Capitalism vs. Socialism in India?

[venugopal <gvvs@nird.ap.nic.in>]

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I think it is important to see beyond idelogical blinkers.
We have to note that no free market system really exists and it is an
undeniable fact that cartelization does take place.Free markets in the
sense of a good number of buyers and a good number of sellers exists in
only elementary text books of economics.  It is also necessary to see
that human rights violations in the name of socialism cannot be
permitted. The challenge is how to promote development without
endangering basic liberties? Here I define basic liberties as not just
civil liberties but also other basic things like right to education and
reasonable public health systems and right to decent livelihood .
I think the key to real democracy is how does one develop avenues for
participation ? A democracy does not mean merely having periodical
elections where everybody has a right to vote. Democracy means people
really participating in various public affairs. Various active pressure
groups, consumer groups, anti-corruption groups, cleanliness groups,
environment organizations or other issue-based groups should enable
people to participate in the whole issue of governance. The key to real
progress is not choosing between capitalism or socialism but whether we,
as a society,  are really developing avenues for greater participation
of people at large or not. Participation can be in various stages,
ranging from a situation (1) where people are offered 'development'
projects, (2)where the 'giver' consults the recepient,(3) where the
recepients are involved in overall planning, implementation  and
evaluation/ social audit of specific projects and (4)where no
distinction between the 'giver' and the 'recepient' exists, with people
actively participating and deciding whatever they want to do,including
what to do, the manner of doing and how to procure resources needed for
doing the job. Are we really developing avenues for greater people's
participation?



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