India is fast coming to a point where we need to make a very conscious choice between Capitalism or Socialism or combination (which i advocate) and move on. But the choice should be more out of the Vision we hold for the future rather than just market factors.

Look at the recent responses that Air India episode has given. Also so has the Railways for profit debacle. A friend of mine the other day was telling me none of the rail routes in London Metro run on profits. But then the city still keeps it going. Cause the transport system fuels the economy by moving people and bringing people and businesses closer. Socialism for Capitalism! But then a conscious choice. Nobody is complaining nor is there an outcry to increase the metro rates! Cause you do not equate it to direct input vs direct output.

Likewise expecting the Railways to run like IT companies is probably a wrong direction of thought. Railways should move people from point A to point B at the lowest cost and measure its effectiveness by the economic growth that it spurns and not just by the organizational balance sheets.

Governments are not run for profits, they at best should just regulate. Then what is the point in having a state company and making it compete with private enterprises and crying over loosing!

We need to get the priorities of why we have government enterprises in many sectors cleared up! Else we would not know why we disinvest! why we promote! and why we protect! and why we subsidize!

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