Farida and Shah are right. Production is not enough. Distribution is also vital. During 1943 famine in Bengal (better known as Panchachher Monwontor) about 15% of Bengalis perished due to shortage of food and related causes. In addition to less production, unethical profit motives, and bad politics, distribution played a major role in this great human tragedy. Timely and proper steps were not taken to supply food from other parts of India. WWII was at it's peak and transportation facilities were heavily engaged in war efforts. Amartya Sen has shed light on it in his theoretical works.
From: Shah Deeldar <shahdeeldar@yahoo.com>
To: "mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com" <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: "jnrsr53@yahoo.com" <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>; "kamalctgu@gmail.com" <kamalctgu@gmail.com>; Farida Majid <farida_majid@hotmail.com>; Subimal Chakrabarty <subimal@yahoo.com>; Sukhamaya Bain <subain1@yahoo.com>; Alochona Group <alochona@yahoogroups.com>; ASLAM <syed.aslam3@gmail.com>; "bachchuhaq@yahoo.com" <bachchuhaq@yahoo.com>; "bishawdipta@yahoo.com" <bishawdipta@yahoo.com>; "bangladesh-progressives@googlegroups.com" <bangladesh-progressives@googlegroups.com>; "golardho@yahoo.com" <golardho@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2012 7:55 AM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] The Stockholm Syndrome -- for Jiten Roy
To: "mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com" <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: "jnrsr53@yahoo.com" <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>; "kamalctgu@gmail.com" <kamalctgu@gmail.com>; Farida Majid <farida_majid@hotmail.com>; Subimal Chakrabarty <subimal@yahoo.com>; Sukhamaya Bain <subain1@yahoo.com>; Alochona Group <alochona@yahoogroups.com>; ASLAM <syed.aslam3@gmail.com>; "bachchuhaq@yahoo.com" <bachchuhaq@yahoo.com>; "bishawdipta@yahoo.com" <bishawdipta@yahoo.com>; "bangladesh-progressives@googlegroups.com" <bangladesh-progressives@googlegroups.com>; "golardho@yahoo.com" <golardho@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2012 7:55 AM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] The Stockholm Syndrome -- for Jiten Roy
The question is what poverty and what kind? The poverty comes in different forms and they are no less worse than one another. Certain form can and should be addressed as Farida pointed out. If foods are not being stored in critical and secured places and not distributed to the rights places in this era of supply chain revolution, that should be considered as criminal act. I do not think she meant to say that she is after total eradication of poverty. Even one meal per day would be a great achievement for a starving family.
The definition of poverty is also an arbitrary one. An Amazonian tribe member might be very happy to have some bugs, insects and yucca for his/her lunch and consider himself/herself far happier and content than the queen of England. A bamboo hut what he/she needs to sustain his/her life. Is he/she poverty stricken? Hell no! He/she is just better equipped than many of us, who have lost connection with the true reality.
OK, the point is poverty is man made. You fight for your existence, you are not a poverty stricken person! A Darwinian man/woman should be able to survive if he/she combines both his/ her animal and human instincts and applies them intelligently. Waiting to be served would be a bad idea and lead to dismal consequences. That may be the part of the problem?
-SD
"All great truths begin as blasphemies." GBS
From: Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 8:15 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] The Stockholm Syndrome -- for Jiten Roy
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 8:15 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] The Stockholm Syndrome -- for Jiten Roy
Dr. Das is right - there is no economic system in the world (Socialism, Capitalism, etc.) that can eradicate poverty. What we see in the name of eradicating poverty – is just politics with poverty. For example, current American President is fighting for the poor and middle class in public, and then hosting a dinner party for $35,000 a plate. That's what is going on in this world. You want to get out of poverty; you have to do it yourself. That's the only system that works. Ms. Majid thinks so much about the poor and the downtrodden in India; I can't help but admire her empathy. After all, India may have the largest segment of the poor in the world. I agree, India should do much more to alleviate poverty in India. It just feels odd that she is worried about Indian poor and downtrodden, while we have so many in our own backyard ( e.g., in the slums of Tongi, Sadarghat, Narayongonj, etc.). Unfortunately, her socialist ideology will not provide solution for the world hunger; it has failed everywhere, even in the birth places of socialism. Capitalism has failed also to eradicate poverty. So, I am afraid - there is no magic bullet, and she may have to bear this lingering pain forever. She feels for workers' rights in the USA. She did not clarify what those rights are. As far as I know - there are laws to deal with the discriminatory practices (sexual, communal, racial, etc.) in the workplace. Workers also have the right to quit the job. In my view, that's the most important right a worker can have. There are countries in the world, where workers are bonded to the employers. Those are slave workers. America also has contract provision also, but it works usually more in favor of the workers. What else she could be complaining about workers' rights in USA. Maybe she was talking about the right to organize. She may be suffering from the defeat in Wisconsin. Those dumb Americans in Wisconsin rejected her socialist ideology. Too bad! Jiten Roy
|
__._,_.___