids to pursue.I told him, we Indians don't care really, whether our jobs are sexy or not. We "just do IT", Nike style. We Indians are like herds. If 5 of our friends are going in IT, we will follow. We are very communal and social. We like to travel in groups, notwithstanding the "Ekla chalo ray" theme. Then it does not matter what branch or field we come from. Mechanical,Electrical,Civil,Fisheries... doesn't matter. I.T - it is.
Actually even before we are born, our parents have decided in their minds what their sons and daughters are going to be. And they ensure to push their choices down our throats from day 1. But we can't blame them. Given the socio-economic conditions, they choose the "safest" route.
Today's article by Nicholas D Kristof is spot on.
"So let’s break for a quiz: Quick, what’s the source of America’s greatness?
Key words here? Yes - "has foundered over the last few decades".
Every year India's heavily subsidized education system produces a huge talent pool. A good %age of that talent pool migrates to USA because the "native talent pool" finds certain jobs non-sexy. This an amazing demand-supply paradigm. But how do we look at it? Is it America's loss and India's gain? How is it India's gain if a good %age of skill is 'brain-draining' it's own economy?
According to an estimate, Govt of India (GOI) spends about 100,000 $ via subsidies etc for a decent Engineer in India. If that Engineer happens to move to USA, and becomes productive here and creates wealth in a way, isn't that like GOI gifting USA 100 grands for free?
100,000 Indian students in USA
BUT, here's a good counter to that. Say, the Engineer X comes back to India after 10 years and starts an enterprise that creates amongst other things wealth and employment. Isn't X transferring the knowledge back to India? And 10 times more? This interesting phenomenon of shared brain-drain has compelling arguments on both sides and I don't want to get into it.
Kristof's point is American Education is decaying and needs a reinforcement of ideas . He is clearly concerned about his own country's future and rightly so. By same token we should be concerned too. I think we in India have a retrograde policy towards our education system. We need to "de-centralize" it smartly to leverage our immense talent pool for our own good. The socialist mind set of monopolizing everything including Education has proven costly. The smart thing to do is not for us to remove education subsidies but optimize it's vast advantage for our own good first. We need many Kristof's to tell this loudly to our leaders who's panacea for all problems is one word - RESERVATION.
It is important that we make sure the rich people in India, who can afford, are not subsidized. I made a simple case before. I pointed out that Indians spend 500 crore per year on educating their sons and daughters in USA. This means we "give" USA 500 crore per year to educate our kids. In a way we are 'outsourcing' our Education needs to USA. The smart thing to do was to actually keep that money back home and educate 10 times more kids in same amount of money. There is an extremely high demand for education in India. I mean people are willing to spend like crazy. Now if the GOI was smart enough, it would have sensed a perfect economic opportunity here and not allow the cash flight to USA. But alas, for every Arun Shourie we have ten Arjun Singhs. And I think that is an explanation in itself.
**********
Post Script: Reservation is an emotional subject. I am all for "affirmative action" for economically weaker sections. But I vehemently oppose cast-based reservation. Because with caste-based system even a stinking rich person like a Lalu or a Mulayam can get his / her daughter to IIT.
The words 'job' and 'sexy' in same breath was striking for me. I always thought a profession like say Advertisement was a sexy job or I don't know.. movies may be. But I.T? Why would Americans want even their regular jobs to be sexy. Never mind.
In other words, either the I.T job is too geeky or not macho enough for young white kids to pursue.I told him, we Indians don't care really, whether our jobs are sexy or not. We "just do IT", Nike style. We Indians are like herds. If 5 of our friends are going in IT, we will follow. We are very communal and social. We like to travel in groups, notwithstanding the "Ekla chalo ray" theme. Then it does not matter what branch or field we come from. Mechanical,Electrical,Civil,Fisheries... doesn't matter. I.T - it is.
Actually even before we are born, our parents have decided in their minds what their sons and daughters are going to be. And they ensure to push their choices down our throats from day 1. But we can't blame them. Given the socio-economic conditions, they choose the "safest" route.
Today's article by Nicholas D Kristof is spot on.
"So let’s break for a quiz: Quick, what’s the source of America’s greatness?
Is it a tradition of market-friendly capitalism? The diligence of its people? The cornucopia of natural resources? Great presidents?
No, a fair amount of evidence suggests that the crucial factor is our school system — which, for most of our history, was the best in the world but has foundered over the last few decades."Key words here? Yes - "has foundered over the last few decades".
Every year India's heavily subsidized education system produces a huge talent pool. A good %age of that talent pool migrates to USA because the "native talent pool" finds certain jobs non-sexy. This an amazing demand-supply paradigm. But how do we look at it? Is it America's loss and India's gain? How is it India's gain if a good %age of skill is 'brain-draining' it's own economy?
According to an estimate, Govt of India (GOI) spends about 100,000 $ via subsidies etc for a decent Engineer in India. If that Engineer happens to move to USA, and becomes productive here and creates wealth in a way, isn't that like GOI gifting USA 100 grands for free?
100,000 Indian students in USA
BUT, here's a good counter to that. Say, the Engineer X comes back to India after 10 years and starts an enterprise that creates amongst other things wealth and employment. Isn't X transferring the knowledge back to India? And 10 times more? This interesting phenomenon of shared brain-drain has compelling arguments on both sides and I don't want to get into it.
Kristof's point is American Education is decaying and needs a reinforcement of ideas . He is clearly concerned about his own country's future and rightly so. By same token we should be concerned too. I think we in India have a retrograde policy towards our education system. We need to "de-centralize" it smartly to leverage our immense talent pool for our own good. The socialist mind set of monopolizing everything including Education has proven costly. The smart thing to do is not for us to remove education subsidies but optimize it's vast advantage for our own good first. We need many Kristof's to tell this loudly to our leaders who's panacea for all problems is one word - RESERVATION.
It is important that we make sure the rich people in India, who can afford, are not subsidized. I made a simple case before. I pointed out that Indians spend 500 crore per year on educating their sons and daughters in USA. This means we "give" USA 500 crore per year to educate our kids. In a way we are 'outsourcing' our Education needs to USA. The smart thing to do was to actually keep that money back home and educate 10 times more kids in same amount of money. There is an extremely high demand for education in India. I mean people are willing to spend like crazy. Now if the GOI was smart enough, it would have sensed a perfect economic opportunity here and not allow the cash flight to USA. But alas, for every Arun Shourie we have ten Arjun Singhs. And I think that is an explanation in itself.
**********
Post Script: Reservation is an emotional subject. I am all for "affirmative action" for economically weaker sections. But I vehemently oppose cast-based reservation. Because with caste-based system even a stinking rich person like a Lalu or a Mulayam can get his / her daughter to IIT.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Singularly Brilliant
The word brilliant cannot even begin to do justice to this.. "President Bush, because he was so easily demonized, made being a free-rider on American power easy for everyone — and Americans paid the price. Obama will not make it so easy."
Friedman, the dude... doesn't stop at that, does he?
"If you want Obama to succeed, though, don’t just show us the love, show us the money. Show us the troops. Show us the diplomatic effort. Show us the economic partnership. Show us something more than a fresh smile. Because freedom is not free and your excuse for doing less than you could is leaving town in January." {clap,clap,clap...}
I wish he would have added one more line - "Just coz Obama is President, Angels are not going to rule this world". I know he wants to say this but holding it back. He seems to have said this in as many words or more...
Friedman, the dude... doesn't stop at that, does he?
"If you want Obama to succeed, though, don’t just show us the love, show us the money. Show us the troops. Show us the diplomatic effort. Show us the economic partnership. Show us something more than a fresh smile. Because freedom is not free and your excuse for doing less than you could is leaving town in January." {clap,clap,clap...}
I wish he would have added one more line - "Just coz Obama is President, Angels are not going to rule this world". I know he wants to say this but holding it back. He seems to have said this in as many words or more...
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
!!!
Tomorrow morning Chicago will wake up to it's biggest news ever, that is, if it sleeps at all tonight. Chicago's favorite boy, Barak Hussein Obama(BO) will have been declared USA's 44th President.
If I was Obama tonight, I would thank at least 2 Republicans. One, of course, Abraham Lincoln, the guy who laid grounds for a humane road to end slavery and two,George.W.Bush, who screwed up so bad, he helped create the biggest media movement ever against any incumbent President till date.
It would have been insane to even think just 7 years after 9/11 struck USA, that a Black man who's middle name would be Hussein would lead America someday. But that is America for you. More action, less blabber. Did you get it France? Don't just lecture others, make "affirmative action" work. This fairy tale journey of a son born to a Kenyan immigrant to become most powerful man in the world, could have possibly been scripted only in America.
From Martin Luther King to Mohammad Ali to Colin Powell to Condoleezza Rice to Barak Obama, it is only America that has given voice, platform and avenues to achieve greater and greater heights for these minority leaders. (I can't for my life think an equally important personality in entire Europe, the so called "Liberal" Mecca)
Obama Obama
The pictures coming out of Grant Park, Chicago are nothing short of spectacular. These pictures are saying loudly and clearly -Take that, World. Stop lecturing us. Set your own house in order if you have balls.
Obama has beaten an honorable man. And he beat him fair and square. Let us not take away anything from his well oiled and well managed campaign. This is a massive massive win for Democrats, who never forgot the "stolen election" of 2000. They have never forgiven Republicans for that. Today's massive win can only be sweet vindication of 8 years of relentless campaign.
This is clearly a watershed movement in America's life. A sustained campaign against Bush has finally come to it's fruitation. Obama was an idea who's time had come. And nothing explains it better than a huge, a huge surge in young voters coming out in unprecedented numbers. Obama had captured nation's imagination and more importantly tapped it's emotion. I have not seen what it was like to be in Reagan's America or Kennedy's America, but I can't imagine it being as electrifying as today.
If I was a numerologist, I would have looked at these figures. BO was born on *4th* of August, he assumed his first office as a senator on *4th* of January and he won the Presidential elections on *4th* of November, even as he is declared the *44th* President of USA. Interesting coincidence of number 4.
But beyond a doubt this is Obama's calling; this *is* America's calling.
What would the post-Election Obama look like? Will he move this country more towards Left with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid? Or will he take the Bill Clinton centrist path. More importantly how would this icy cool head, deal with enormous load of expectations. How will he deal with unpopular decisions? I am not sure. All I know for now is that, he is a smart guy with a grounded attitude. He is a good man for sure; whether he is the "right" man, only time will tell.
Presidential Election
This is such huge movement that it is easy to loose sight of the loosing candidate. I always thought that McCain was an honorable man, a war veteran with an impeccable integrity. I think he and his running mate got a raw deal from media. Specially Sarah Palin, a mother of 5 kids, one of whom will be deployed in Iraq and other a son with down syndrome. I thought she got the rap of her life on her knuckle. Some of the attacks on her were plain spiteful and tasteless. In the end they were not only running against Obama, but against a hugely unpopular incumbent President. In the end they could not beat Bush.
It's fair to say, this was a year for Democrats in the cycle of Elections and Obama was smart enough to sense that. And he hit the sweet spot with the American electorate. Truly a remarkable movement in history of the world. I am ending this post, even as Obama has started his speech at Grant Park.
Live well Sir!
*****
Post-Script : I could not come up with an appropriate title for this post. Should I have called it "Obama Wins" or "McCain Looses" or "Liberals Win" or "Conservatives Loose" ...
I think I should have called it "Bush Looses". But again, he was not running.. so I did not go with that..although I thought 'Bush Looses' came closest to what i was thinking, coz even though Bush Jr did not fight this election, he was looming large over it.
May be I should have called it America Wins... but I thought '!!!' said it all :)
If I was Obama tonight, I would thank at least 2 Republicans. One, of course, Abraham Lincoln, the guy who laid grounds for a humane road to end slavery and two,George.W.Bush, who screwed up so bad, he helped create the biggest media movement ever against any incumbent President till date.
It would have been insane to even think just 7 years after 9/11 struck USA, that a Black man who's middle name would be Hussein would lead America someday. But that is America for you. More action, less blabber. Did you get it France? Don't just lecture others, make "affirmative action" work. This fairy tale journey of a son born to a Kenyan immigrant to become most powerful man in the world, could have possibly been scripted only in America.
From Martin Luther King to Mohammad Ali to Colin Powell to Condoleezza Rice to Barak Obama, it is only America that has given voice, platform and avenues to achieve greater and greater heights for these minority leaders. (I can't for my life think an equally important personality in entire Europe, the so called "Liberal" Mecca)
Obama Obama
The pictures coming out of Grant Park, Chicago are nothing short of spectacular. These pictures are saying loudly and clearly -Take that, World. Stop lecturing us. Set your own house in order if you have balls.
Obama has beaten an honorable man. And he beat him fair and square. Let us not take away anything from his well oiled and well managed campaign. This is a massive massive win for Democrats, who never forgot the "stolen election" of 2000. They have never forgiven Republicans for that. Today's massive win can only be sweet vindication of 8 years of relentless campaign.
This is clearly a watershed movement in America's life. A sustained campaign against Bush has finally come to it's fruitation. Obama was an idea who's time had come. And nothing explains it better than a huge, a huge surge in young voters coming out in unprecedented numbers. Obama had captured nation's imagination and more importantly tapped it's emotion. I have not seen what it was like to be in Reagan's America or Kennedy's America, but I can't imagine it being as electrifying as today.
If I was a numerologist, I would have looked at these figures. BO was born on *4th* of August, he assumed his first office as a senator on *4th* of January and he won the Presidential elections on *4th* of November, even as he is declared the *44th* President of USA. Interesting coincidence of number 4.
But beyond a doubt this is Obama's calling; this *is* America's calling.
What would the post-Election Obama look like? Will he move this country more towards Left with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid? Or will he take the Bill Clinton centrist path. More importantly how would this icy cool head, deal with enormous load of expectations. How will he deal with unpopular decisions? I am not sure. All I know for now is that, he is a smart guy with a grounded attitude. He is a good man for sure; whether he is the "right" man, only time will tell.
Presidential Election
This is such huge movement that it is easy to loose sight of the loosing candidate. I always thought that McCain was an honorable man, a war veteran with an impeccable integrity. I think he and his running mate got a raw deal from media. Specially Sarah Palin, a mother of 5 kids, one of whom will be deployed in Iraq and other a son with down syndrome. I thought she got the rap of her life on her knuckle. Some of the attacks on her were plain spiteful and tasteless. In the end they were not only running against Obama, but against a hugely unpopular incumbent President. In the end they could not beat Bush.
It's fair to say, this was a year for Democrats in the cycle of Elections and Obama was smart enough to sense that. And he hit the sweet spot with the American electorate. Truly a remarkable movement in history of the world. I am ending this post, even as Obama has started his speech at Grant Park.
Live well Sir!
*****
Post-Script : I could not come up with an appropriate title for this post. Should I have called it "Obama Wins" or "McCain Looses" or "Liberals Win" or "Conservatives Loose" ...
I think I should have called it "Bush Looses". But again, he was not running.. so I did not go with that..although I thought 'Bush Looses' came closest to what i was thinking, coz even though Bush Jr did not fight this election, he was looming large over it.
May be I should have called it America Wins... but I thought '!!!' said it all :)
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The 'O' Factor
The Economist.com is running a WORLD POLL on USA elections on it's website. No prizes for guessing who is leading hands down. Check it and Vote
This is obviously not scientific and complete reflection of world opinion, but definitely a "pointer".The entire globe on that website looks "Blue", except 3 countries - Iraq,Algeria and Congo. These three nations are liking Mc more, apparently.
But there's something interesting I observed - amongst the 'blue' countries only one country is supporting McCain much more than others. Guess which?
Yep, it's Pakistan which is relatively less Obama than others. I also have a theory. There's a good chance that if this website link was available to a larger Chinese populace, the results would not have been so lopsided. The reason - the Republicans right from Nixon days have been China's favorite politicians. What with all business going to their land post-Nixon era.
So when O finally wins this week, there are at least 2 countries that may have issues with his win - Pakistan and China.
This is obviously not scientific and complete reflection of world opinion, but definitely a "pointer".The entire globe on that website looks "Blue", except 3 countries - Iraq,Algeria and Congo. These three nations are liking Mc more, apparently.
But there's something interesting I observed - amongst the 'blue' countries only one country is supporting McCain much more than others. Guess which?
Yep, it's Pakistan which is relatively less Obama than others. I also have a theory. There's a good chance that if this website link was available to a larger Chinese populace, the results would not have been so lopsided. The reason - the Republicans right from Nixon days have been China's favorite politicians. What with all business going to their land post-Nixon era.
So when O finally wins this week, there are at least 2 countries that may have issues with his win - Pakistan and China.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
You said it!
There's a reason I like to read Friedman, even though I do not agree with everything he has to say; he "keeps it simple".
I have argued against this over-correction of "evil" capitalism in one of my previous posts where I mentioned Google too. In his latest article Friedman gives example of Larry and Sergey asking for loan from a "nationalized" bank. So apt, given the current scenario.
Coming from a country where socialism ruled for more than 5 decades and still continues to be dominant philosophy, I think I am qualified to judge it's consequences. Nothing explains it better than Churchill's quote
Just simply put - "We need to fix capitalism, not install socialism." As Mr. Friedman has rightly said
I have argued against this over-correction of "evil" capitalism in one of my previous posts where I mentioned Google too. In his latest article Friedman gives example of Larry and Sergey asking for loan from a "nationalized" bank. So apt, given the current scenario.
Coming from a country where socialism ruled for more than 5 decades and still continues to be dominant philosophy, I think I am qualified to judge it's consequences. Nothing explains it better than Churchill's quote
Just simply put - "We need to fix capitalism, not install socialism." As Mr. Friedman has rightly said
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Three Weeks to go...
And the race is more or less over as far as I can see. I mean the O vs Mc race. I think the economic crisis was the last nail in McCain's coffin who's campaign was living each day on borrowed oxygen, in any case. The mean and negative attacks launched by McCain campaign in last 2 weeks is clear indication of desperation and clinging somehow to last straw.
At 72, McCain was fighting too many odds. An economic crisis (widely perceived to be) perpetuated by his party, an unpopular regime, a light-weight-easy-to-target running mate. One too many mountains to climb I guess, in the end for McCain.
Hope this "change" is for the larger good. In the end whatever happens, I hope Democracy wins and the bitter and partisan temperature prevailing everywhere is brought down. A "swing of pendulum" is a sign of healthy democracy.
[It's not a coincidence that after about 3 terms of Labor party in UK, the Conservative party under a young dynamic leader is leading the opinion polls in Britain currently. Food for a thought!]
At 72, McCain was fighting too many odds. An economic crisis (widely perceived to be) perpetuated by his party, an unpopular regime, a light-weight-easy-to-target running mate. One too many mountains to climb I guess, in the end for McCain.
Hope this "change" is for the larger good. In the end whatever happens, I hope Democracy wins and the bitter and partisan temperature prevailing everywhere is brought down. A "swing of pendulum" is a sign of healthy democracy.
[It's not a coincidence that after about 3 terms of Labor party in UK, the Conservative party under a young dynamic leader is leading the opinion polls in Britain currently. Food for a thought!]
Thursday, October 2, 2008
'Save the fat cat'
It took me a while to figure out in actual digits, how to write 700 billion dollars. No Kidding. Here's how it looks - 700,000,000,000 - after adding zeros one by one to 700,000 which is a figure I can relate to as within my realm of existence. And that, if I really look too far from me.
So, Senate today passed the bill to bail out the fat cats of Wall Street and hand over to them 700 Billion US Dollars. We are being told by all the wise men, including journalists and politicians, that this is the right thing to do. And if we don't do that heavens will fall (or something of that order will happen. Doomsday theories you know!)
The idea is, that if the falling banks and their big fat wild cats are flushed with this kind of cash, they in turn will be free to give credit to people, which in turn will roll the economy back on the track over the period of time. On the other hand if Banks keep tumbling for lack of cash, no one will be getting credit which means, no money rolling back and forth into economy and which means "depression".
Now let me tell you quite frankly, I do not like the word depression. It is too fking depressing. And so I am like.. "yeah, do whatever..give those fat cats what they want.. but don't talk of depression please.."
Or is it? Should I as a tax paying resident of this country, who pays his bills regularly, without fail, and who lives within his limits as an honest salaried person not question this bail out?
I am sure, that the 700 Billion figure has my name in it, a small one I agree, somewhere in there. Me and my wife are contributing to bailing out a bunch of greedy CEOs and their Bull Shitting Management gurus and we are being told right now, that do not question this. If you are against bail out, you are a moron.
Ok, fair enough. I am a moron. An honest tax paying moron. But I need to know, the idea behind this RUSH to bail out. Nancy Pelosi's Congress and Bush's managers were sleeping for 1.5 years and all of a sudden they want to apply bandage to a nagging pain and think all is taken care of!!!
I am thinking NO. If you could wait for almost 2 years and sleep over this issue thinking everything is fine, you should wait for another couple of weeks at least. Tell me and my wife, why those greedy cats are not being penalized. Why they are not expected to pay their dues. How do me and my wife not know that these 700 Billion will not vanish in thin air again? Whooooooosh!!!
In a plain, simple, well written op-ed today in New York Time, Nicholas Kristof argues that America should "save the fat cat"
Who am I to question an Harvard educated guy like Nicholas Kristof, who's columns I have been following with great delight?
I am not arguing against the bail out Mr. Kristof. I am arguing against the mad rush to do that without communicating and addressing my fear that the cat is really dependable. I am worried, they are being let off too easily. I am worried that the right lessons are not being learnt here. I am worried that we are not giving ourselves even time to sink in and learn. Quick fixes have a flip side. And you probably have a greater visibility than me to world crisis to know that.
And please do not compare Japan to USA. Japan's economy sunk coz of the financial culture (of obsessive savings by the way) and not because their government did not bail out. I have not been to Harvard or have an MBA degree. But life's own management school of common sense taught me to take each problem on it's merit. If you try to apply Japanese template to USA, you are not going too far.
So, Senate today passed the bill to bail out the fat cats of Wall Street and hand over to them 700 Billion US Dollars. We are being told by all the wise men, including journalists and politicians, that this is the right thing to do. And if we don't do that heavens will fall (or something of that order will happen. Doomsday theories you know!)
The idea is, that if the falling banks and their big fat wild cats are flushed with this kind of cash, they in turn will be free to give credit to people, which in turn will roll the economy back on the track over the period of time. On the other hand if Banks keep tumbling for lack of cash, no one will be getting credit which means, no money rolling back and forth into economy and which means "depression".
Now let me tell you quite frankly, I do not like the word depression. It is too fking depressing. And so I am like.. "yeah, do whatever..give those fat cats what they want.. but don't talk of depression please.."
Or is it? Should I as a tax paying resident of this country, who pays his bills regularly, without fail, and who lives within his limits as an honest salaried person not question this bail out?
I am sure, that the 700 Billion figure has my name in it, a small one I agree, somewhere in there. Me and my wife are contributing to bailing out a bunch of greedy CEOs and their Bull Shitting Management gurus and we are being told right now, that do not question this. If you are against bail out, you are a moron.
Ok, fair enough. I am a moron. An honest tax paying moron. But I need to know, the idea behind this RUSH to bail out. Nancy Pelosi's Congress and Bush's managers were sleeping for 1.5 years and all of a sudden they want to apply bandage to a nagging pain and think all is taken care of!!!
I am thinking NO. If you could wait for almost 2 years and sleep over this issue thinking everything is fine, you should wait for another couple of weeks at least. Tell me and my wife, why those greedy cats are not being penalized. Why they are not expected to pay their dues. How do me and my wife not know that these 700 Billion will not vanish in thin air again? Whooooooosh!!!
In a plain, simple, well written op-ed today in New York Time, Nicholas Kristof argues that America should "save the fat cat"
Who am I to question an Harvard educated guy like Nicholas Kristof, who's columns I have been following with great delight?
I am not arguing against the bail out Mr. Kristof. I am arguing against the mad rush to do that without communicating and addressing my fear that the cat is really dependable. I am worried, they are being let off too easily. I am worried that the right lessons are not being learnt here. I am worried that we are not giving ourselves even time to sink in and learn. Quick fixes have a flip side. And you probably have a greater visibility than me to world crisis to know that.
And please do not compare Japan to USA. Japan's economy sunk coz of the financial culture (of obsessive savings by the way) and not because their government did not bail out. I have not been to Harvard or have an MBA degree. But life's own management school of common sense taught me to take each problem on it's merit. If you try to apply Japanese template to USA, you are not going too far.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Financial Bloodbath
We din't see it coming. Or may be we did, but we were in denial. What a shocker this was? But was it? Lehman Brothers, one of the biggest investment bankers of our times collapsed yesterday. And how?
NYtimes thinks, today it would be AIG. The biggest Insurance company. AIG has already been downgraded by Moody to it's lowest ever.
Has excessive Greed finally caught on Capitalism? Should we now move to more government regulations as Obama and his campaign managers have already started suggesting? I don't know. But it makes sense to keep a balance for sure. (If I was Obama, btw, I would be very happy with timing of this news. Palinmania, was clearly shifting the sand under him since last two weeks. This Wall Street Bloodbath, should surely help him provide effective argument against Republican capitalism. Let's see how that cow is milked now)
Coming back to my earlier question though- is "evil" Capitalism finally finding it's nemesis? Has uncalibrated greed, made free market Capitalism a failed philosophy?
Before I write obituaries on Capitalism, let me put it this way - if Capitalism as a system is bad, should I move towards Socialism and may be it's more aggressive brother Communism? Meaning, if I loose all my money currently stocked in Fidelity,Chase etc( who knows they may collapse too), should I move to Venezuela ( a socialist dictator's nation) or to China (a Commie Giant) ?
I am thinking NO for now. You know why? Coz, Capitalism as a system has flaws.And when I chose to be a part of it, I knew it (or should have known it) had. No one was putting a gun on me to be a part of this "flawed" system. And what we are seeing today is, one of it's design flaws getting exposed. Now I have a choice. To become an eternal skeptic, like Michael Moore and Bill Maher, and whine about how bad capitalism is and how we are all doomed for ever, while sipping on a nice beer in an Air conditioned room watching the latest Hollywood movie or NFL game on my Plasma, or think hard. A little hard. Does capitalism system with all it's flaws, has a chance to bounce back?
Or more importantly, does a combination of Capitalism and Democracy have a chance to bounce back from this massive setback? Does the US ogre have the capacity to dust off it's butt and bounce back and walk again? Does the checks and balances mechanism work?
I would like to take a brief vacation from cynicism and I would go for later theory - believing that it *does* have a capacity to rebound, like it it did post Enron or post 2001 bubble burst. I mean, I would certainly like to believe that China with it's water tight control over all banks and hard wired regulations is certainly "safer" than the greedy un regulated banks of USA. Or for that matter since Chavez of Venezeula has nationalized everything in sight in his small hapless nation, we should all move to that great socialist "paradise". But I am thinking no. Crisis, keep coming. What's important is, do we as a people, as a system have that ability to re calibrate, recode, regroup to bounce back. Does the system we are in allows us enough leverage to correct it's flaws?
If the answer is yes, I feel it's a rational argument to stick back. Take a deep breath, take a few steps back and re-code the broken piece, rather than just pulverize the whole system itself and say we are Doomed. Leave that job to Bill Maher or as Greeks would say to Cassandra.
I am no blind supporter of USA or Capitalism per se. I don't pretend they are flawless. I am very well aware of their flaws. And, I, as a responsible semi-citizen am equally accountable for it's problems as I myself have made a choice to be a part of this "flawed" system. Nobody forced me to. (Like nobody forced lower middle class people who could not afford to buy mansions at sub prime rates. They were "incentive-ized" alright, but they got themselves into the black hole, like some people going to Las Vegas casinos do)
My problem is I am equally aware of the "other" or alternative systems around the world that are currently looking at me and my professional home (the USA) with a sarcastic - SEE-I-TOLD-YOU-SO look. And I am telling them in my mind, nah.. sorry, enjoy your sarcastic laugh for all you want to.. you are still wishing down in your heart somewhere.. "I should have been there.."
*******
P.S : I am currently reading an excellent book called - "The Geography of Bliss". And this book is what I was looking for since a while. Written by Eric Weiner, of National Public Radio. The book is making a lot of sense to me. More on it later.
NYtimes thinks, today it would be AIG. The biggest Insurance company. AIG has already been downgraded by Moody to it's lowest ever.
Has excessive Greed finally caught on Capitalism? Should we now move to more government regulations as Obama and his campaign managers have already started suggesting? I don't know. But it makes sense to keep a balance for sure. (If I was Obama, btw, I would be very happy with timing of this news. Palinmania, was clearly shifting the sand under him since last two weeks. This Wall Street Bloodbath, should surely help him provide effective argument against Republican capitalism. Let's see how that cow is milked now)
Coming back to my earlier question though- is "evil" Capitalism finally finding it's nemesis? Has uncalibrated greed, made free market Capitalism a failed philosophy?
Before I write obituaries on Capitalism, let me put it this way - if Capitalism as a system is bad, should I move towards Socialism and may be it's more aggressive brother Communism? Meaning, if I loose all my money currently stocked in Fidelity,Chase etc( who knows they may collapse too), should I move to Venezuela ( a socialist dictator's nation) or to China (a Commie Giant) ?
I am thinking NO for now. You know why? Coz, Capitalism as a system has flaws.And when I chose to be a part of it, I knew it (or should have known it) had. No one was putting a gun on me to be a part of this "flawed" system. And what we are seeing today is, one of it's design flaws getting exposed. Now I have a choice. To become an eternal skeptic, like Michael Moore and Bill Maher, and whine about how bad capitalism is and how we are all doomed for ever, while sipping on a nice beer in an Air conditioned room watching the latest Hollywood movie or NFL game on my Plasma, or think hard. A little hard. Does capitalism system with all it's flaws, has a chance to bounce back?
Or more importantly, does a combination of Capitalism and Democracy have a chance to bounce back from this massive setback? Does the US ogre have the capacity to dust off it's butt and bounce back and walk again? Does the checks and balances mechanism work?
I would like to take a brief vacation from cynicism and I would go for later theory - believing that it *does* have a capacity to rebound, like it it did post Enron or post 2001 bubble burst. I mean, I would certainly like to believe that China with it's water tight control over all banks and hard wired regulations is certainly "safer" than the greedy un regulated banks of USA. Or for that matter since Chavez of Venezeula has nationalized everything in sight in his small hapless nation, we should all move to that great socialist "paradise". But I am thinking no. Crisis, keep coming. What's important is, do we as a people, as a system have that ability to re calibrate, recode, regroup to bounce back. Does the system we are in allows us enough leverage to correct it's flaws?
If the answer is yes, I feel it's a rational argument to stick back. Take a deep breath, take a few steps back and re-code the broken piece, rather than just pulverize the whole system itself and say we are Doomed. Leave that job to Bill Maher or as Greeks would say to Cassandra.
I am no blind supporter of USA or Capitalism per se. I don't pretend they are flawless. I am very well aware of their flaws. And, I, as a responsible semi-citizen am equally accountable for it's problems as I myself have made a choice to be a part of this "flawed" system. Nobody forced me to. (Like nobody forced lower middle class people who could not afford to buy mansions at sub prime rates. They were "incentive-ized" alright, but they got themselves into the black hole, like some people going to Las Vegas casinos do)
My problem is I am equally aware of the "other" or alternative systems around the world that are currently looking at me and my professional home (the USA) with a sarcastic - SEE-I-TOLD-YOU-SO look. And I am telling them in my mind, nah.. sorry, enjoy your sarcastic laugh for all you want to.. you are still wishing down in your heart somewhere.. "I should have been there.."
*******
P.S : I am currently reading an excellent book called - "The Geography of Bliss". And this book is what I was looking for since a while. Written by Eric Weiner, of National Public Radio. The book is making a lot of sense to me. More on it later.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
WTF
The secular elites obsession with Modi is beyond me. TOI,IBN and NDTV have reported that US government has "denied" Narendra Modi a US Visa.
First of all I am not sure what the big fuss about this whole Visa is? When I last checked, I thought you denied someone a Visa if and only if someone applied for it in the first place. The democratically elected Chief Minister of Gujarat has NOT APPLIED for USA's visa, so what are they denying at all?
A handful of Commies and Congress Non-resident Indians, who have formed forums in USA have been lobbying against Modi since last 5 years. And if you ask me, he cares a damn about USA or visiting it.
Modi has been duly elected as a leader, not by those handful elites, but by people of Gujarat. There have been allegations but no convictions against him personally. So I am not sure of the grounds of this so called denial. I always thought Rajiv Gandhi, one of the most popular leader of India, who's implicit and complicit involvement in killing of innocent Sikhs of New Delhi and Punjab and who clearly justified the killings of people should have been denied Visa if at all there was a case of such instance. (Although I would have opposed that too)
But anyways, barking dogs keep barking, and Elephants move on their path. Gujarat is moving at 15% GDP and it's people are happy with their efficient, resourceful and productive leader.
So sulkers and whiners can whine all they want to... no one really cares for your stupid Visa. Boooo to u.
First of all I am not sure what the big fuss about this whole Visa is? When I last checked, I thought you denied someone a Visa if and only if someone applied for it in the first place. The democratically elected Chief Minister of Gujarat has NOT APPLIED for USA's visa, so what are they denying at all?
A handful of Commies and Congress Non-resident Indians, who have formed forums in USA have been lobbying against Modi since last 5 years. And if you ask me, he cares a damn about USA or visiting it.
Modi has been duly elected as a leader, not by those handful elites, but by people of Gujarat. There have been allegations but no convictions against him personally. So I am not sure of the grounds of this so called denial. I always thought Rajiv Gandhi, one of the most popular leader of India, who's implicit and complicit involvement in killing of innocent Sikhs of New Delhi and Punjab and who clearly justified the killings of people should have been denied Visa if at all there was a case of such instance. (Although I would have opposed that too)
But anyways, barking dogs keep barking, and Elephants move on their path. Gujarat is moving at 15% GDP and it's people are happy with their efficient, resourceful and productive leader.
So sulkers and whiners can whine all they want to... no one really cares for your stupid Visa. Boooo to u.
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