I give up

[Seedle]

Originally posted by aneeshm
I ask: is there any point to being a nationalist and a patriot if the very best of your people are like this?

Originally posted by Asher

There is no reason at all to be a nationalist let alone a patriot for a country like India.

There's no reason to be a nationalist or patriot of anywhere.

Also, I wonder how much the results of this poll are because people in India have different views than other countries, and how much (if any) is just Indians being more honest about their beliefs. I think personally think that if you took a poll in America, and the people answered really, truly, heart-of-hearts honestly, that about 66% would say there was too much freedom in America. Well, maybe not freedom in general, but some specific freedom they don't like. My point being, most Americans probably feel there is some freedom in America that shouldn't be, but they may not reveal that depending on how the poll was worded, and depending on how honest they are with themselves about their beliefs.

edit:

Originally posted by Comrade Snuggles

Freedom is its own tyranny. Too much choice can paralyze people, who fear making the wrong choice. In traditional systems, people know what they are supposed to do and what is expected of them. It is a much easier way to live. The fact that we prefer more choices in the West neither makes us superior or inferior to those who chose differently.

Interesting point.

[rmsharpe]

Too much freedom in India?

"The overall freedom to start, operate, and close a business is considerably restricted by India's regulatory environment."

"Export restrictions, a negative import list, service market access restrictions, high tariffs, import taxes and fees, a complex and non-transparent trade regime ... add to the cost of trade."

"The government subsidizes agricultural, gas, and kerosene production; applies factory, wholesale, and retail-level price controls on 'essential' commodities, 25 crops, services, electricity, water, some petroleum products, and certain types of coal; and controls the prices of 74 bulk drugs that cover 40 percent of the market, with another 354 to be brought under controls by a new pharmaceutical policy."

"Highly complex rules and laws limit foreign direct investment."

"Foreign investment is prohibited in most real estate, retailing, legal services, agriculture, security services, and railways."

"The government owns nearly all of the approximately 600 rural and cooperative banks and most other financial institutions."

Any less free than that and you'll be living in Cuba!

[Theben]

Freedom of people, not corporations, idiot.

[David Floyd]

Same thing, ****-stick.

[Lancer]

Uhuh. Corporations are people too.

[Heraclitus]

Only in America.

[rmsharpe]

Originally posted by Theben
Freedom of people, not corporations, idiot.

So when the government has high tariffs on imported goods, it only effects the corporations? How about when all the banks are state-owned? I guess Indians must not use banks for personal finance. And it certainly isn't like any non-corporate entity would be interested in starting their own business?

Oh, and read David and Lancer.

[Blaupanzer]

Not "all" banks, but nearly all of a certain category of low-capital rurally-located banks.

Generally, when people say they themselves have too much freedom they are referring to being overwhelmed by their choices. Without seeing the poll, we can't be sure of the exact setup wording, but Tuberski has a good point about this answer as a possible reference to other people's freedom as well.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by rmsharpe

So when the government has high tariffs on imported goods, it only effects the corporations? How about when all the banks are state-owned?

All of the colonial countries in the 20th Century that have become developed had high tariffs on imported goods. And while all banks may not have been state owned, they were strictly regulated. The Asian tigers were able to develop very rapidly because of such policies, while those countries that have followed the IMF prescriptions are mostly basket cases.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by David Floyd
Same thing, ****-stick.

So China must be the freest nation on earth.

[BlackCat]

Originally posted by Kidicious


So China must be the freest nation on earth.

But they are - carefully guided by teh party.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by BlackCat


But they are - carefully guided by teh party.

Or the corporations?

[Arrian]

Freedom is its own tyranny.

Oh Che. Snuggly as you are, this is absurd.

Freedom can be HARD, that I agree with. Because it can be difficult doesn't make it tyranny.

The reason it can be hard for people in "traditional" societies (or totalitarian ones) is because they've been shackled all their lives and never developed the ability to make choices. It's sorta like the person who is still living with mummy and daddy when they're 25. They're stunted.

Exposing such a person to freedom may cause them problems, true. But it ain't tyranny, bud.

The fact that we prefer more choices in the West neither makes us superior or inferior to those who chose differently.

To the extent that they are really "choosing" less choices, fine, I agree. Our love of individualism doesn't make us better people. I do have to wonder, however, how people w/o much freedom get to "choose." What, by not rising up? That's a choice of a sort, I suppose.

-Arrian

[Kuciwalker]

Thank you, Arrian.

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Comrade Snuggles
Freedom is its own tyranny. Too much choice can paralyze people, who fear making the wrong choice. In traditional systems, people know what they are supposed to do and what is expected of them. It is a much easier way to live. The fact that we prefer more choices in the West neither makes us superior or inferior to those who chose differently.

You would need more than one wheel barrow to carry this loand of BS.