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sidchhikara
June 5th, 2008, 09:09 PM
Baba te chupchala reh ke yoga nahi karaya jata

..... Eeb Ramdev banega political scientist !!

Here's Atanu Dey on the subject ........ this post is copied from ... http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/06/05/swami-ramdevs-peculiar-beliefs/#more-1221


Swami Ramdev’s Peculiar Beliefs

June 5th, 2008 · No Comments (http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/06/05/swami-ramdevs-peculiar-beliefs/#comments)

I don’t know who Swami Ramdev is. I have not seen him, read him, or heard him. My knowledge of who he is is limited to what I read about him in this Rediff article, “Swami Ramdev attacks the political system (http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jun/04swami.htm)“, which says that he is “the iconic yoga guru with a phenomenal mass fallowing (sic).”
Evidently he is widely regarded as a spiritual guru. But however spiritual his claim to fame may be, I can’t help but wonder how can an adult who is clearly able to function normally be so mistaken about the nature of the world as to actually hold the positions that the article claims he does. Does spirituality or whatever it is that is his main calling so shield him from the everyday material world that he is totally and completely disconnected from reality?

According to the article, his goal is “to stop commercialisation, industrialisation and criminalisation of the political system of the country.” Fair enough even though I am not very clear what “industrialization” of the political system actually means. Quote:

“There are some good political leaders also, but the fact is that most of them lack vision and are steeped in corruption. Commercialisation and criminalisation of Indian politics is an insult to the freedom and democracy of the country,” he said.
One can’t argue with that. His solution?

“There is an imperative need to make voting compulsory. Given the fact that the literacy level in the country is not very high, the popular mandate is not genuinely reflected during balloting. It is then important that everyone votes,” he reasoned out.
That’s a jaw-dropping, absolutely astounding, brain-numbing recommendation! He talks about democracy but does not give any indication that he actually understands that democracy is not just about voting. If the idea of democracy has any content at all, then it has to be about informed choice. People who have no clue should not be allowed to vote because their voting cannot but make the system worse off. Uninformed voters are as likely as a group to choose wisely as a group of lobotomized cretins are likely to engineer a cybernetic system — that is, not likely at all.
[Note: I am not making the claim that illiterate voters are necessarily uninformed or unwise voters. I believe that being illiterate is likely to be correlated with being less informed. I make no claim about literate people being more or less wise than illiterate people either. In any case, I would not make wisdom a precondition for voting eligibility. It is hard enough to figure out if a person is informed; figuring out wisdom is probably impossible.]
There are two objections that I have to his idea of making voting compulsory. I suppose he makes the assumption that if everyone were forced to vote, then the winners of elections would more accurately reflect the choice of the population. I am OK with that assumption. But in reality, in a country of around half a billion voters, that is a costly exercise.
I don’t blame Swamiji for not knowing this but there are simpler methods known for accurately determining the population characteristics than going to the expense of tabulating the entire voting population’s preferences. It is called statistical sampling. With a well-designed and properly conducted sample survey, one can make the sample statistics come close to the population statistics to any arbitrary degree of precision. The results of such a sample survey (where as little as 0.1 percent of the population is surveyed) will be no different from the result of forcing half a billion people to vote.
That first objection is a mere technicality, if you please. But the more substantial objection is that instead of making voting compulsory, voting should be a privilege granted to only those who demonstrate that they are qualified to make a choice on the matters under discussion. (In fact, I feel that if people were not given the automatic right to vote on turning 18 years old but had to actually qualify to vote, the outcome would be a rush to qualify and vote. You would not have to compel anyone to vote because it would be a badge of honor that one is qualified to vote.)
I learn from the article that he claimed that voting is mandatory in 32 countries. (I hope Rediff has fact checkers on its staff.) Perhaps in a small country of a few million people, one may be able to get away with it. But for a practical matter, even if you pass the idiotic legislation making voting compulsory, the cost of enforcing it would be prohibitive. Once again, I think that the good swami is obviously a man more at home with matters spiritual than with matters of mundane practicality.
But why does he want to force everyone to vote. Because “the corrupt political system can be made clean and transparent by making it mandatory for everyone to vote.”
I fell off the chair when I read that. I suppose when he made that statement, his audience uncritically accepted his wisdom. They did not fall off their chairs. They did not ask why. That is par for the course, isn’t it? The gurujis and the netajis make totally asinine pronouncements and no one bothers to call them on it.
And the press? What do the press do? Let me coin a ditty in Hindi:
muh mein aayaa buk diye
jo bhi suna chup diye
{Translation: (The high and mighty) just say whatever comes to their tongue without reflection, (and the press) just print uncritically whatever they hear.}
How on earth is voting — even forced voting — going to solve the problem of corruption? Does the great swami know what is the cause of corruption? Can he please explain what his reasoning for believing that corruption is a result of an insufficient number of people voting?
OK, I know that it is not my station to be giving lectures to gurujis, but as it is my blog, I submit this as my reasoning on the causes of corruption and what should be done to fix it. Since I have already tried your patience severely going on and on about voting, I will keep this one brief. (Yes, dear reader, I can be brief when I want to be http://www.deeshaa.org/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif )
Corruption is related to power. I am not talking about Lord Acton’s famous observation that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I am taking about the power that one gets from controlling something and that control affords one the means to extract rents — and corruption is basically extraction of rents.
The cop at the corner has the power to extract something out of the wrong doer. The bureaucrat has the power to extract rent because it is within his power to allow or deny permission. The politician has the power to favor this or that industrialist and grant the license. Everywhere there is power to coerce, there is corruption.
The more things the government controls, the more power the politicians and bureaucrats — the people who constitute the government — have and consequently the greater the corruption. Show me someone who has political power, and I will show you a person who is corruptible and most like is corrupt.
The larger the involvement of the government in the economic affairs of the state, the greater is the reward for being a politician because the chances of raking in the moolah is all the greater. Therefore the larger the government, the more likely it is to attract precisely those kinds of politicians who have the greatest greed and therefore the most corruptible.
Socialist governments control the most and therefore they are the most corrupt. India’s corruption of the political class is a direct consequence of the socialistic government India has. The way to get rid of corruption in Indian politics is to reduce the size and power of the government to meddle in the affairs of the economy.
(Told you, I can be brief.)

sumitsehrawat
June 6th, 2008, 12:17 AM
:):):):):)!!

spdeshwal
June 6th, 2008, 10:11 AM
.................................................. .................................................. ....................................

brahmtewatia
June 6th, 2008, 12:48 PM
:):):):):)!!

bhai sumit yaa smileys banaan ki ke jarurath thi...teri fotu hi kaaafi thi :p:D:tamatar:rock:rock

sumitsehrawat
June 6th, 2008, 01:26 PM
:):):):)!!

bhai sumit yaa smileys banaan ki ke jarurath thi...teri fotu hi kaaafi thi :p:D:tamatar:rock:rock

ritu
June 6th, 2008, 07:12 PM
:):):):):p
:):):):):)!!

sumeetmalik
June 6th, 2008, 09:43 PM
Corruption is related to power. I am not talking about Lord Acton’s famous observation that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I am taking about the power that one gets from controlling something and that control affords one the means to extract rents — and corruption is basically extraction of rents.
The cop at the corner has the power to extract something out of the wrong doer. The bureaucrat has the power to extract rent because it is within his power to allow or deny permission. The politician has the power to favor this or that industrialist and grant the license. Everywhere there is power to coerce, there is corruption.
The more things the government controls, the more power the politicians and bureaucrats — the people who constitute the government — have and consequently the greater the corruption. Show me someone who has political power, and I will show you a person who is corruptible and most like is corrupt.
The larger the involvement of the government in the economic affairs of the state, the greater is the reward for being a politician because the chances of raking in the moolah is all the greater. Therefore the larger the government, the more likely it is to attract precisely those kinds of politicians who have the greatest greed and therefore the most corruptible.
Socialist governments control the most and therefore they are the most corrupt. India’s corruption of the political class is a direct consequence of the socialistic government India has. The way to get rid of corruption in Indian politics is to reduce the size and power of the government to meddle in the affairs of the economy.
(Told you, I can be brief.)[/quote]

So Baba is having lofty political ambitions.
I met Smriti Irani once in Mumbai at a party and she had the ambition to become the Prime Minister of India. Now if I would have been Atanu, I would have totally flipped and ranted in a world record breaking long post. That woman was such a contrast of screwed up Sas Bahu values and 'modern' values that she amused me and made me vomit with disgust at the same time. But she spoke with such conviction (Baba also must be speaking with the same) that I was worried for a brief moment thinking of the horrors of Smriti Irani as the PM of India.
Now I don't know whether I should be worried about Baba as the PM. I hope not.

sidchhikara
June 7th, 2008, 12:11 AM
So Baba is having lofty political ambitions.
I met Smriti Irani once in Mumbai at a party and she had the ambition to become the Prime Minister of India. Now if I would have been Atanu, I would have totally flipped and ranted in a world record breaking long post. That woman was such a contrast of screwed up Sas Bahu values and 'modern' values that she amused me and made me vomit with disgust at the same time. But she spoke with such conviction (Baba also must be speaking with the same) that I was worried for a brief moment thinking of the horrors of Smriti Irani as the PM of India.
Now I don't know whether I should be worried about Baba as the PM. I hope not.

She wants to be the PM ... hmmm ... remember when we were 8 years old, most of us wanted to be PM. A few others who have publicly stated their intentions to be PM .... Mayawati, Laloo, Mulayam. Believe me there are enough morons to vote for these people and get them where they want to be.

I look at the US elections ... all the candidates have been fighting for the job for the last 1.5 years .... and it is still 6 mos from general elections.
In the Indian context - Sonia Gandhi turned down the PM position as if it was a part-time office temp position. Devi Lal did the same.

When a party .... now coalitions .... win the election and it comes time to pick a PM, all the senior morons are asked to take up the position as if it is a mithai ka dabba on Diwali. We as a country are so clueless and disrespectful ..... it is appaling !!

Yeah......... and I hope Smriti Irani's saree catches on fire on the next taping of Kyunki pant bhi kabhi kameez thi ..... oh yeah ... and also somebody replaces the 3 kg of sindoor that she uses with lal mirch powder and 2 kg of kajal with used motor oil ... so that when her saree burns ..... her eyes light up !!!!!!!! like durga maa.

sumeetmalik
June 7th, 2008, 12:28 AM
She wants to be the PM ... hmmm ... remember when we were 8 years old, most of us wanted to be PM. A few others who have publicly stated their intentions to be PM .... Mayawati, Laloo, Mulayam. Believe me there are enough morons to vote for these people and get them where they want to be.

I look at the US elections ... all the candidates have been fighting for the job for the last 1.5 years .... and it is still 6 mos from general elections.
In the Indian context - Sonia Gandhi turned down the PM position as if it was a part-time office temp position. Devi Lal did the same.

When a party .... now coalitions .... win the election and it comes time to pick a PM, all the senior morons are asked to take up the position as if it is a mithai ka dabba on Diwali. We as a country are so clueless and disrespectful ..... it is appaling !!

Yeah......... and I hope Smriti Irani's saree catches on fire on the next taping of Kyunki pant bhi kabhi kameez thi ..... oh yeah ... and also somebody replaces the 3 kg of sindoor that she uses with lal mirch powder and 2 kg of kajal with used motor oil ... so that when her saree burns ..... her eyes light up !!!!!!!! like durga maa.
hahaha...and I hope she walks into Ekta Kapoor's office while she is on fire and takes her down as well.

sidchhikara
June 7th, 2008, 12:50 AM
hahaha...and I hope she walks into Ekta Kapoor's office while she is on fire and takes her down as well.
:D ... I also wish Jeetender is present in the office ... and his white pants and shoes burn to ashes .... that jumping jack SOB.

Also all the tapes of the previous shows should burn away so that succeeding generations of Indians are not subjected to reruns. On top of cinders of Balaji Telefilms ... I will start my own telefilm company ...... Pyromania Telefilms !! The shows produced will capture the pyro instinct present in our countrymen and women. Saas' will be shown burning bahus. Violent mob of Gujjars will be shown burning public transportation. Sati ceremonies will be taped. Frustrated protestors will be shown self-immolating. I will throw in a dash of Nandigram village burnout. Ah!! forgot the trains - burning with passengers in them.
There is no need for sets or actors only a camera - everything will be real. I will also put this $hit on cable - pay per view.
I think I digressed.

sumeetmalik
June 7th, 2008, 01:05 AM
:D ... I also wish Jeetender is present in the office ... and his white pants and shoes burn to ashes .... that jumping jack SOB.

hahaha... BBC has a story today which I can call 'Smriti Irani Effect'.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7439894.stm

India grounds 'fat' air hostesses


By Sanjoy Majumder
BBC News, Delhi
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/999999.gif

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44723000/jpg/_44723419_airhostess_afp226b.jpg Air India faces competitions from other airlines with younger flight crew


An Indian court has ruled that state-owned airline Air India has the right to prevent its air hostesses from flying for being overweight.
The Delhi high court was responding to a case filed by five air hostesses who had been grounded by the airline for being too fat to fly.
The air hostesses are expected to appeal against the decision.
The judges agreed with the airline's view that overweight crew present a safety and health hazard.
They also said that, in the highly competitive airline industry, an air hostess's physical condition and appearance played an important role in her overall personality. Air India, whose air hostesses wear traditional Indian saris, is facing a stiff challenge from a number of private airlines with younger flight crew typically dressed in skirts or Western suits. A few years ago, during a recruitment drive for new crew, the airline said that it would not consider applicants with acne or bad teeth.

sidchhikara
June 7th, 2008, 01:16 AM
A few years ago, during a recruitment drive for new crew, the airline said that it would not consider applicants with acne or bad teeth.

:D ..I think Baba Ramdev has a cure for that.
What happened to providing more legroom? or good manners?
The last time I flew Air India, the airhostess nearly pulled a sardarji's beard out for asking for a refill for his whisky .... she was also fat. I hope that sardarji read this report ... sweet justice!

sumeetmalik
June 7th, 2008, 01:31 AM
:D ..I think Baba Ramdev has a cure for that.
What happened to providing more legroom? or good manners?
The last time I flew Air India, the airhostess nearly pulled a sardarji's beard out for asking for a refill for his whisky .... she was also fat. I hope that sardarji read this report ... sweet justice!

hahaha...The Air India Hostesses always reminded me my big fat aunt. I always felt like I should touch their feet and never ever ask for a drink.
However I was once treated very well in the drinks department by Air India. The Flight Steward on duty was a Sardarji.:D
As for Baba, he should stick to what he knows.