Hi Marlon, 2008/11/6 marlon menezes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Fred, > I think you are quite missing the entire context of the message, which > was a critique of McCain, not the Vietnam war. The Vietnam war is > recognized as one of America's greatest foreign policy disasters.
Obviously, I was responding on a point that made sense to my frame of reference. Or, blinkers, if you like. But I found it cute the way you mentioned being in Vietnam, as if it was such a superb thing to do :-) and hence couldn't resist responding. > Since we are on the topic of policy failures, why is it that the Goan > populace continues to vote in goons and criminals to power? Is > the Goan public stupid or stupid? At least in America, the > public makes amends every few years! I lack the triumphalism that you can afford to have there, sitting in the USofA. What, in Konkani, might be termed the 'poddlear suddha nak voir-ism' (ending up nose-up, even after a mighty tumble). Incidentally, in Goa, I don't think the only issue or main issue is of "goons and criminals". It has to do with attempting to build electoral democracy in a society which has a large component of illiteracy (never mind the official claims of 80%+ literacy). Also, a society where votes can still be bought. Above all, I think it has to do with the real powers behind the 'goons and criminals'. The permanent government and the many a lobby that decides which way Goa will move in. It only chooses the front-men who act on their behalf. And then demonises them when they are past their use-by date. Or temporarily dispensed with. Don't go by newspaper headlines alone. FN