The friends met again. Money Patel was in bad mood. “I am concerned what is happening back home in India?,” he said to Chaudhry, “My fellow Indians were fans of Hollywood movies, American fashion, designs etc, even shoes, but what is happening now? American politics is sweeping through minds and hearts of Indians.
The presidential campaign debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney was live on all US TV Channels and here we were just shuffling between our own Hindi entertainment channel and main channel for the debate. I heard back home in India, the debate was live on many channels. Some advertising agencies have got instant promos before the live telecast of debate. The live telecast in India was similar to what we used to have for cricket matches in 90’s. People were seen standing in front of large TV sets in restaurants, railways stations or public places listening to Obama-Romney economy debate. As if the two gentlemen were soon announcing the visa lottery for India. And there are immediate reactions.
Now people are expecting similar debates between “Sonia Gandhi vs Gadkari”, “Modi vs Rahul”, “Rahul/Akhilesh/Mamta/Mayawati/Modi/Nitish/Jaya and so on”.
Back to our issue, the presidential debate in Denver, what was the debate about? Economy or tax cut? They said President Obama was not well prepared for the Romney fireballs. But where was the real issue? Both discussed about tax cuts and job creations, but do our politicians really know what ails the US economy? President Obama said, when he took over the Oval office, the economy was in shambles. And the President has announced job creation program – building highways nationwide.
So many professionals who lost jobs in the last few years, who were IT experts, sales persons in big stores, travel agents, marketing executives, management experts etc wondered what job they will get in President’s job promo on building highways. They were on one side. On other side were thousands of graduates coming out of American colleges with degrees in hand and looking for jobs.
And where are jobs for highly educated graduates? Federal jobs? Most Federal jobs are under “freeze.” No one retires from a Federal job. Mandatory retirement is generally unlawful in the United States. So Americans work till they breathe their last.
An average Federal employee works till the age of 80 to 85 years, with exception in few sectors. So there is no way we can create Federal jobs for the new graduates. Many jobs have been lost due to uncontrolled internet sales practices. We have seen big stores closing in many cities as the stuff they sold was available cheaper online from vendors outside US. The only way to control this menace of killing millions of jobs in travel, sales and stores will be to impose a Federal Tax on any internet purchase. If only our policy makers will care for these two major reasons devouring many jobs in US, the economy will move towards better shape. Well, what is political news from Pakistan?”
“Don’t ask me, “Chaudhary murmured, “Earlier we had Military Generals taking over the reign, but I heard even military is now afraid to take over the government in Pakistan.”
(To be continued, for comment email sidakl@yahoo.com).
Postscript a serious note: Let us all start campaigning for a retirement age in Federal/State/City and government owned agencies so young Americans get better jobs. Email your concern to your local senator for enacting a law and a law for a Federal tax on internet sales.
– A.Q. Siddiqui
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