It is true that with a huge scientific and technological lead in the world, the US would sooner or later get over the debt and demographic challenge it is facing now.
Common man suffers
This is with reference to ‘From 9/11 to AA+: Downgrade, downfall, decline’, (August 7). It is true that with a huge scientific and technological lead in the world, the US would sooner or later get over the debt and demographic challenge it is facing now. It must, however, be noted that successive governments in the US have chronically suffered from war-mania. Top of the list is the Vietnam war during cold-war era followed by Iraq and Afghanistan wars in post cold-war period. Even to-day this mindset continues. The wheels of American economy run on production and export of high-tech military equipment like drone aircrafts, bombers, helicopters, apart from products like nuclear plants and spaceships. Indeed, it is the mainstay of their economy. The recent recession due to financial meltdown and bursting of housing bubble was the result of the corporates’ management failure and their excessive greed. It is also pertinent to note in this connection that the US democracy functions by design while Indian democracy functions by default. In the US, corruption does not impact day-to-day grassroot level operations directly. In India, it is the common man who suffers most due to corruption in bureaucracy and government.
— Arvind G Nadkarni, via email
II
This is with reference to ‘From 9/11 to AA+: Downgrade, downfall, decline’. Incidentally the downfall of the US economy started with 9/11, when the mighty US administration was taken by surprise by the attack. That the attack was meticulously planned, organised and carried out under the nose of FBI and Pentagon shows that the once powerful defence of this nation has weakened. This was followed by the economic depression, the US started feeling the heat. The country is crumbling under its own weight. Definitely the US will act swiftly and effectively to control the necessary damage. The writer has rightly cautioned India, an aspiring superpower with better resources to ‘stop dreaming’.
—Govindan Unny, Mumbai
Dravid’s retirement
That Dravid would be called back for the ODIs was inevitable. Hence it was surprising that Dravid announced his retirement from ODIs and T20s following the series against England (‘Rahul Dravid says thanks but no thanks’, August 7). Also he has clearly been the batting star of what has been a horrendous Test series for India so far. He is the unsung hero of Indian cricket and second highest scorer in test cricket, just behind the little master, Sachin Tendulkar. We will miss one of the most consistent batsmen, known for his determination and temperament.
—Shekhar Natarajan, Mumbai
Enough is enough
It is heartening to see that in recent times statutory bodies like CAG, EC and even CBI have started functioning independent of government control, as they were intended to be. The CAG has done yeoman service in focusing the attention of the nation on the multiple scams, in which politicians were involved, by giving a detailed account of the gross misuse of power by them. As a result, the once high and mighty are now facing criminal charges. Also if not for the impartial enforcement of the election code of conduct by the election commission in the recent assembly elections, some state governments would have continued with their corrupt practices. The CBI is relentlessly pursuing the corrupt politicians, something unthinkable a few months ago. And all this is due to the common man who woke up finally to tell the government, ‘enough is enough’.
—Arun Chandra, Mumbai
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