Dear Innovation,
I generally like your innovative ideas. But this time, I think you are asking for a little too much.
Where I live in Canada, rice now costs 4 dollars per kg (it was about a dollar before the Great Decider's regime). And the minimum wage (in jobs equivalent to a day laborer/rickshaw puller's) is 8 dollars per hour. That is, he could buy a kg of rice for half an hour's wage. Given the roads of Canada, the smoothness of traffic and conditions of the road, a rickshaw puller could go a minimum of half km per minute. That makes it 15 km per half hour. (As an aside: it is the best educated immigrants from countries like Bangladesh with their highest degrees who perform most of these minimum-wage jobs in Canada).
Therefore, according to the standards of a country with a very high standard of living, you could ask for a rickshaw fare for 15000m (15km) ride to the level of the price of 1000 grams (1kg) of rice, not "by pushing the rickshaw fare for 1000m (1km) ride to the
level of the price of 1000 grams (1kg) of rice". (Given the harsh road conditions of BD, I think we could settle for half the length at best). Would you agree?
level of the price of 1000 grams (1kg) of rice". (Given the harsh road conditions of BD, I think we could settle for half the length at best). Would you agree?
Never mind! You don't have to agree. This was just a thought.
Subi
A national charter for better living standard
Posted by: "innovation_line" no_reply@yahoogroups.com innovation_line
Tue May 20, 2008 11:48 am (PDT)
A national charter for better living standard The price of labor and the
governance: look at issues through the eyes of a day-laborer. Can you do
us a favor by pushing the rickshaw fare for 1000m (1km) ride to the
level of the price of 1000 grams (1kg) of rice?
You must be very surprised at the headline and sub-headline of the
article.
What could be the relationship of governance system (something that
pundits talk about in the round-tables in the press-club or the studios
of TV channels or in their interviews to the press) with something as
mundane as rickshaw fare? Are we kidding? No, rest assured, we are not.
We actually mean it whole-heartedly.
We are sending out this article with a very heavy heart. What is the
reason for that heavy heart? The heart is heavy - because the leaders
of the party of Bangabandhu and/or the leaders of the party of Zia do
not understand what a national charter could contain. Many of these
bagha bagha leaders and more importantly, the so-called intellectuals do
not know what government should or should not include in the proposed
national charter. They are afraid what government would pressure them to
sign up for. Afsos! These are our politicians? These are our
intellectuals? Khubi afsos er kotha. Are beta, tora na bolbi oder ke
what a national charter should contain. Doesn't that make more sense?
Govt. e jara bose ase, ora tu rajniti'r kisu buje na. They do not
presume to be learned on that. But they are trying to learn and respond
to the feedback that they are getting. Now, so far, they progressed to
the point that there needs to be some limit in what has been done in the
name democratic politics. Also, what has been done in the name of free
market policy making. So, the national charter will be helpful in
making sure that all the politics and national policy making would
actually benefit the people - the real owners of the country. Now,
would you question how a national charter could help ensure the rights
of people? We could go in detail - but its better if you find them out -
after all, you are the politicians whom the government is inviting to
discuss, isn't it? But let us give you a starting point? How about
having a sentence that says the price of labour would be enough to
sustain the basic need of a person? Do not talk about taka. We would
prefer something like this "the rickshaw fare for 1000m (1km) ride to
the level of the price of 1000 grams (1kg) of rice?" Can you set this as
a mandate for the policy makers? We know what you are thinking. It
sounds too much for those rickshaw pullers? How about half the price? Or
whatever you think is fair. Can you set this a goal for all politics
and policy-making that government and political parties and the leaders
would not stop the working hard until this basic goal is acheived.
Start from this basic declaration. Then go forward in stipulating few
more items that makes the nation a progressively civilized one where
more citizens start using their knowledge to earn a living instead of
using labour for a living. Also, try to think one or two items that
ensures that the youth can work to build a knowledge-based economy
without interruption. Do this favour to the nation selling which you
have fed your families so far, please. And that includes all those
intellectuals who was reported to be saying as the national charter to
be an "ADIM JUG ER CHINTA"! Bravo, mr. professors. Bravo, on your
intellects. Without your understanding, how would the nation go forward.
Bravo, mr. reporter. Bravo, on the might of your pen. You can now claim
to rescue the nation from sliding into anarchy. Bravo, mr. editor.
Bravo, on the freedom that you exercise. BTW, don't you think freedom is
not serving your professon very well, because people often can see whats
inside? We are really ashamed, this time.
Please allow us this writing on a positive note. Whatever you do,
whatever you decide, policy goal should be to achieve the national
economic condition to such a height where an hourly worker would be able
to sustain a small family with basic humane honor. Start from there, you
will then know how to think modern. Keep faith - you can go there.
Also, there is another valid question. When there is a constitution,
what is the need for a national charter. To put it simply, the
constitution is for you peoples, the politicians, the intellectuals,
judges, journalist. And none of you ever think about that sacred
document while do your professional jobs. The national charter is a
simple point by point document (very short in length compared to the
constituation) that the people will memorize and hold you accountable
to. One could say its the summary document of the constitution. Whatever
that is - we would know whether the document is good for us because that
document will be written in simple language. If you thought some of
the ideas are worth of your reading time, please forward it to others.
If you have an ear to the columinsts in regular traditional media,
please forward it to them. If you have an ear to the journalists and
news editors of the electronic media, discuss it with them. Hope they
would look at the suggestions and give due diligence.
Thanks for your time,
Innovation Line
governance: look at issues through the eyes of a day-laborer. Can you do
us a favor by pushing the rickshaw fare for 1000m (1km) ride to the
level of the price of 1000 grams (1kg) of rice?
You must be very surprised at the headline and sub-headline of the
article.
What could be the relationship of governance system (something that
pundits talk about in the round-tables in the press-club or the studios
of TV channels or in their interviews to the press) with something as
mundane as rickshaw fare? Are we kidding? No, rest assured, we are not.
We actually mean it whole-heartedly.
We are sending out this article with a very heavy heart. What is the
reason for that heavy heart? The heart is heavy - because the leaders
of the party of Bangabandhu and/or the leaders of the party of Zia do
not understand what a national charter could contain. Many of these
bagha bagha leaders and more importantly, the so-called intellectuals do
not know what government should or should not include in the proposed
national charter. They are afraid what government would pressure them to
sign up for. Afsos! These are our politicians? These are our
intellectuals? Khubi afsos er kotha. Are beta, tora na bolbi oder ke
what a national charter should contain. Doesn't that make more sense?
Govt. e jara bose ase, ora tu rajniti'r kisu buje na. They do not
presume to be learned on that. But they are trying to learn and respond
to the feedback that they are getting. Now, so far, they progressed to
the point that there needs to be some limit in what has been done in the
name democratic politics. Also, what has been done in the name of free
market policy making. So, the national charter will be helpful in
making sure that all the politics and national policy making would
actually benefit the people - the real owners of the country. Now,
would you question how a national charter could help ensure the rights
of people? We could go in detail - but its better if you find them out -
after all, you are the politicians whom the government is inviting to
discuss, isn't it? But let us give you a starting point? How about
having a sentence that says the price of labour would be enough to
sustain the basic need of a person? Do not talk about taka. We would
prefer something like this "the rickshaw fare for 1000m (1km) ride to
the level of the price of 1000 grams (1kg) of rice?" Can you set this as
a mandate for the policy makers? We know what you are thinking. It
sounds too much for those rickshaw pullers? How about half the price? Or
whatever you think is fair. Can you set this a goal for all politics
and policy-making that government and political parties and the leaders
would not stop the working hard until this basic goal is acheived.
Start from this basic declaration. Then go forward in stipulating few
more items that makes the nation a progressively civilized one where
more citizens start using their knowledge to earn a living instead of
using labour for a living. Also, try to think one or two items that
ensures that the youth can work to build a knowledge-based economy
without interruption. Do this favour to the nation selling which you
have fed your families so far, please. And that includes all those
intellectuals who was reported to be saying as the national charter to
be an "ADIM JUG ER CHINTA"! Bravo, mr. professors. Bravo, on your
intellects. Without your understanding, how would the nation go forward.
Bravo, mr. reporter. Bravo, on the might of your pen. You can now claim
to rescue the nation from sliding into anarchy. Bravo, mr. editor.
Bravo, on the freedom that you exercise. BTW, don't you think freedom is
not serving your professon very well, because people often can see whats
inside? We are really ashamed, this time.
Please allow us this writing on a positive note. Whatever you do,
whatever you decide, policy goal should be to achieve the national
economic condition to such a height where an hourly worker would be able
to sustain a small family with basic humane honor. Start from there, you
will then know how to think modern. Keep faith - you can go there.
Also, there is another valid question. When there is a constitution,
what is the need for a national charter. To put it simply, the
constitution is for you peoples, the politicians, the intellectuals,
judges, journalist. And none of you ever think about that sacred
document while do your professional jobs. The national charter is a
simple point by point document (very short in length compared to the
constituation) that the people will memorize and hold you accountable
to. One could say its the summary document of the constitution. Whatever
that is - we would know whether the document is good for us because that
document will be written in simple language. If you thought some of
the ideas are worth of your reading time, please forward it to others.
If you have an ear to the columinsts in regular traditional media,
please forward it to them. If you have an ear to the journalists and
news editors of the electronic media, discuss it with them. Hope they
would look at the suggestions and give due diligence.
Thanks for your time,
Innovation Line
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