Thought for the day
“While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been
learning how to die.”
—Leonardo da Vinci (Italian, 1452-1519)
Word for the day
Rile (v)
To irritate or vex
(Source: Dictionary.com)
Teaser for the day
Notwithstanding the TV debates on frivolous issues, on
ground this election is firmly about serious economic and governance issues.
Let politicians rule the country
Once a group of
people comprising statesman, entrepreneurs, economists, bureaucrats, business
managers, and financial analysts were asked a question – “What would you do if
you get a US$100mn lottery?
The replies were as
follows:
Economist: “The
proposition is purely hypothetical. I cannot answer this.”
Bureaucrat: “Will
take early retirement, buy a bungalow on a hill station and enjoy”.
Business Manager: “Will
put 75% in fixed deposit and start a business with the rest.”
Financial analyst: “Buy a
good house, make a world tour, put 75% of money in fixed deposit and take a
high risk bet with the balance.”
Entrepreneur: “Will
leverage the money 3x and begin a new business venture.”
Statesman: “Will
investment money in projects that makes at least 1mn people capable of earning
US$10k every year.”
You decide who from
this group is fit to govern the country like India.
Elections for 16th
Lok Sabha are hardly half way past and many people have already started
discussing the likely construct of Union Council of Ministers. This is
something I have not seen at least in past three decades. Of course all this
discussion assumes a Narendra Modi led government in place by the time cows
come home on 16th May 2014.
As per various media
reports, some popular economists are running for a key role in the new
government. The leader of Rajya Sabha Mr. Arun Jaitley is being tipped as next
FM of the country.
My discussion with
some businessmen, corporate managers, economists and market analysts gives me a
sense that most people are not only comfortable with the suggestion but are
rather looking forward to such a construct.
I seriously beg to
differ.
I believe that
induction of non-politicians in key executive posts, including appointment of Manmohan
Singh as PM and Kapil Sibal as union minister for HRD, IT and communication has
done a tremendous harm to the country.
In my view,
economists are trained to be myopic – to constrict their vision to realm of
easily possible; bureaucrats are trained to protract decision making, manage
the day to day chaos without being accountable or assuming responsibility for
indirect impact of their actions; lawyers are trained to be obdurate about
their viewpoint; whereas politicians are trained to think about impossibilities,
to take decisions and be accountable for the consequences.
…to continue tomorrow
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