India's famed motivational politicians

So measurably does India lag behind on virtually every indicator - except, notably, in the size of the software industry and the number of billionaires (India wins on both counts) - that the Indian minister for commerce, Jairam Ramesh, told an audience here Monday that Indians would do well to stop racing with the Chinese and start admiring. "We are not in a race," he said at a seminar sponsored by the Confederation of Indian Industry. "They have already won the race." - http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/20/news/china.php

What a genius this man is. What a truly motivational figurehead for India and its business community. If I had my way, he'd captain/coach/select the Indian cricket team. Aiyo, in case some of you are still scratching you're head, I'm being sarcastic. He is a morose moron and I hate the Indian cricket team.

Mr. Ramesh, has reached one of the pinnacles of Indian politics and commandeers Indian business without ever having read the children's story of the "Tortoise and the Hare". Perhaps he should speak some of my more optimistic Indian friends. They argue, strongly and rightly, that India's growth has been slow as it has been achieved despite not because of the Government. They claim, and I agree, that this is a good thing because:

1. An economy thriving on private enterprise and consumption, rather than Government direction and export, is much more sustainable in the long run. This is evident from the American economy, that takes a licking and keeps on ticking as opposed to the once great Japanese economy, that is only now beginning to find its feet by....you guessed it...encouraging private enterprise.

2. A healthy rich and middle class is necessary to keep Government excesses in check. In the long run, this means greater political stability in the country. Yes, India is a very politically unstable country, but it could be a whole lot worse. Yes, China is an incredibly stable country, but underneath each ethnic, geographical and economic fissure lies pure molten grievance, which the Government only barely contains.

3. India has benefited greatly from being the bumbling billion. The West looks on it with a vastly more favourable eye, handing nuclear, trade and movie deals willy-nilly. China on the other hand is treated like the Yellow Fever, something to be controlled and cured.

China will continue to beat India senseless in terms of economic indicators, political leverage and military might. An entire generation of Indians will grow up with an inferiority complex, they will not be able to use the "Our people are poor because it is a really big country" excuse. Mr. Ramesh will probably die before Chinese start "admiring" Indians. But when the shit hits fan in Beijing and China starts to politically implode (as all autocratic empires eventually do), Indian entrepreneus will do the balle and say:

"Abbey/Arrey/Addey, told you those buggers were short-sighted, what else could you be with those chinky eyes?".