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Why many Indian politicians have a criminal record

economist.com

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Re: Why many Indian politicians have a criminal record

#71

Post by smallnamespace »

flukus wrote: post #68
peteretep wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Millionaires fly without > even seeing border security For clarity, you're saying that it's possible to arrive in -- for example -- the UK without being subject to immigration or border controls? If you're merely pointing out that it's possible to receive much speedier service with money, then yes, there are a wealth of commercially available options operated by airports, private and public alike. That's hardly evi…

You ever see the president get a pat down when he returns from over seas?

I'm as much in favor of equal application of laws as anyone else, but please explain how wasting the President's time would help anyone else one iota?

Re: Why many Indian politicians have a criminal record

#72

Post by marklgr »

peteretep wrote: post #66
marklgr wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Organized crime have had a _tremendous_ influence in Europe, and most countries of the world, up to the very top of governments. In wartime, or when the government is in a weak position domestically, they don't hesitate to resort to the muscle of mafias, and of course this has long term consequences: once they have helped the "state", they have a free hand to do a lot of things -- a lot.

Could you provide some contemporary examples in Scandinavian or Western Europe of where organized crime has had a blind eye turned to it as a result of using mafia-sponsored "muscle"?

The muscle part is mostly historical, up to the '80s maybe. Now it's more about money eg. to fund campaigns. Cf. Berlusconi, Sarkozy.

Scandinavia is the poster child for ethics, and from what I know I would say rightly so, but it's not representative of Western Europe as a whole.

Re: Why many Indian politicians have a criminal record

#73

Post by [deleted] »

peteretep wrote: post #67
Griffinsauce wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't underestimate how much you don't see. Millionaires fly without even seeing border security, meanwhile every other person spends hours waiting in line. It may not be beatings in the street but there are many laws that simply don't apply when you're rich enough.

> Millionaires fly without > even seeing border security For clarity, you're saying that it's possible to arrive in -- for example -- the UK without being subject to immigration or border controls? If you're merely pointing out that it's possible to receive much speedier service with money, then yes, there are a wealth of commercially available options operated by airports, private and public alike. That's hardly evi…

[deleted]

Re: Why many Indian politicians have a criminal record

#76

Post by sonink »

lovemenot wrote: post #48
sonink wrote: post #37

Article sounds racist, but this is the economist after all. Here is the thing - If you look at the past 5 Prime Ministers of India and compare them to the past 5 Presidents of the US, you will find that India more or less throws up much better candidates than the US for the top spot. If Indian politicians had such a criminal record, this would be unlikely the case.

I cannot imagine why you'd think The Economist is generally a racist publication. Have you ever read it? Really? I do not get such an impression from TE at all and I read it often. As to this article, The Economist is reviewing a book by a third-party. If the facts are correctly quoted from the book, the book's sources are correct and the item is newsworthy, I see no problem at all with such a book review. There need…

It is racist because the institutional failing it is pointing out is born from the publications/authors prejudice rather than any objective assessment of reality.

Re: Why many Indian politicians have a criminal record

#77

Post by sonink »

zhemao wrote: post #64
sonink wrote: post #37

Article sounds racist, but this is the economist after all. Here is the thing - If you look at the past 5 Prime Ministers of India and compare them to the past 5 Presidents of the US, you will find that India more or less throws up much better candidates than the US for the top spot. If Indian politicians had such a criminal record, this would be unlikely the case.

Really? The article says something negative about Indian politics therefore it sounds racist? You realize this is a teaser for a book written by an Indian author, right? Indian politicians being more likely to have criminal allegations against them is an easily verifiable claim. And why do you think The Economist is generally racist? Because they don't shy away from criticizing shitty behavior just because the people…

> Indian politicians being more likely to have criminal allegations against them is an easily verifiable claim.

Unlike America, India's court are more accessible to each and everyone. Cases are filed liberally in the political process - in some ways this is reminiscent of our freedom struggle where going to jail was considered a right of passage, and rightfully so.

If you use this to assert that Indian politicians are criminals, you are basically using means at your disposal to assert your prejudice.

Re: Why many Indian politicians have a criminal record

#78

Post by tominous »

Griffinsauce wrote: post #56
peteretep wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> well connected people to whatever > they want and get away with no > consequences > It's true practically everywhere > in the world With the occasional glaring exception (Jimmy Savile, for example) I simply don't believe that's true in most of Western Europe. The press, the judiciary, the police, and the civil service are strong institutions. Reading up on "Plebgate" will give you a feel for the truly pedestrian na…

Don't underestimate how much you don't see. Millionaires fly without even seeing border security, meanwhile every other person spends hours waiting in line. It may not be beatings in the street but there are many laws that simply don't apply when you're rich enough.

Johnny Depp would disagree with you that the laws simply don't apply:

https://youtu.be/ORpBAIB9j64

Re: Why many Indian politicians have a criminal record

#79

Post by sonink »

peteretep wrote: post #65
sonink wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No its not rhetorical and your answer is naive at best. People in India will take money if you give it to them, but they will vote on identity only. This is because there is no reciprocity - once the voting is done the politicians have no incentive to pay them again and they don't. The only reciprocity that exists, if at all, is along identity and everyone gets it. Take a look at any CM in any state of India - their…

> People in India will take money > if you give it to them, but they > will vote on identity only Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. > This is because there is no reciprocity This is the opposite to what published science suggests, and thus needs something stronger than "here's what I think should be the case"

Thats because that published science is born of a prejudiced mind. I have spent my entire life in this country and been a part of the political process in many different ways. Pick any random person from the street in India and he will tell you as much.

Re: Why many Indian politicians have a criminal record

#80

Post by lovemenot »

sonink wrote: post #76
lovemenot wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I cannot imagine why you'd think The Economist is generally a racist publication. Have you ever read it? Really? I do not get such an impression from TE at all and I read it often. As to this article, The Economist is reviewing a book by a third-party. If the facts are correctly quoted from the book, the book's sources are correct and the item is newsworthy, I see no problem at all with such a book review. There need…

It is racist because the institutional failing it is pointing out is born from the publications/authors prejudice rather than any objective assessment of reality.

Thanks for trying to explain your position. I don't have the facts myself. Perhaps you could give a specific example of which data in the article were incorrect. Also, I would be pleased to know how you were able to discern the motivation behind the supposed mistake(s) made in the article.
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