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This month's Goanet operations sponsored by Mrs. Daisy Faleiro If you would like to sponsor Goanet's operations contact: Herman Carneiro - [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Selma, You long post still does not hide the fact that the only alternative you could think of (whether in jest or not) to a Goan youth being a waiter on a cruise liner was being a waiter in Goa. Please note that the coastal communities are not nearly as economically disadvantaged as many from the hinterland. A brief survey of professional colleges will show you that hinterland regions like Quepem, Sanvordem and Bicholim are much better represented than Calangute, Anjuna or Colva. You will also find that the middle class and lower middle class(economically speaking) vastly outnumber the upper middle class or rich in any professional Goan college, because they generally much more motivated to study. This is strange considering that Coastal regions have much better acccess to a good education thanks to Church run institutions and the vast majority of residents are definitely middle class or above. Why are most of the cries of outsiders taking over jobs and businesses from the coastal villages? Why are only Sashti taxi drivers complaining about lack of business? Whether you like to admit it or not a large portion of the Gulfies or shippies who choose to return to Goa buy tourist taxis or open general stores( both of which are in excess supply). And whether you like it or not a large portion of youth from the coast have no aspirations other than simply going abroad(in whatever role and by any means) and returning to do the same. When you talk about levelling the playing field betweeen the rich and the poor, just take a look around you anywhere in Goa and see how the erstwhile economically depressed classes now run most businesses and control most of the government while the coastal Catholic communities who have always had it better off are crumbling. Are we expected to wait till the education system is upto American standards to start working hard? Are hours spent attacking Church run schools going to improve anyone's prospects? Is spouting nonsensical generalities (a GU degree is not recognised anywhere abroad or our youth can't find jobs as CEO's with their pass class Bachelor's degrees) the way to go? Criticism like the kind Joe Vaz wrote can be constructive, but the nonsense we hear from Albert and Gllenda is nothing but a blame game. Unfortunately for them we know where the blame lies. Sunith