Donald Trump vs Narendra Modi
Both great for their own countries
Both are exemplary showmen
As I sat backstage at Howdy Modi a good six years ago, I could but admire the two great leaders of the free world – as they rehearsed their speeches. The star that day was the Indian Prime Minister as he delivered a thunderous speech to an audience of 50,000+ Americans of Indian origin. He introduced all Indians as his family. Trump threw caution to the wind and walked into the crowd. Our PM threw diplomacy out of the window and pronounced “Abki bar Trump Sarkar”. Trump lost the election.
Biden was a twit.
An idiot of unmatched incompetence
Trump is back. There is no doubt that he is an exemplary deal maker. He could teach a thing or two to Hollywood. But not to the casinos.
Ironically his failed casino was called Taj Mahal. In Feb 2020, he was back at the Taj Mahal with family as a state guest. I was part of the entourage.
I am more amused than concerned about his averments of India being a dead economy. Really !!!! If a growth rate of 7% is dead, then what is 1.5%. Comatose ??? IAt five times the size of India, the absolute growth of USA annually is a little more than that in India. But for how long ??
Trump feels we should not keep up with Russia. And he would like us to love that he keeps up with Pakistan. In fact, it seems he keeps nuclear warheads there. Same for Iran. He expects us to hate Iran whilst he puts up a puppet government in Bangladesh.
In India, word is everything. There is no legal system to implement anything written.
In USA, word means nothing. Trump himself has considerable experience drafting pre nuptial agreements. The U.S. lags behind China because the brightest Americans become lawyers, not scientists.
Mr Modi is soon learning this.
But let’s dig into this dead economy a little more. When a country spends more money than it earns, it becomes a deficit economy. It funds this deficit by borrowing. This is really what the U.S. is. And India is not.
Now you say that the person supplying the goods and services that you consume “well beyond your means” should be responsible for making you earn the money to pay him. Great intent. So far so good.
Next you impose a duty on imports. Good – it will increase costs and reduce consumption. So that way you will spend a little less. And reduce your deficit. But it will also reduce the mismatch in the balance of trade. Matter settled.
Now come to India. I haven’t bought a made in USA product from whenever I can remember. I bought a Ford car once but now the company is closed. It sold made in India cars. So why would India as a country incentivate the purchase of American goods. Be it Google or Microsoft. We are going to build Indian equivalents and throw these cos out. And as regards Tesla – it doesn’t matter either way. His cars are no match to the Chinese which will get manufactured in India.
So what is the fuss all about.
Advantage Modi
At least this far.