Twits and twats

Socialist intellectuals are at their best when they are defending the establishment:

That is why the Hindutwit believers have studiously ignored the GFIP estimates. And so should all who share their paranoia. But however passionately they hold their beliefs, there is no way these figures - theirs or the GFIP's - can be connected to real Indian smugglers and misinvoicers. So my challenge to Advani is still valid: he will not be able to bring back his vaunted billions in 30 years, let alone three months. Those who find my scepticism unwelcome can continue to think unkind thoughts. Or alternatively, let them turn to making estimates of black money à la Kar and Cartwright-Smith. They may find none of it, but they will make lucrative careers as economists. [link]

Believe it or not, we totally agree that we aren't going to see a single penny. It doesn't matter how much of the stuff is out there. One doesn't make a wager like that to lose. 

The same thing happened with the OBC reservation thing. The total volume of debate surrounding the black money thing can not even hold a candle to the amount of bandwidth wasted on the reservation issue. Look what happened - no caste census. So we are back to exactly where we started. 

With articles like that or more accurately attitude like that, we aren't going to get very far in that debate. Sure we are skeptics, but our skepticism is not about the substance of what Ashok Desai is trying to say. The amount of stash might be a lot closer to $20 billion than the rather outlandish trillions being claimed. 

We remain skeptic about the faux indignation, because such a gambit is very risque, especially when putting your reputation on the line. 

Ashok Desai does nothing in the article to alleviate our paranoia. Everyone knows about capital flow related stuff, not exactly rocket science. Ashok Desai does not talk about the most exciting part in the whole deal - direct deposit for services rendered.