ZEITGEIST RULES #4

• NEW RULE - ANNA HAZARE AND HIS CIVIC SOCIETY TEAM SHOULD STOP DEMANDING THAT THE DRAFTING PROCESS OF THE LOKPAL BILL BE TELEVISED. I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF A DEMAND IT THAT ANYWAY? I AM ALL FOR TRANSPARENCY, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF HARD TALK AND GROUND REALITIES THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED DURING THE DRAFTING OF SUCH A BILL, AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO PUT THE GOVERNMENT MEMBERS ON THE SPOTLIGHT WHERE THEY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING POLITICALLY CORRECT ALL THE TIME (KNOWING HOW NEGATIVE AND TRP DESPERATE OUR TELEVISION MEDIA IS - THEY WOULDN'T RISK OTHERWISE); YOU ARE GOING TO LAND UP WITH A BAD BILL. WHICH IS WHY YOU DON'T PIN A BUTTON SIZED CAMERA TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S KURTA WHEN HE MEETS GILANI OR OBAMA.YOU GIVE THEM THEIR SPACE TO DISCUSS THEIR ISSUES TACTFULLY AND WAIT FOR THE PRESS CONFERENCE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS DISCUSSED. LIKE CIVILIZED PEOPLE.

• NEW RULE - STOP FEELING SO HAPPY THAT WE ARE THE SECOND FASTEST GROWING COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT IS NOT A TRUE INDICATOR OF WELLNESS AND GROWTH WITHIN A SOCIETY. TAKE FOR EXAMPLE THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY - THE MORE YOU SPEND ON HEALTHCARE, MORE THE RISE IN OUR GDP. BUT DOESN'T MORE SPENDINGS ON HEALTHCARE MEAN THAT WE ARE MORE UNWELL THAN BEFORE? IS THAT REALLY GROWTH? OR IF A MILLIONAIRE DOUBLES HIS PROFIT AND THE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS CONTINUE TO STARVE TO DEATH - IS THAT INCREASED WELLNESS OF A COUNTRY? GDP NUMBERS DON'T INDICATE THE TRUE PROGRESS OF A NATION. NUMBERS LIKE INFANT MORTALITY RATES, SUICIDES RATES, LITERACY RATES, POVERTY LINE RATES, EMPLOYMENT RATES ETC. SHOW THE REAL PROGRESS OF A COUNTRY. IMPROVEMENT IN THESE RATES, WOULD CONVINCE ME THAT WE ARE GROWING AS A NATION, NOT THE GDP NUMBERS.

• NEW RULE - DON'T CALL THE NEW GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES THAT PROHIBIT CYBER CAFE CUSTOMERS FROM ACCESSING PORNOGRAPHIC WEBSITES UNCONSTITUTIONAL. TODAY - NEW GUIDELINES FOR CYBER CAFE OWNERS WERE ANNOUNCED THAT REQUIRE THEM TO "TELL USERS" NOT TO SURF WEBSITES THAT CONTAIN "PORNOGRAPHIC OR OBSCENE MATERIAL" AND TO NOT BUILD CUBICAL'S OF MORE THAN 4 AND A HALF FEET. AND WITHIN MINUTES - THERE WERE STRONG RESPONSES FROM "EXPERTS" CONTESTING THAT WATCHING PORN IS NOT ILLEGAL AND THAT THE NEW GUIDELINES WERE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. UNCONSTITUTIONAL? SERIOUSLY? I THOUGHT THESE WERE THE BASIC MANNERS REQUIRED IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY - BE COURTEOUS, RESPECT THE ELDERLY AND DON'T JACK-OFF IN PUBLIC PLACES. I MEAN IS THAT REALLY THAT MUCH TO ASK? OR WOULD YOU RATHER PREFER DROPPING IN TO A CYBER CAFE TO CHECK AN IMPORTANT MAIL AND FINDING YOUR SEAT CUSHION UNUSUALLY STARCHY AND STIFF? I MEAN C'MON. WE SHOULDN'T EVEN NEED A LAW FOR SOMETHING AS FUNDAMENTAL AS THIS. THINK OF THE HYGIENE FACTOR HERE. SURE, IT'S NOT ILLEGAL TO WATCH PORN. WELL, NEITHER IS SMOKING; BUT IT IS ILLEGAL TO SMOKE IN PUBLIC PLACES LIKE THEATERS, BARS, RESTAURANTS, CYBER CAFES AND THERE'S NOTHING UNCONSTITUTIONAL ABOUT THAT. SO IF YOU WANT TO WATCH PORN, FEEL FREE TO DO SO IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR HOME. JUST DON'T WHITE WASH THE KEYBOARD AND MOUSE THAT A HUNDRED OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO USE DURING THE DAY.