Date: Sun, 18 Nov 2007 11:45:56 +0530 From: "Radhakrishnan Nair" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Good piece, Mario! I agree with you in toto. > No unnecessary barbs, no condescending sneers. Looks like you're determined for an image makeover on Goanet :-) > Mario responds: > Hey, RKN, > I was hoping no one would notice and ruin my reputation, but I see you could not resist:-)) > I have resolved to avoid UNNECESSARY barbs, and CONDESCENDING sneers and thereby reduce the stress I used to cause the Goanet moderators in days gone by, not to mention certain errant Goanetters. > However, there may be occasions where HONEST observations are necessary, either to elevate the debate, to correct the record or to put a proper context and perspective on misguided comments by a misinformed poster:-)) > But, hey, it takes all kinds, and in the overall scheme of things I believe that we are all entiled to our own opinions, but not to our own facts. We can all disagree without being disagreeable, or agree to disagree, but there are always exceptions to every rule:-)) But, I digress. > Re. the issue of societal carelessness in our homeland, is there any explanation for why what is arguably the most intelligent society on earth, now finally on the brink of major economic achievements which their leaders unintentionally suppressed for 50 years after independance leading to the massive brain drain that benefitted mostly the western democracies, cannot see that the fastidious personal cleanlinliness that they mostly all maintain in the privacy of their own homes should be continued in public for the benefit of all? > I think the "Kala Paisa" phenomenon started in the dark days of extreme socialism when the top marginal income tax rate was 97.5% and there was a cap of Rs.15,000.00 per month on executive salaries. Of course, the most intelligent society on earth were not as stupid as their political leaders and a two tier economy was born. > Now that the marginal income tax rate is low and there is no cap on executive salaries, we are seeing more tax compliance every year, but decades old habits die hard, especially when corrupt politicians and creative tax accountants abound and tax collectors collect their own "kala paisa", but an all-time high of 39 million tax returns is a shocking statistic and shows that massive tax cheating is taking place at the expense of the entire country. > Only relentless exposure and education is likely to turn the tide, but it seems like this has not yet begun and the political and educational leadership seems to be completely overlooking this blight on India's society. >