[aashishnb]

Originally Posted by avira_tk

What do you do that makes you superior to all of us blighted by corruption, lifestyle changes and whatever else you have listed? You haven't given a clue about your line of work, so some of us can make the changes and then thumb our noses at the animals and birds who are pitying us.

People cut down trees in front of their houses because the trees pose an ever present danger, a simple storm can make you homeless. How many fully grown trees do you have at arm's length from your house?

This thread is about people losing their livelihood and life's work because of whimsical government decisions. How does that construction worker leaving his job in the big city, no longer able to support his family fit into your narrative. GTO has posted about his tenant whose business is shutdown, should the tenant have quit the race to make money and becomes an ascetic, to avoid this failure.

I think what he means by 'we' and 'us' includes him/her self, and his/her own experiences, and not pointing at others. Its a more self-realization kind of statement.

[avira_tk]

Originally Posted by aashishnb

I think what he means by 'we' and 'us' includes him/her self, and his/her own experiences, and not pointing at others. Its a more self-realization kind of statement.

That's not the tone of the post at all. Self realization is a first world problem, not for those barely able to feed themselves.

[Zen2001]

In just one month, 75 lakh jobs lost!
Most likely, these figures are just the tip of the iceberg, with many more being lost in the unorganised sectors.

75 lakh people lose jobs in April as lockdowns sprout; unemployment at a 4-month high: CMIE chief.

https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/co...f-6850491.html

Indiscipline of people, government apathy, misplaced priorities (elections, Kumbh Mela), spike of new infections, resultant fear/panic, and knee jerk non sustainable solutions offered by inept politicians - all to blame.

[Sebring]

So sad to read this. Robberies and theft have gone up as a result. Just yesterday, My friend left his Nandini milk parlour for a few hours, (locking just one shutter bolt instead of two), and the thief made off with the day's collection of Rs 40,000. A family returning from Mysore were attacked with rods in an attempt to rob, but the driver had the presence of mind to just floor it and escaped. Car was damaged extensively. Where are we headed as a Nation?

Originally Posted by Zen2001

In just one month, 75 lakh jobs lost! Most likely, these figures are just the tip of the iceberg, with many more being lost in the unorganised sectors.

[Zen2001]

Originally Posted by Sebring

So sad to read this. Robberies and theft have gone up as a result. Where are we headed as a Nation?

We are headed for "survival of the richest" (and the most corrupt, crooked and criminal). Because these are the ones who will survive to scavenge on those who couldn't as a direct or indirect effect of the pandemic, and more likely, it's apathetic management.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by Zen2001

We are headed for "survival of the richest" (and the most corrupt, crooked and criminal).

Absolutely. Here in the small village I'm at, individual panchayats (from this village and adjoining ones) are taking 'lockdown' decisions on their own, imposing different directives, deciding timings for shops (all different and uncoordinated), and for different durations ranging from 4 to 8 days (what the science is behind a 4-day partial 'lockdown' is anyone's guess!)

The priceless part- just last month, I watched (from the terrace) a victory rally of the newly elected panchayat members from this village. They, along with groups of their chamchas, went driving/riding around, meeting people, door-to-door. No masks of course.

So the same people who drove the spread here are now taking arbit 'lockdown' decisions to try and control the spread! Or more accurately, to show that they are doing 'something'.

[enginesoul]

It pains me to see the difference of behaviors in USA and India while this monstrous pandemic is hitting humanity like never before. In my native state of Karnataka, there are confirmed reports of Ambulance drivers asking for 60-70K for cremating the death and a woman who has lost her father offered her 'Mangala sutra' as she didn't have money.

The amount of compassion and empathy you find in ultra capitalistic society like US is way more than what we, Socialist, Indians lack. Adding on top of it is, unbelievable cruelty shown by Police on roads. The way we, Indians, respond to this pandemic is exactly like our govt - illogical, no-empathy and lack of self responsibility.

The urge to come and settle back in India is constantly challenged by these incidents. I am very sorry if I have hurt anyone's feelings.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by enginesoul

The amount of compassion and empathy you find in ultra capitalistic society like US is way more than what we, Socialist, Indians lack.

Can't generalize. (And I'm not saying this out of some misplaced jingoism, way past that stage.) I've seen instances of great kindness and decency during this pandemic from the very people whom this mess has hit the hardest. During the first "grand" lockdown last year, there was a point where we were dependent on one or two vegetable vendors because most of the shops were shut around our place or too crowded during the ever-changing shop open timings. These guys never overcharged us once. Again during this "lockdown part 2" I recently had to clandestinely purchase some essentials from a shop that was shut because of the whims of the local panchayat and again, the owner could have charged me anything, but kept it at mrp.

There are good people everywhere. The media focuses on negativity (not saying that wrong things should not be highlighted, of course they should).

Originally Posted by enginesoul

Adding on top of it is, unbelievable cruelty shown by Police on roads.

That is really, really sad. No solution for that unfortunately. Most people sitting comfortably at home are quite happy with what's happening, they think this sort of police brutality is "for our own good".

[Aceman82]

Originally Posted by enginesoul

......
The amount of compassion and empathy you find in ultra capitalistic society like US is way more than what we, Socialist, Indians lack. Adding on top of it is, unbelievable cruelty shown by Police on roads. The way we, Indians, respond to this pandemic is exactly like our govt - illogical, no-empathy and lack of self responsibility. .

IMHO, this has got nothing to do with capitalism or socialism. Its more a factor of how rich is a country and what facilities they have. Having a population of 1.3 Billion with competing priorities and a lack of resources, cases of hoarding, black-marketing and opportunism will be higher.

Second India was socialist only in higher echelons of government as a policy framework which kept India poor and all the ruling class rich, irrespective of party affiliations. Individually it was always every person (or) family for themselves which it comes to money/resources for compensating any shortfalls.

[McLaren Rulez]

Originally Posted by Aceman82

IMHO, this has got nothing to do with capitalism or socialism. Its more a factor of how rich is a country and what facilities they have. Having a population of 1.3 Billion with competing priorities and a lack of resources, cases of hoarding, black-marketing and opportunism will be higher.

That's not really true. There are plenty of nations poorer than us with far more considerate soceities. The same things that happen in India also happens in China, which, on average, is a richer country than us.

Just look at how we drive. The me-first mentality was here long before Covid-19 and will probably stay long after it's gone. In times of shortage, it becomes all the more apparent but it is nothing new.

[enginesoul]

Originally Posted by McLaren_Rulze

Just look at how we drive. The me-first mentality was here long before Covid-19 and will probably stay long after it's gone. In times of shortage, it becomes all the more apparent but it is nothing new.

This was my next point, right from kinder-garden till university we (of-course not all) forcefully push this mentality into our people which is clearly visible on Indian roads. I never remember myself letting others pass when I was driving in Bangalore but most of big SUV drivers in India never considered me, pedestrians or two wheelers as worthy of having lives.

[Zen2001]

In the midst of all this humanitarian and economic doom and gloom, our Finance Ministry seems to be working overtime to paint "silver linings" on these dark clouds - quite shamelessly. We all know which "class" has benefited from lockdowns and restrictions on businesses.

https://www.news18.com/news/business...e-3725558.html

[apachelongbow]

It would be interesting to know what is the ground reality two years post the 8pm sudden lockdown.
Have we learnt to live with covid? Is the economic recovery floating all boats equally? Have people who lost livelihoods got back their old jobs and careers? How is the high inflation affecting the public? Has spending tapered? Has the public outlook become less gloomy and more optimistic?

We (our forum) is a miniscule non real part of our population. If we take only tbhp as a nation our per capita and GDP may rival advanced economies. Our problems and opportunities are vastly different from the average Indian citizen. They would consider our problems as first world/shallow as we consider Bollywood problems and issues to be.
Sometimes it's hilarious to see people who have multiple homes/properties complain about high real estate prices and how the 'middle class' can't buy a house.

Our economy has got caught in is a jobless rebound. It is merely showing a high 8% growth based on very low base of the pandemic year/s.
2022 has not met the 2019 economic performance so far, forget exceeding it. Meanwhile the folks who have lost their jobs and businesses are still struggling with no hope of recovery.