Floriano, My reference to Portugal as a third rate European country was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Let me assure you that I love Portugal and the Portuguese, whom I will defend as the least racist of all Europeans or any other people for that matter, and they have a "susegad" outlook on life that is to be admired. I would love to socialize more with them. > However, I just philosophically disagree with any European country "ruling" any other country. And whatever good you saw from Portuguese colonial rule in Goa, is there any doubt that they used Goa as a cheap source of raw materials and as a captive market for their own benefit, with minimal development that only fit this goal? > As I have said before, some people prefer the "stability" of a nanny state like Singapore, which is a tiny city-state - definitely a somewhat benevolent police state, hardly a pluralistic multi-party democracy. Similarly, some Iraqis and many non-Iraqis preferred the brutal "stability" of Saddam and some Afghans and many non-Afghans preferred the brutal and misogynist "stability" of the Taliban, and many may yearn for the brutal and efficient "stability" of China, versus the "sausage factory" that is India. > Unfortunately for those who may think in this manner, there are millions who disagree. All the migrations around the world are TOWARDS the "sausage factories" of Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and NZ, and away from the nanny states whose stability and whip you seem to admire. Why is that? > The problem with Goa and India is not freedom and democracy. It is citizens who are willing to tolerate corruption and ineffiency and wasted tax money, leaving other frustrated citizens to yearn for a nanny (with a whip) to maintain order. > Perhaps the core problem is that only about 3% of Indians pay income taxes according to a recent survey. > And, please take any comments I make in the context of my being an expatriate Indian simply expressing a somewhat biased opinion. I am very conscious of this and will always defer to an Indian who lives there. > After growing up and living and working in India for several years in the best of circumstances, we gave up on the system and took an opportunity to opt out to another "sausage factory". Fortunately, the world has evolved in a way that we can now enjoy the best of both worlds. > With best wishes, Mario. > --- floriano <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Mario, > All I can say is that > > "PEOPLE HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT 'FREEDOM' IN A > DEMOCRACY MEANS" > > To elaborate further > Freedom means one can do anything one likes. > The whip is locked in a safe never to be seen. > > When I talk of Portuguese rule, I mean 'the whip' > > Singapore is a perfect democracy where I see the > omnipotent/omnipresent > WHIP which brings out blood and keeps lasting > scars. Maybe like Rane, you > will prefer to say that Singapore is a 'police > state' > > A third rate European Country by your standards, > maybe. > But have been there extensively just like in > Singapore. >
