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1 month ago
in Bearing NaMo on Something like life
Finally, the sins of commission count for much more than sins of omission. You can let 10 terror attacks happen and people will forgive and forget but you let Varun go and it will offend a lot of people.
2 replies
doubtinggaurav
I have a hard time believing that people will be more offended by hate speech of some moron that terrorist killing people. And please don't say Rahul cost BJP elections.
Sriram
You make sense for the first time, partly at least. The perception is that Congress fails to do something useful while the BJP succeeds in doing something harmful. Whether this perception is real or is a creation of hostile media and moron analysts of the Amit Varma type is moot.
1 month ago
in Bearing NaMo on Something like life
Gaurav,
First issue: National security is an issue only for the urban population. But, for you to prove Congress wrong, you need greater credibility. When after Mumbai, Rajnath Singh says he will hang Afzal and bring back POTA, does he really think he has any credibility with people who vote on national security? Is that the response? Does not anyone with a braincell in his head know that hanging Afzal Guru will not prevent another Bombay? Do people not realize that Afzal Guru spending the rest of his life in Tihar is far greater punishment than merely hanging him!
BJP's biggest problem has been that its tongue never matches its actions--it believes that can attract people only with strong and acerbic language.
BJP's record on national security was much better but what gets projected is cheap rhetoric. They looked too eager to take advantage of terror attacks and that always comes back to bite you in the ass.
As far as Modi is concerned, my views have been consistent. I don't think he has cost BJP a lot of votes this time..maybe even galvanized the Hinduvata types..but in the long term, he will drive away allies, put off the middle class with his language about 56 inch ka seena and leave BJP in the state of the Left.
Plus, he carries a lot of baggage. Any elections about him will become in the television studios an election on 2002.
For BJP tog row, it must stop playing the double game of stressing on development and security (good) but also tactically endorsing the likes of Varun Gandhi in the hope he might get them a few seats. Every party indulges in cynical politics but there is a way to do it--buy yur opponents as Yeddu is doing in Karntaka and no one is much bothered!
First issue: National security is an issue only for the urban population. But, for you to prove Congress wrong, you need greater credibility. When after Mumbai, Rajnath Singh says he will hang Afzal and bring back POTA, does he really think he has any credibility with people who vote on national security? Is that the response? Does not anyone with a braincell in his head know that hanging Afzal Guru will not prevent another Bombay? Do people not realize that Afzal Guru spending the rest of his life in Tihar is far greater punishment than merely hanging him!
BJP's biggest problem has been that its tongue never matches its actions--it believes that can attract people only with strong and acerbic language.
BJP's record on national security was much better but what gets projected is cheap rhetoric. They looked too eager to take advantage of terror attacks and that always comes back to bite you in the ass.
As far as Modi is concerned, my views have been consistent. I don't think he has cost BJP a lot of votes this time..maybe even galvanized the Hinduvata types..but in the long term, he will drive away allies, put off the middle class with his language about 56 inch ka seena and leave BJP in the state of the Left.
Plus, he carries a lot of baggage. Any elections about him will become in the television studios an election on 2002.
For BJP tog row, it must stop playing the double game of stressing on development and security (good) but also tactically endorsing the likes of Varun Gandhi in the hope he might get them a few seats. Every party indulges in cynical politics but there is a way to do it--buy yur opponents as Yeddu is doing in Karntaka and no one is much bothered!
1 reply
doubtinggaurav
Dude I seriously wish you write your arguments with more structure
If you want to argue that BJP was not serious about issues fine I agree with you. If you say BJP has lost credibility then too I agree with you. If you say BJP has lost credibility because it's only response to serious issues is resorting to gimmicks then also I am with you.
Where I lose you is when you imply that raising Afzal issue was a net liability without evidence because I think it is a legitimate issue and I am pretty sure most of the people will like to see Afzal guru hanged. If you had said that BJP should have responded more substantially than merely raising Afzal issue then I agree.
Same is the case with Modi my contention was limited to your message alone which "implied" that Modi cost BJP the elections it is my contention that it was not so. If you read my previous posy linked in the post you will find that I agree with you on Modi being unpalatable to allies.
If you want to argue that BJP was not serious about issues fine I agree with you. If you say BJP has lost credibility then too I agree with you. If you say BJP has lost credibility because it's only response to serious issues is resorting to gimmicks then also I am with you.
Where I lose you is when you imply that raising Afzal issue was a net liability without evidence because I think it is a legitimate issue and I am pretty sure most of the people will like to see Afzal guru hanged. If you had said that BJP should have responded more substantially than merely raising Afzal issue then I agree.
Same is the case with Modi my contention was limited to your message alone which "implied" that Modi cost BJP the elections it is my contention that it was not so. If you read my previous posy linked in the post you will find that I agree with you on Modi being unpalatable to allies.
3 months ago
in A tale of two cycles on Something like life
Of course there is--and that is the role of public intellectual who bridges the gap between policy research and janta which has little interest in regression tables.
Sadly apart from PBM, we have a poor tradition of public intellectuals and the ones which exist anyway are of a particular intellectual persuasion.
Sadly apart from PBM, we have a poor tradition of public intellectuals and the ones which exist anyway are of a particular intellectual persuasion.
2 replies
froginthewell
I thought you had stopped responding to my comments!
I will repeat that I am not well versed with what happens in US. But with my limited understanding, it seemed to me that Obama got elected not because public intellectuals convinced them about how bad or mediocre or whatever Bush's policies were, but simply because the economy went sour and they "wanted change".
The advantage of a democracy, it seems to me, is only that ( depending on how genuinely democratic the culture is ), that Governments can't afford to do big goof ups. So while making policies Governments, just so as to avoid major goof ups that could make things go sour and invite popular discontent, hire economics experts in policy making - I mean, experts whose views aren't very conspicuously different from the party's. Thus, democracy seems to facilitate policy research in a rather indirect way.
Do you seriously think the people of US were making informed decisions when they voted for Obama?
I will repeat that I am not well versed with what happens in US. But with my limited understanding, it seemed to me that Obama got elected not because public intellectuals convinced them about how bad or mediocre or whatever Bush's policies were, but simply because the economy went sour and they "wanted change".
The advantage of a democracy, it seems to me, is only that ( depending on how genuinely democratic the culture is ), that Governments can't afford to do big goof ups. So while making policies Governments, just so as to avoid major goof ups that could make things go sour and invite popular discontent, hire economics experts in policy making - I mean, experts whose views aren't very conspicuously different from the party's. Thus, democracy seems to facilitate policy research in a rather indirect way.
Do you seriously think the people of US were making informed decisions when they voted for Obama?
Sriram
I can't seem to understand how policy research connects the public with the administrators/decision makers. The two are unrelated at best.
The apparent success of US democratic system is the ability to reconcile individual ambitions with that of the ambitions of the society. That the constitution prevents the government from overreaching is a plus. In India, however, the government has limitless powers and there is a big incentive to address the least common denominator at the expense of "common good".
The apparent success of US democratic system is the ability to reconcile individual ambitions with that of the ambitions of the society. That the constitution prevents the government from overreaching is a plus. In India, however, the government has limitless powers and there is a big incentive to address the least common denominator at the expense of "common good".
4 months ago
in Where I bait on Something like life
No. I agree there is no fixed universal definition of morality.
1 reply
doubtinggaurav
Oh dear we should really stop chasing tails. Look just tell me what "informs" your morality. And "me being me" doesn't "inform" morality.
To be specific why do you think it is wrong to kill people in general.
To be specific why do you think it is wrong to kill people in general.
4 months ago
in Where I bait on Something like life
It is me being me.
2 replies
doubtinggaurav
So you agree there is no morality.
doubtinggaurav
By the way I hope you realize what you said was a non sequitur
4 months ago
in Where I bait on Something like life
The justification lies with the individual.
Can you decide what is right? And what is not?
Can you decide what is right? And what is not?
1 reply
doubtinggaurav
So Sire, what is your justification
4 months ago
in Where I bait on Something like life
It is. I can believe in morality. I need not believe in God given morality. My value system can flow from my own understanding of the world.
2 replies
doubtinggaurav
But why "believe" in morality.
froginthewell
That doesn't as much as attempt to establish that the "any such distinction" referred to above is valid or relevant. Your "It is" is a complete non sequitur.
But worse, you yourself are weakening your contention by saying ( below ) that the belief in morality is purely "up to the individual" - just like belief in God.
But worse, you yourself are weakening your contention by saying ( below ) that the belief in morality is purely "up to the individual" - just like belief in God.
4 months ago
in Where I bait on Something like life
Are arguing in terms of God or a belief system?
1 reply
doubtinggaurav
Ah, you are getting it. I think to make the distinction between whether we are talking about God or belief system , it is necessary to argue whether any such distinction is valid or relevant.
4 months ago
in Where I bait on Something like life
Is this anything beyond 'no atheists in trenches argument?''
1 reply
doubtinggaurav
Yes. It is. Essentially it is "there are no atheist even outside trenches" argument.
6 months ago
in The problem of democracy - II (Guns vs. Butter remixed) on Something like life
Sire,
what alternative you propose? I will come to your criiticism later..
what alternative you propose? I will come to your criiticism later..
1 reply
doubtinggaurav
Why to make it better, Sire. Will look forward to your post.
6 months ago
in Finally ... on Something like life
Dood,
Congratulations!
Is not she too good looking for you, you ugly hump? My sympathies to Her Highness.
Congratulations!
Is not she too good looking for you, you ugly hump? My sympathies to Her Highness.
1 reply
doubtinggaurav
shut up, where is the gift.
8 months ago
in Confused Post(s) on Something like life
Dude,
I obviously understand that people of Bihar migrating to Maharashtra is not globalization. But what I was trying to say was that people who cant accept their own country men, how would they accept globalization which might mean in few years people from America or china working along side them in Bombay or Delhi?
About your other point, I see academic institutions--even government owned--as different from other government departments. Universities should be place for open discussions and taking politically incorrect positions.
I obviously understand that people of Bihar migrating to Maharashtra is not globalization. But what I was trying to say was that people who cant accept their own country men, how would they accept globalization which might mean in few years people from America or china working along side them in Bombay or Delhi?
About your other point, I see academic institutions--even government owned--as different from other government departments. Universities should be place for open discussions and taking politically incorrect positions.
2 replies
Sriram
When people from America or China come to Bombay for work, they will hopefully learn to converse in Marathi. Just like they speak English and take kids to Halloween parties when they go to America on work visa...
doubtinggaurav
Rohit,
Reg first I understand that, however I still prefer if globalization is not introduced in national discourses. I know you are well intentioned but the same argument that you put forward can be extended (and is extended) to support unrestricted immigration of Bangladeshis or even dismantling of concept of national sovereignity
Reg second with due respect wise guys of Jamia Milia can do freedom of expressions and politically incorrect on their own money, not mine.
Reg first I understand that, however I still prefer if globalization is not introduced in national discourses. I know you are well intentioned but the same argument that you put forward can be extended (and is extended) to support unrestricted immigration of Bangladeshis or even dismantling of concept of national sovereignity
Reg second with due respect wise guys of Jamia Milia can do freedom of expressions and politically incorrect on their own money, not mine.
10 months ago
in Beyond belief on Something like life
Are.. itni nautanki. Band karo ye faltu blog..
1 reply
doubtinggaurav
What happened to goat, ye bastard !
11 months ago
in A rambling post on Something like life
Dude,
Don't question me.
And welcome back.
Don't question me.
And welcome back.
1 reply
doubtinggaurav
Thanku. And apology for the transgression.
1 year ago
in Naipaul on Hindu awakening on Something like life
shut up you fool, Of course I am right. Acknowledge.
1 reply
doubtinggaurav
All right, All right. What happened you are surly? Did someone get your goat.
HAR HAR HAR
HAR HAR HAR
1 year ago
in Naipaul on Hindu awakening on Something like life
Gaurav,
Are you sure about that? It sounds post million mutinies later to me..
Are you sure about that? It sounds post million mutinies later to me..
1 reply
doubtinggaurav
You may be write I am not sure.
