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He came to my house very early in the morning and said, “Madam, “koi Jugaad lagaao”; help me in finding a way out. I asked, for what?
He said, Madam, I wish to work at famine relief programme, do something and transfer me for that job, I will be extremely thankful for you, you know how difficult it is to lead a good life with this clerical job, we middle class people keep struggling for every materialistic opportunity, if I get a chance to work at famine relief programme, I will also grab some rubies from the treasure.
I said, but Mr. Viththal, you have no record of any sort of missionary work and social services, if anyhow I try to get you employed at famine relief programme, even than what good you will do there? We need actual good workers there in the famine hit areas, people are suffering extreme scarcity of water, food and fodder, children are starving to death and cattle are at the verge of end, there should be a proper way and efficient workers to provide them all possible sort of relief.
Mr Viththal said, “Madam, you are wrong about my abilities, I have already worked for many self-service-associations. I know how extreme famine situations are and I know what I can do for the people suffering out there. You are possibly not aware of the fact that all those who are employed at famine relief programme are already making gold out of sand, and in my case, you are asking for a character and capability certificate. Please tell me clearly, what help I may get from you regarding my job transfer to famine relief programme.
I said, it is not very difficult, I have direct connection with famine relief ministry and famine relief minister is my good pal. Whenever I will refer you, you will get a transfer letter to famine relief programme. However, are you ready to share the famine?
He said, “Ohh madam, why are you making it complicated, I won’t be the only one to enjoy the butter. Even ants will get the remnants of cheese and you will surely get your lioness share, but how could you manage this double standard? Just moments ago, you were sceptical about my character and capabilities and now you are asking for your share?
I said, Mr. Viththal, honesty does not suit in such situations; famine is to be taken as defence deals. People are starving in huge numbers, no matter how much you provide them, it will not be sufficient and they will suffer. Its similar to the work of a coal broker, no matter you do nothing, your hands will be stained black, people will complain and blame you for their sufferings and it has no solution, no one can satisfy their demands. That is why Mr. Minister is employing only those workers for the famine relief programme who are efficient in making best use of the situations, make fortunes of the swindle, that is why the workers already employed in relief programme are gathering riches, and are providing the asked share for Mr. Minister. As for me, why should I loose my chance of making a share when I know it’s a huge scam which will never be questioned.
Mr. Viththal said, yes madam, you are right, I agree for everything, I will provide you your share and will serve Mr. Minister too, but please transfer me to work at famine relief programme. It is high time, if anyhow it rained, then both of us will suffer, as the issue of famine will loose its shine. So let us pray for staying the famine so that we can keep distributing reliefs in famine.
I said, Ok Mr. Viththal, come to my house again at evening and then we will visit Mr. Minister’s Bungalow together, you should be employed at famine relief programme as soon as possible so that the relief distribution may be properly channelized and we can gather the possible benefits.
After intensive talks with Mr. Viththal about the famine relief programme, I started planning for the evening to take Viththal Bhai to Mr. Minister’s house. I knew it would be hugely beneficial for all three of us.
In the book Time Will Run Back,[1] Henry Hazlitt explained this fundamental problem of collective systems properly through a discussion between the protagonist and his ally, here is an excerpt —
“What you are saying, Adams, is that we are all more generous collectively than we are individually. Or rather, that we are all willing to be more generous with other people’s money than we are with our own. Or still rather, that our vicarious generosity, our pseudo-generosity, is greater than our real generosity; and that therefore we should force somebody else to contribute to the support of the needy through taxes, confiscation, or what not. What you are saying, and what Marx was saying, is that those who have not created the wealth should seize it from those who have created it.”
I suggest every one to read the book Time Will Run Back at least once, as it helps one in understanding the fundamental philosophical and economical issues in best possible way.
Footnotes:- Time Will Run Back, Henry Hazlitt [↩]
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189 views5 Responses to “Cultivating the Famine”
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Raj Says:
October 18th, 2009 at 11:05 pmno system is perfect no system is,every system is selfish because it is run by humans who are inherintely selfish,so collectivism never promotes dishonesty,wastage or what soever u term it,it is the people who have lost their morality in this world,who have forgotten what they were actually ment for,if anything needs to be done is in the roots….system never being a non living thing is just an instrument,how you use it depends on us,corruption is the state has always been prevelent,definitely corruption levels will have come down in years cos ppl have become smart,system is the same.It is the people who spoil the system….and people who support it let the virus grow……can you change people do you have any reforms to change people???cos if u can change them system will work just fine!!Why people are corrupted?Money has its own power.It were these people who thought that the poor will be poor no system will help them,had they focused on them than their own needs may be they would have actually got the relief.If u really want to bring change,change the people cos human mind is what needs a dose not the system…..we make n break rules.
HUMANS ARE SELFISH BEINGS YOU AND ME
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT??WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME AND SAVE THIS WORLD?CAN YOU REALLY CHANGE THE WORLD BY JUST TALKING ABOUT ALL THIS HERE.TALKING GIBRISH MAKES NO SENSE.TELL ME WHAT CAN YOU DO?I DONT WANT TO READ BOOKS TO GET MY ANSWER.I NEED ANSWERS FROM WE THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE.WHEN YOUR INNER-SELF HAS GROWN BEYOND BOOKISH FACTS TO TRUE SOLVING SOLUTIONS LET ME KNOW.REASON FOR LIBERTY WISH YOU UNDERSTOOD THE TRUE MEANING OF IT.
Unpretentious Diva Says:
October 19th, 2009 at 2:42 amOn the contrary, Rational serlfishness always promotes honesty, progress and veracity. Rational Selfishness is the virtue an Honest man lives for.
Without selfishness life is not possible. Collectivism essentially inculcate dishonesty because there is no way out, because it is irrational.
Raj Says:
October 19th, 2009 at 3:40 amMiss Ayan Ryand Can you be original for once!Tell me what are you going to do in this situation?Be original ok!and be REALISTIC!
Editor’s Tip: Please avoid ad-hominem attacks. You can call a person child rapist and then tell him that his argument is flawed, but that isn’t a logical argument that’s an ad-hominem attack. Can your argument not survive without calling people names? If not then it must be really weak argument.
sorry if u felt bad i take my words back on saying mis Ayan Ryand….Respect!
I just want a solution
cos this post is incomplete,i wonder why ain’t we talkin about solutions by just telling us about an incident and telling us to reading
Time Will Run Back won’t enlight us.
So i hope you come up with a realistic solution and original and rational.Cos Ayan Ryand period has gone,world and it’s systems have changed in the last 2 decades….fresh idea have to be breathed in this system….just a humble request.
Unpretentious Diva Says:
October 19th, 2009 at 7:38 amI can properly provide you your answer, and if you read all previous articles, you will find the answer/solution by your own self.
But My motive with this article was to lead the readers towards the book “Time Will Run Back”.
About originality, if a child suddenly comes to know the answer for the “Why the apple falls on earth rather than going upwards?”
Then surely his answer matches exactly with that of Newton, but it remains the child’s original answer, he discovers it for himself.
The problem is collectivism, its immorality and irrationality, collectivism which from start states that people have right to rob the producers, that the lazyasses have right to rob the hardworkers.
Obviously, solution is abolition of collectivism and acceptance of Individualism. The solution is to accept that you have no right on other’s property, his hardwork, his body. That you are free of any other person’s obligation and no other person is your slave.
Why do not you try to discover the solution by your own self?
Try to read the book Time Will Run back.
I provided you the pdf link for that book, download it and read it. Its free.
Here is the book link again
http://mises.org/books/time.pdf
You see, discovering the answers by your own self is better.
Aagain, I am niether a fan of rand, nor of Mises nor of any other person. I do like some/most of their works because their works were rational, because I myself can reasonout and support their works with the help of my own mind and calibre, I owe nothing to Rand or Mises or Rothbard or Henry Hazlitt or Aristotle, or Locke or Bastiat (I have read many of the premier individualists)
So don’t ever try to tease me on that line.
Cure of Shortage and Famine | Reason for Liberty Says:
November 7th, 2009 at 2:01 am[…] Cultivating the Famine […]