While at the International Film Festival I needed to exchange some US dollars for Rupees. I checked a few FOREX shops and their rates were quite poor, so I stopped in a regular bank (which usually do not do FOREX) but this one did.
So I step in around 2:15 and it took 10 minutes or so for them to admit they did FOREX (or find someone who knew the correct answer). So finally a lady who knew they could do FOREX was found and she checked the day's rates sheets and it was an excellent exchange rate.
Next is the usual passport numbers etc written down in the nearly universal book that looks like it was bound in the 1890's. When she saw my particulars we began a conversation on various interesting topics. After about 20 minutes, she mentioned that she was waiting for the manager as he was the only person at the bank with access to money.
See in Indian banks, the tellers just sit behind desks and no money is kept outside the safe. The manager was out for lunch during his usual lunch hour of 2:00 to 3:00.
So we continued to discuss societal cycles of revolution, re-establishment of a power/money class, then concentration of wealth and power leading to degeneration of society and generally eventually the cycle begins again.
We also discussed similarities in the current situation in the US and the British empire in the late 19th century (and other empires heading into terminal spirals)
As we were discussing how the power/money class creates an environment of self-benefit and how difficult it is for the lower 50% to make any real progress, the guard came over to listen in. Guards in India tend to be quite different than guards in the US. They nearly always carry a large and very old (if not antique) riffle slung over their shoulder. These date generally after the East India Company era but well before Indian independence from the British Raj. He was obviously enjoying and agreeing with the analyses.
We also discussed the promises and failure of communism. Aside- Interestingly, the state of Kerala in the far south, is the only freely elected communist government on the planet and actually has worked fairly well. Its has been mostly in power in this state since 1957 and has by far the highest literacy rates in India. It also is inn the upper third of income and is at the top in income equality.
After another half hour or so the manager arrived back from lunch, the 5,200 Rupees were handed over goodbyes all around were exchanged and I left. Definitely not what you would get in the US.
Incidentally, the lady, despite her rather impressive knowledge of international monetary policy, politics etc, mentioned when we were discussing where I had been in India, that she had never been much outside the tiny state of Goa.
Two days later I had to 'recharge' my wireless internet account. This is done by stopping into one of hundreds of little stalls along most any commercial street, giving them some money and then they make a call to the particular company and instantly you now have that money posted to your account.
The stall Ii headed into did not regularly recharge my brand of modem so one of the fellows had to call for assistance. While he was on hold a conversation started up when they asked what country I was from. at which they smiled and said "Obama" enthusiastically. This was a common event actually throughout India as they are still under the mistaken belief that Obama is a progressive. I had to explain to them that while he may personally be a good person I had found little to no improvement from the bush era. With the mere mention of the name 'bush' they became agitated with disgust and went on a tirade of how horrid bush was and how much damage globally he had done.
The conversation moved on to a comparison of corruption as it manifests itself in India and the US.
Corruption in India is a massive issue. Corruption is universal and at every level from the lowest to the highest. It saps most of the vitality out of the economy and makes innovation and progress very difficult.
I explained to them that while there is little to no corruption in the lower levels of American society, the upper levels are just as corrupt as India. That here in the US all you need is money to buy laws and regulations. That here (like there) money allows you to violate most any law (the ones you couldn't buy to change in your favor). They were sad to hear this as most Indians think the US is the shining city on the hill, the form of perfection.
After getting everything taken care of with Tata Indicom we continued for another 15 minutes when we wrapped up and I said goodbye with hugs all around as if we had known each other for years. 20 feet outside the shop I heard them calling me. In the absorption of the conversation I had forgotten to pay for the recharge.
So I step in around 2:15 and it took 10 minutes or so for them to admit they did FOREX (or find someone who knew the correct answer). So finally a lady who knew they could do FOREX was found and she checked the day's rates sheets and it was an excellent exchange rate.
Next is the usual passport numbers etc written down in the nearly universal book that looks like it was bound in the 1890's. When she saw my particulars we began a conversation on various interesting topics. After about 20 minutes, she mentioned that she was waiting for the manager as he was the only person at the bank with access to money.
See in Indian banks, the tellers just sit behind desks and no money is kept outside the safe. The manager was out for lunch during his usual lunch hour of 2:00 to 3:00.
So we continued to discuss societal cycles of revolution, re-establishment of a power/money class, then concentration of wealth and power leading to degeneration of society and generally eventually the cycle begins again.
We also discussed similarities in the current situation in the US and the British empire in the late 19th century (and other empires heading into terminal spirals)
As we were discussing how the power/money class creates an environment of self-benefit and how difficult it is for the lower 50% to make any real progress, the guard came over to listen in. Guards in India tend to be quite different than guards in the US. They nearly always carry a large and very old (if not antique) riffle slung over their shoulder. These date generally after the East India Company era but well before Indian independence from the British Raj. He was obviously enjoying and agreeing with the analyses.
We also discussed the promises and failure of communism. Aside- Interestingly, the state of Kerala in the far south, is the only freely elected communist government on the planet and actually has worked fairly well. Its has been mostly in power in this state since 1957 and has by far the highest literacy rates in India. It also is inn the upper third of income and is at the top in income equality.
After another half hour or so the manager arrived back from lunch, the 5,200 Rupees were handed over goodbyes all around were exchanged and I left. Definitely not what you would get in the US.
Incidentally, the lady, despite her rather impressive knowledge of international monetary policy, politics etc, mentioned when we were discussing where I had been in India, that she had never been much outside the tiny state of Goa.
Two days later I had to 'recharge' my wireless internet account. This is done by stopping into one of hundreds of little stalls along most any commercial street, giving them some money and then they make a call to the particular company and instantly you now have that money posted to your account.
The stall Ii headed into did not regularly recharge my brand of modem so one of the fellows had to call for assistance. While he was on hold a conversation started up when they asked what country I was from. at which they smiled and said "Obama" enthusiastically. This was a common event actually throughout India as they are still under the mistaken belief that Obama is a progressive. I had to explain to them that while he may personally be a good person I had found little to no improvement from the bush era. With the mere mention of the name 'bush' they became agitated with disgust and went on a tirade of how horrid bush was and how much damage globally he had done.
The conversation moved on to a comparison of corruption as it manifests itself in India and the US.
Corruption in India is a massive issue. Corruption is universal and at every level from the lowest to the highest. It saps most of the vitality out of the economy and makes innovation and progress very difficult.
I explained to them that while there is little to no corruption in the lower levels of American society, the upper levels are just as corrupt as India. That here in the US all you need is money to buy laws and regulations. That here (like there) money allows you to violate most any law (the ones you couldn't buy to change in your favor). They were sad to hear this as most Indians think the US is the shining city on the hill, the form of perfection.
After getting everything taken care of with Tata Indicom we continued for another 15 minutes when we wrapped up and I said goodbye with hugs all around as if we had known each other for years. 20 feet outside the shop I heard them calling me. In the absorption of the conversation I had forgotten to pay for the recharge.
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