Goans are pretending to be asleep and fully aware of what is going on. From electing crooks to paying bribes to get their business done, there is no regard for law and order. Of course, this is a world-wide problem - take Berlusconi in a "western democracy" Italy who belongs behind bars but shows his middle-finger at the system while unzipping his pants for underage girls. And not to pick on Rome, but Cardinal Law (formerly of Boston) should reside in a jail cell for protecting child-rapist priests and not a church facility in Rome. And the Toronto Mayor too !!
In Goa, everyone you speak to is for law and order. They talk a good game about fighting corruption and other issues with plenty of hypocrisy. They do not want outsiders while selling their land to Delhi and Bombay land speculators. They want to maintain Goan culture and identity while employing outside labor in huge numbers to work on illegal mining and mega-projects, then wonder why the Goan population is diluted (btw, there are self-hating Goans who WANT the Goan population diluted). They abhor corruption but court politicians and bureaucrats to get their work done. This is a generalization, but let's face it, Goans do not take responsibility and ownership for their situation. In the many articles, videos, news reports on the Porvorim incident, how many times did one hear a Goan say they are (partly or indirectly) responsible for what happened. Instead, blame the govt., the police, the Nigerians, the drug mafia, the Parra locals, etc. - everybody but themselves. It does not take rocket-science to figure out the source of the problem, it takes a mirror. I am an optimist and wish for Goa's success but it is increasingly tough for hope alone to deliver. George
