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2011-05-15 India-Pakistan

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Posted by Fred 2011-05-15 00:05|| || Front Page|| [11 views ] Top
File under: Commies

#1 The concern is whether the Left is becoming increasingly irrelevant in Indian politics.

The left is becoming increasingly irrelevant in everyone's politics. I am almost thinking I might live long enough to see the repudiation of the entire socio-fasciast New Freedom/New Deal/Square Deal/Great Society/Obamacare. Almost time to go pray.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2011-05-15 06:12|| 2011-05-15 06:12|| Front Page Top

#2 India is becoming increasingly a self-confident, middle class society.

There are still many millions mired in rural poverty, but they see through the media how millions of Indians live comfortable middle class lives, and while they may not achieve that lifestyle. They see their children could.

Posted by phil_b 2011-05-15 08:32|| 2011-05-15 08:32|| Front Page Top

#3 And despite this and India being a nuclear power with a space program they are still receiving aid from the west.

I'm all for their success but it's time to cut the apron strings and let the kiddies succeed or fail on their own.

Posted by AlanC 2011-05-15 09:00|| 2011-05-15 09:00|| Front Page Top

#4 I might live long enough to see the repudiation of the entire socio-fasciast New Freedom/New Deal/Square Deal/Great Society/Obamacare/Raw Deal

Just a slight editorial change--if you don't mind.

Posted by JohnQC 2011-05-15 09:47|| 2011-05-15 09:47|| Front Page Top

#5 There are still many millions mired in rural poverty, but they see through the media how millions of Indians live comfortable middle class lives, and while they may not achieve that lifestyle. They see their children could.

Huh? You've spent how much time in India?

India has an illiteracy rate over 55%, the vast majority of the rural poor living in poverty have little or no access to the media. Besides, even if they did, they CAN"T READ!

I have done lots of work in the Indian countryside with the rural inhabitants. They are mostly indolent, tribal and have no inclination to get educated, or educate their children. Most
Americans understanding of India is grossly out of
touch with reality.

There is a HUGE problem with illegals from Bangladesh and other places not to mention the fact that India is made up of dozens of different ethnic groups, most of whom have no sense of nationalism.

Your post indicates you have no idea of the reality on the ground there. The "middle class" in India is very thin compared to here, and only the wealthy really live well. Hell, our poor drawing welfare and bennies live better on par than a substantial percentage of the middle class there. Next time I go, (October 2011 for 2 to 3 months) you can come with me. You'll have to rough it though, we'll be living with the Indians as the Indians live...and it ain't comfortable.

Posted by Secret Asian Man 2011-05-15 11:50|| 2011-05-15 11:50|| Front Page Top

#6 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy_in_India

Adult literacy rate: 74.04% (2011)
Youth literacy rate: 82% (2001)

Posted by john frum 2011-05-15 12:04|| 2011-05-15 12:04|| Front Page Top

#7 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy_in_India

Adult literacy rate: 74.04% (2011)
Youth literacy rate: 82% (2001)

Wikipedia? Really? That is wildly optimistic, kind of like the way the US Government estimates that there are between 12 and 20 million illegals in this country.

Even the CIA World Factbook only puts the literacy rate at 61% of the adult population, defined as age 15 and older.

Sorry chief, but the reality is that illiteracy is much higher than the Indian Govt. wants to admit. And, my Indian wife and family scoff at the suggestion that India literacy rate is what the government claims.

Posted by Secret Asian Man 2011-05-15 15:50|| 2011-05-15 15:50|| Front Page Top

#8 SAM, depending on when she left India, your wife's experience may be somewhat out of date as well as having a female bias (lower). India has a mass adult adult literacy program for many years.

This is an Indian link so take it FWIW, but you can see trend lines.
LITERACY IN INDIA: STEADY MARCH OVER THE YEARS

Posted by Zebulon Thranter9685 2011-05-15 19:52|| 2011-05-15 19:52|| Front Page Top

#9 Actually using literacy rate is kinda borked for quite a few countries as different governments define it differently. For example while India has a 61% literacy rate via the CIA factbook China touts over 91% (with 95% of all males over 15 being literate). Mind you they define literacy as: "One who can recognize more than 1500 Chinese characters (for a farmer) and 2000 characters (for an office worker or urban resident)".

Both UNESCO and NAAL use different definitions of literacy as well with UNESCO's being: "ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society."

When compared to the Chinese version of literacy you can see there's a MAJOR difference in definitions.

That all being said I'm of the view that countries like China and India have what I would call a thin veneer of the appearance of a growing middle class which appears in the more populous cities. Easy way to really observe this is to view the countries respective consumption of types of goods. A broad and strong middle class would have a large consumption of luxury goods and capital goods, a less strong middle class would see these kinds of goods exported and large consumptions of things like cereals, foods and other raw commodities.

Anyways thats just my opinion.

Posted by Valentine 2011-05-15 19:56|| 2011-05-15 19:56|| Front Page Top

#10 Half the Indian population has a mobile phone.

Half of rural households have a TV with very rapid growth rates.

Mobile internet connections are doubling every year, mostly in rural areas.

I've been to India and lived with Indians (Tamils), albeit middle class Indians. I realize India is a complex mix of languages, castes, and ethnic identity.

I also lived in Asia for 10 years and have seen the poverty for myself.

Nonetheless the communications revolution is happening rapidly in India.

Posted by phil_b 2011-05-15 20:24|| 2011-05-15 20:24|| Front Page Top

#11 If you want a metric of the size of the middle class, I'd use LCD HDTV sales.

About 1 million are sold every month in India.

Interestingly, this is slightly more than China.

Posted by phil_b 2011-05-15 20:39|| 2011-05-15 20:39|| Front Page Top

#12 IOW, Post-Abbottabad/OBL PAKISTAN can't wage war agz India fast enough???

Keep your fingers crossed.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2011-05-15 22:30|| 2011-05-15 22:30|| Front Page Top

23:52 European Conservative
23:31 tipper
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22:52 Zhang Fei
22:50 JosephMendiola
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22:42 Spique Hatfield8822
22:35 JosephMendiola
22:33 Black Bart Sperert2436
22:32 European Conservative
22:30 JosephMendiola
22:27 JosephMendiola
22:25 Grunter
22:20 tipper
22:16 Barbara Skolaut
22:10 JosephMendiola
21:51 European Conservative
21:40 Mike Kozlowski
21:28 phil_b
21:27 European Conservative
20:39 phil_b
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20:15 tipper