FN, my response to the points raised by you: Frederick wrote: Creating hot air in cyberspace is easy. Talking in *very general terms* or without any inaccuracy is easy. It can also be counterproductive, and undermine the legitimacy of dissent/criticism.
My response: Blowing hot air in cyberspace can create the vox populi. Every singular voice of the vox populi does not have to be "doing something" like investigating or reporting or writing or standing up with placards in the street. That voice need only be part of a larger Voice which then gathers momentum and forces change. Voices don't undermine or overwhelm the "legitimacy" or otherwise of dissent. Dissent is dissent. Frederick wrote: the educational level of a person are irrelevant in politics. My response: A teacher would not be hired without a Bed. A banker would not be hired without at least a Bcom degree in banking. An Economist will not be hired without a Phd in Economics. A lawyer will not be admitted to the bar without a degree in Law. Are you seriously saying a politician and MP, who has to work across all these disciplines can carry out his duties without grounding in any of them and with a 5th standard education? The educational level, not just of an individual, but of a society define that society. Sustaining democracies have two things in common; a robust middle class and an educated one. The mind does not cultivate itself - neither morally nor intectually. Frederick wrote: Also, do we need to be so overwhelmingly negative only? While we continuing carping, others *do*. We should appreciate the work of the group which placed all this information online. We need to see what *we* can do to contribute in a way that improves the situation. My response. I agree with you that there is too much emphasis on negativity. There are good things happening in Goa that need to be written about as well. I disagree with you that "We" have to see what "We" can do to contribute. In a democracy the Common Man's job is to live a good, moral and productive life. If he is doing that he is doing enough to entitle himself to a vote and a voice. This notion that Goans in Goa have, that everyone with an opinion has to be "doing" something to "Save Goa" and earn themselves a right to an opinion on Goanet has to be disabused. And lastly there are many of us "doing something" for Goa. It's just that we don't catalogue it. Best, selma
