The Debt Trap

In the next 24 hours , expect American Congress to raise the Debt-Ceiling , once again

As it has raised it 71 times in the past 40 years

Other alternatives before the American Congress are :

Ø  Raise taxes ( to increase State income  )

Ø  Reduce Expenses (  eg:  ObamaCare  )

Ø  Print more money (  and fuel inflation  )

But these are all , very unpopular measures with the American public . And no politician likes to be unpopular

So , the easy way out is :

  

Borrow more  –  let each American grandchild worry about repaying to the rest of the World , a measly sum of $ 52,000  !

We will not be around when the bubble bursts  !

Tomorrow will , somehow take care of itself  !

With annual revenue of $ 2.4 trillion and expenses of $ 3.5 trillion , how else can America make ends meet ?

No one in America seems to be asking :

  

·         Are we living beyond our means ?

·         How long can we sustain this high living standard on borrowed money ?

I hope , we in India do not fall into such a Debt-Trap

Fortunately ( ! ) , rich Indians have stashed away Rs 28 – 35 lakh crores  ( $ 462 – 572 billion ) in foreign banks ( as per Global Financial Integrity – GFI )

Offer them , a “ No Questions Asked “ , Voluntary Disclosure Scheme ( VDS ) to invest in tax-free Infrastructure Bonds

Then , we will not need to borrow from IMF to raise the standard of living of 400 million poor Indians , earning less than $ 1.2 per day

·          hemen  parekh  (  16  Oct  2013  )

BJP agrees with Congress ?

First it was Jairam Ramesh who said ,

“ In India more people have access to a mobile phone than have access to a toilet “

Then along came Narendra Modi to declare ,

“ For me , development translates into , Toilets before Temples “

It is another matter that both may be eyeing the votes of 50 % of the Indian population which have no access to private toilets and must do their dirty work , out in the open !

But then why is UPA government in a tearing hurry to give away ( free ) , 22.5 million mobile phones to BPL ( Below the poverty Line ) families ?

Especially when they already have a mobile phone ?



Would it not make more sense – even electoral sense – to urgently build 22.5 million toilets , on the corners of each and every street ?

Just imagine the boost that will give to the economy !

Can some clever engineers / economists figure out the number of jobs that will get created in the Steel / Cement / Construction industries ?

And by converting thousands of existing dry toilets to flush toilets , 750,000 families will be relieved of carrying night-soil ( from dry toilets ) on their heads ! A nation's shame beyond words !

If this idea is properly packaged / sold to Bill Gates , he may even make an outright grant of  $ ONE BILLION  to Sulabh Sauchalaya to implement the project !

Among dozens of differences , it is refreshing to find BJP and Congress agreeing that toilets make a better “ Meeting Place “ for millions , than Temples !

Cleanliness is Godliness

·           hemen  parekh  (  15  Oct  2013  ) 

Some learn : Some just won’t !

Ø  Naveen Patnaik  - CM. Odisha ( Learner )

In 1999 , a Super-Cyclone killed 10,000 people in Odisha

Before  Phailin Cyclone struck Gopalpur(Odisha) 

 two days back , Patnaik’s government had managed to move  900,000 people into hundreds of storm shelters  which it had constructed since 1999

Result  ?

Only 23 deaths so far

Ø  Shivraj  Patil – CM , Madhya Pradesh ( Forgetful )

In 2006 , in a stampede at a temple in Datiya district , 40 persons had died.

In a repeat of history , at the same temple , 109 persons died  yesterday , in an identical stampede !

Why  ?

MP Government failed to ,

·         Construct separate / barricaded pathways ( even if temporary ) for coming and returning traffic of lakhs of devotees  

·         Ensure single-person movement within these pathways (ala Tirupati )

·         Depute just 500 policemen all along the path to regulate the surge of the crowd

·         Provide CCTV-control booths at intervals of 500 meters each

  

·         Provide CCTV based “ Darshan “ of the deity along the way ( ala Shirdi SaiBaba )

·         Continuously issue instructions over Public Announcement System

·         Patrol the entire stretch with Police Vans and Ambulances

·         Make provision for water along the way

·         Get NGOs to help regulate traffic by providing volunteers

       But of course , as always expected after such – entirely avoidable tragedies ,

·         CM  /  PM  / UPA Chairperson and sundry other publicity-seeking politicians , expressed their “ deep shock and anguish “

·         State Government promptly announced a Magisterial  Inquiry

·         CM announced payment of Rs 1.5 lakhs to families of the victims ( Blood Money ? )

For politicians of India , life is not merely cheap , it is worth “ Ridicule “ !

They don’t treat this as “ Murder “ ! May be waiting for the Supreme Court to say so  !

So , why learn a lesson from the past ?

·          Hemen  parekh   (  14  Oct  2013  )

AAP stands for Awake / Arise / People

Twelve hours back , cyclone Phailin struck the coasts of Andhra and Odisha

It is too early to predict the damage to property and human lives . It will take a few weeks to assess the full quantum of destruction

And , thereafter , it will take months to rebuild

What might help contain the damage is the early warning , coupled with timely preventive steps

On 4^th December , another cyclone will strike Delhi – but a political , man-made cyclone !

It is called AAP  (  Aam  Aadmi  Party  )

But , unlike Phailin , AAP will be a “ Constructive “  cyclone !

Only thing it will destroy is  “ Corruption “

AAP was in the making for over 2 years now – except that it was continuously / contemptuously ignored by the ruling Congress

Now , Congress  is frantically running around for a  “ Storm Shelter “

Alas  !  there is none  !

And after  “  Re-constructing  “  Delhi , in the next few months , AAP will sweep the entire country

AAP stands for “ Awake , Arise , People  “

·         hemen  parekh  (  13  Oct  2013  )

   

Confidence Vs Arrogance

Both , Sheila Dikshit ( Congress ) and Vijay Goel ( BJP ) , are loudly proclaiming that their party will win the forthcoming Delhi Assembly Elections , with a thumping majority

Even Arvind Kejriwal ( Aam Aadmi Party ) is saying the same

That is understandable , considering that the Commanders must enthuse their cadres

Such confidence on their part is a pre-requisite for winning

But what happens when Sheila Dikshit says ,

“ Aam Aadmi Party ? Who are they ? Nobody !

  They don’t scare us . They are insignificant .

  What is their agenda ?  What is their record  ?

  People of Delhi will ignore them ! “

Now , that is bravado

People of Delhi  !

For over a decade , you have suffered this insult

4^th December is your time to teach a lesson to the arrogant rulers of Delhi

By voting / electing , at least 40 AAP candidates


Only you can give yourself a break  !

·          hemen  parekh  (  12  Oct  2013  )

Honest Cannot Win ?

Recently , a leading political leader is supposed to have said ,

“ Honest people cannot win elections “

A few weeks earlier , another leader publicly claimed ,

“ For winning my election , I had spent Rs 10 Crores by way of election expenses “

[  But when cornered by the Election Commission , he gave some  clever / imaginative ,  explanations and interpretations of his statement !  ]

Everyone – including the voters – know that the actual expenses to fight an election do run up from a few lakhs ( for a Municipal Election ) to a few crores ( for MP / MLA seat )

By prescribing a ridiculously low limit ( for such expenses ) , we ourselves are responsible to turn – otherwise honest politicians , into liars ! ( Not that there are many of them ! )

Unless Aam Aadmi Party (  AAP  ) candidates fighting Delhi State Assembly Elections prove that it IS possible to fight – and win – elections , within the expenses limit prescribed by the Law !

People of Delhi  !

You have a chance to prove that “ Honesty Pays “

By electing at least 40  AAP  candidates on 4^th December

·          hemen  parekh  (  11  Oct  2013  )  

Crime Does Not Pay ?

Here are some disturbing facts :

Ø    In 2008 Delhi Assembly elections , number of “ tainted “ candidates were,

·         Congress  ……………..  30  %

·         BJP  ……………………….  35  %

(  Insist on knowing current percentages  before 4^th December  ! )

Ø    Of the sitting MLAs in Delhi ,

·         With criminal antecedents  …………….  43  %

·         Number of Crorepatis ……………………..  69  %

Ø    In 2004 National elections ,

·         Ave assets of contesting candidates  ……………..     Rs 1.37  Crores

·         Ave assets of victorious candidates  ………………..      Rs  3.83 Crores

·         Ave assets of MPs / MLAs facing serious charges..    Rs 4.3 Crores

(  Will somebody find / publish what are the ave assets of candidates of each party in forthcoming  Delhi elections ?  )

Only 2 days back , sitting Congress MP from Haryana advised the youth ,

“ No problem if you fail to become an engineer or a doctor . Just get into politics . You will manage to make hundreds of crores of rupees “

Some time back , same MP had said that he knew a person who had set aside Rs 100 Crores to become a Rajya Sabha MP – but managed to become one with mere Rs 80 Crores !

Obviously , he was talking from an “ Insider’s point of View “ !

People  of  Delhi  !

If you wish to prove that “ Crime Does not Pay “ , then on 4^th Dec , go out and elect , at least 40 candidates of Aam  Aadmi  Party

Before 2014 National elections , make your message heard by 725 million voters of India

·          hemen  parekh  (  09  Oct  2013  )