Bharat Rakshak

Funnily enough the US has structured its own laws in such a way that dealing with the US demands an acceptance of US laws. A case in point is the end user agreement that the US imposes on all its allies. Those that accept are more allied than those who refuse. This leaves a door open for the US to break the law if that is in US interest. The wording of that no aid to Pak if they went nuclear amendment (i forget the name) had the escape clause that "If the President certified" that Pak was OK. Then Pak was OK. Promptly a US President did certify Pak to be fine in terms of not seeking nuclear weapons and it was business a usual. On the other hand, he end user licensing can kick in any time or be ignored at any time.

I used to laugh at the "No Private practice" rule imposed by the Karnataka government on govt doctors.

One way is to completely ignore US rules like IPR when it came to software, toys and electronics. The other is to push massively for local development of the hardware of global power projection so that military/nuclear power cannot be used by the US to browbeat China.

India is stuck in between.

Marten wrote:Garooda, this might be OT, but please oh please do not forget about the Cholas and Cambodia, if not Sri Vijaya etc.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has launched a complaint at the World Trade Organisation over the cost of U.S. work visas, which it says are too high and discriminate against a group of Indian IT firms, in the latest sign of prickly trade ties between the two allies.The complaint is at the level of WTO "consultations" between the two parties - the last step to resolve a disagreement before entering a full-fledged legal dispute."India is taking up consultations on this issue and hopes to solve it amicably," an official at the trade ministry said on Wednesday, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.The official did not say when the complaint was taken to the WTO, but said Trade Minister Anand Sharma raised the visa issue with U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson on a visit to India on March 26.Last month, the United States began the same type of action at the WTO to open India's market for poultry meat and eggs, saying an Indian ban on U.S. imports intended to stop the spread of bird flu was not based on sound science.A U.S. embassy spokesman had no immediate comment.India's complaint is about a U.S. law from 2010 that almost doubled visa fees for skilled workers to $4,500 per applicant. The bill's sponsor, Senator Charles Schumer, a Democrat from New York, said at the time that the move was aimed at a small group of companies exploiting U.S. law to import workers from abroad."I think the government of India is right that this is a barrier to trade," Vineet Nayyar, CEO of large Indian software services exporter Tech Mahindra, told Reuters on Tuesday.However, Nayyar said Indian industry did not expect visa fees to be reduced and would either become more efficient or raise prices marginally to offset the cost."I think by and large the Indian industry is taking for granted that this will continue and we're trying to see how we can manage it," he said.

Marten wrote:Garooda, this might be OT, but please oh please do not forget about the Cholas and Cambodia, if not Sri Vijaya etc.

sanjaykumar wrote:I guess no more Sick Rantoram jokes.

Budget Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) says his Catholic faith helped shape the Republican budget plan by stressing local control and concern for the poor, according to an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network released Tuesday.“A person’s faith is central to how they conduct themselves, in public and in private, so to me, using my Catholic faith, we call it the social magisterium, which is: How do you apply the doctrine of your teaching into your everyday life as a lay person?” he said.Ryan said that the principle of subsidiarity — a notion, rooted in Catholic social teaching, that decisions are best made at most local level available — guided his thinking on budget planning.“To me, the principle of subsidiarity, which is really federalism, meaning government closest to the people governs best, having a civil society … where we, through our civic organizations, through our churches, through our charities, through all of our different groups where we interact with people as a community, that’s how we advance the common good,” Ryan said

ramana wrote:What we are seeing in US with the rise of the religious nut heads is the death of Modernism. It died in the early 70s with the Oil Shock, Bretton Woods agreement, Vietnam, Watergate et al. Since then scientific reasoning ended in US and religious nut heads took over the social discourse.
We are seeing a era transformation. As Mahbubani said in different context we are seeing a return to the old normal before the Intellectual age.

Walter Russel Mead's article alludes to this in a round about manner. We can discuss this in the geopolitical thread.

I have a very limited understanding of US politics but I heard only the Southern states are religious nutheads. Economically progressive states like California, New York are multi cultural and polyglot. How did this spread?

Altair wrote:I have a very limited understanding of US politics but I heard only the Southern states are religious nutheads. Economically progressive states like California, New York are multi cultural and polyglot. How did this spread?

VikasRaina wrote:But doesn't everyone clutch to their guns and religious beliefs when economy goes south. What is happening in US is manifestation of same story.

Acharya wrote:That means their economy and the culture is built on thin foundation. The aim of being a global power and having global influence is a mirror.

VikasRaina wrote: Acharya ji, If you think hard, what is American contribution to culture except for Hollywood and Pop music ? Rest all is simply derived from it.
As far top economy, I guess being top dog in the global order is like holding and then passing the bowl and currently America is holding the bowl which is anyways on the verge of being passed onto next superpower just like US received it from UK post-WWII.

Altair wrote:

ramana wrote:What we are seeing in US with the rise of the religious nut heads is the death of Modernism. It died in the early 70s with the Oil Shock, Bretton Woods agreement, Vietnam, Watergate et al. Since then scientific reasoning ended in US and religious nut heads took over the social discourse.
We are seeing a era transformation. As Mahbubani said in different context we are seeing a return to the old normal before the Intellectual age.

Walter Russel Mead's article alludes to this in a round about manner. We can discuss this in the geopolitical thread.

I have a very limited understanding of US politics but I heard only the Southern states are religious nutheads. Economically progressive states like California, New York are multi cultural and polyglot. How did this spread?

"China, India, Brazil and others have become indispensable components to the world market and their market potential is still being unlocked," he said, pointing to the agreements reached in New Delhi last month to boost trade and set up a BRICS development bank.
"Rising powers,” Mr. Le said, “should not challenge established powers and established powers should accommodate rising powers".

darshhan wrote:

Altair wrote: I have a very limited understanding of US politics but I heard only the Southern states are religious nutheads. Economically progressive states like California, New York are multi cultural and polyglot. How did this spread?

California , New york etc are not religious nutjobs but leftist nutjobs. Although youth in US is turning libertarian in all states.And as far as California,NY,Illinois etc being economically progressive , well that is history .

Altair wrote: India must be the only place where religious nut jobs and leftist nut jobs share same state! Unless world sees another economic boom like in 90's lot of states, heck, countries will be History!
Economic prosperity of US in 90's has limited the spread of religious cancer in US. Now that it is gone, we can expect a right wing Christian fundamentalist taking power of the WH and spreading it to India and elsewhere.
A scatter diagram of US economic growth and spread of religious fundamentalism would give a very conclusive evidence.

darshhan wrote: Altair ji , India is probably the only country in world where leftists,Islamists and christian fundamentalists have joined hands together to destroy India.And all three use the same tactics where maligning Hindus is concerned.In all the other countries they are slugging it out with one another. Think about it for a minute or two.

And while economic decline of USA may actually contribute to rising Christian Fundamentalism (along with Leftism/Socialism and not to be ignored) , for India it might be blessing in disguise because it will mean lesser money for distribution by evangelicals.Just my thoughts.

Acharya wrote:That means their economy and the culture is built on thin foundation. The aim of being a global power and having global influence is a mirror.

Civilizational strength is inherent quality. US with all the knowledge and economic strength cant import this. Religious nuts might cause global total war as they are the symbols of panic and lack of solid thinking foundation. The exceptionalism is making hard to accomodate different worldviews. Mixing this myth of exceptionalism with religious fervor will lead to medieval era only.

Singha wrote:in my opinion to be a global power just natural resources, population, knowledge base , ample number of high level scientists, doctors, engineers is not enough....one needs another segment...a large base of people willing to volunteer to fight or be conscripted into service......(india, china, usa has that) .... it also needs a very amoral high level political leadership over decades....(china and usa have that, india does not).

hence the 'opportunities' we see going amiss due to the leadership not being focussed enough, but wasting time on vote pandering, sickularism, media games, stealing funds...etc.

the chinese and usa leadership are equally korrupt , but they also keep the bigger picture in mind and work to expand the pie, not just grab most of a smaller pie.

country may have everything that Singha has listed above, but to be a true sooper dooper power, It not only needs to prove its cojones but also get that ellusive halo from the world.
Thats Why neither Persia nor Germany even at their peak were a super-power, nor was Japan or Spain and nor is China since they didn't win any game changing event or stamped their authority.
And that is exactly the reason that India needs to shed some blood, indulge in gore, stamp its authority on badlands and walk tall and preach its own values as the best in the world.

Altair wrote:
California , New york etc are not religious nutjobs but leftist nutjobs. Although youth in US is turning libertarian in all states.And as far as California,NY,Illinois etc being economically progressive , well that is history .

India must be the only place where religious nut jobs and leftist nut jobs share same state! Unless world sees another economic boom like in 90's lot of states, heck, countries will be History!

Jhujar wrote:

country may have everything that Singha has listed above, but to be a true sooper dooper power, It not only needs to prove its cojones but also get that ellusive halo from the world.
Thats Why neither Persia nor Germany even at their peak were a super-power, nor was Japan or Spain and nor is China since they didn't win any game changing event or stamped their authority.
And that is exactly the reason that India needs to shed some blood, indulge in gore, stamp its authority on badlands and walk tall and preach its own values as the best in the world.

BR came to the Siir-Pharr- Gardan Uttar- Garre Murde ukkhar conclusion almost a decade ago. Paki will provide the oppertunity unless they kill each other first. Indians failed in head chopping compition is known and historical fact. since we are here, its never too late to learn.

Garooda wrote:
I am not comparing India. I am only participating in a thread and discussion and presenting my opinion.
Your view points seem to be promoting a foreign western view point on Indian society and that is the problem.
This is a Indian interest forum and foreign viewpoints are not appreciated.
----------------------------
That is not true but I do not wish to elaborate on my view points as it is just that...a view point.
I am not looking to be appreciated or receive kudos on a forum. But it is very understandable
if the viewpoints are not appreciated.

I will lay my discussion to rest.

Prasobh wrote: IMO, we don't need a bloodied mantle to place on our heads. It is entirely possible to be a super duper power without having to fire a single bullet. Till 1400's, India's soft power extended from the Asiatic regions to Europe. There is no reason that cannot be replicated again.

Acharya wrote:

Garooda wrote:
I am not comparing India. I am only participating in a thread and discussion and presenting my opinion.
Your view points seem to be promoting a foreign western view point on Indian society and that is the problem.
This is a Indian interest forum and foreign viewpoints are not appreciated.
----------------------------
That is not true but I do not wish to elaborate on my view points as it is just that...a view point.
I am not looking to be appreciated or receive kudos on a forum. But it is very understandable
if the viewpoints are not appreciated.

I will lay my discussion to rest.

Good. What the British have done to Indians over the last 200 years you cannot even come to that level. Trust the rest of the folks here your opinions are nothing compared to what British have done in the last 200 years.
You can save some bandwidth here. You will not be adding any value much

Stop crying about how and what the British did to the country.

Garooda wrote:
Stop crying about how and what the British did to the country. We all know who did what as a nation. It sounds so much like what the 'african american' community rants about in the US all the time and continue to play the blame game. You are redigressing what was discussed already. This forum is a discussion place as any other. I have opinions and so do others. They do not have to comply with each other. So stop preaching what the others might or might not think about my opnions. How do you really add a lot of value to this website? By agreeing to everything and everyone? You think you are the almighty to decide what value who should bring to the forums? Who made you the judge? If the Mods feel if I'm out of line then let them address the issue. One agrees or disagrees to opinions its plain and simple.

Garooda wrote: Stop crying about how and what the British did to the country. We all know who did what as a nation. It sounds so much like what the 'african american' community rants about in the US all the time and continue to play the blame game. ......

...the weavers lost their occupation, fell back on agriculture and were starved to death. One Viceroy stated that " the bones of the cotton weavers are bleaching the plains of India. The misery hardly finds a parallel in the history of commerce."

venug wrote:

Stop crying about how and what the British did to the country.

I apologize to butt in. With no retrospection, how can one take corrective steps? how do you propose corrective and preventive measures? with 85 million intentional and diabolically planned Indian deaths in British era, many magnitudes worse than what Hitler had done. Why don't you preach the same to your jewish brothers in US and ask them to move on? No one is playing the victim card here, Indians never raised the victim hood boogie for any reason. From 1AD till 18th century, India had one of the best GDPs in the world. After the british came GDP plunged drastically. Now how do you explain being the best to making us slum dwellers in the eyes of the west? so much that western press doesn't miss a chance to talk about Indian poverty every given chance? if not for the Brits, we certainly wouldn't have had the slum dogs epithet. What Brits had done still reverberates and effects every Indian life even to this day.

Now you say we are crying? no one is crying, we are just refreshing our memory what has happened lest we forget and make the same mistakes. But I certainly can sense your disdain callousness to Indian plight in your tone though. I don't care your racists objections about African-Americans, not that I don't care, but I care only about Indians more.

devesh wrote:

Garooda wrote:

tell that to the Indians who died of starvation due to sheer neglect and mismanagement of the British. the rough figure is at 85 million dead due to starvation over a 150 year period. it was done under the "scientific" beliefs of Malthusian theory, and Social Darwinism.
those Indians spent the last days of their lives in wretched agony and pain. they might have begged and wondered why they were facing that situation. why they were condemned to live that life. I want you to imagine that. I want you to imagine your mother and father in abject poverty, with their bodies sunken and hollow, with ribs showing, stomachs sunk into the skeleton, and looking like thin reeds with skin on top, the pain of hunger visible in the eyes, the absolutely pitiful situation of their existence.

then, I want you to tell me not to "cry" about the "British". your callous statement is a testament to your ignorance, arrogance, contempt, and derision for your countrymen. many of us on BRF don't share those qualities.

and as for "crying", yes, I have imagined the above situation with my parents. I have imagined my brother looking like a starved skeleton. I have imagined a future son or daughter of mine looking like that. nothing has shaken me to the core, as I was when I imagined that. the hairs on my body stood up for minutes. I was shuddering. and yes, I did cry. but it wasn't for the British. for the British, there was nothing but absolute and complete hatred. a seething and disturbing anger that made me literally bare my teeth. I completely forgot my surroundings for those few minutes.

before you make these cute little statements about "crying", perhaps, you should put more effort into rectifying your own ignorance.