Soter wrote: No one denies that Tarvottis and gulfies did not improve their own living conditions and educate their children. But besides improving their economic status and personal social status, what has been their meaningful contribution to the over all political, social and cultural development of this State? They brought in the money and hoarded it in the banks? --------------------------------------- This is why I grow fearful for Goa. There are a lot of people making a lot of noise in Goa, who have no understanding of how economies work and I'm afraid it's becoming a bit of the blind leading the blind, and in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
Let me give Soter a brief lesson in Economics 101. The money that the tarvottis and Gulfies brought and "hoarded" in their banks is absolutely essential to growth. The bank then lends this "hoarded money" or what they call in economics the "savings" (a healthy rate of saving being essential in a functioning economy) and lends it out for investment purposes at a favourable lending rate (also essential in a functioning economy), which is how investment and development takes place. All that Soter sees around him in Goa today is the result of that tarvotti and Gulf money, that he so sneers at. As for tarvottis and Gulfkars heralding the moral degradation of Goa, what is it these people should have done? Stayed in Goa, spending long hours at the local gaddi, then become sarpanches and bleeding people dry with bribes and black-mail. Tarvottis and Gulfkars are doing honest work onboard the ships and in the Gulf. The sort of work, if those left in Goa ever did, they would die of exhaustion within a week. Soon, they would return to touring the beach shacks on their bikes, looking for White British aunties who will pay for their drinks. Soter you should be ashamed of yourself for writing this about tarvottis and Gulfkars, when these boys of ours have literally Saved Goa, unlike the sarpanches who line up outside their doors the moment they return for hand-outs. best, selma
