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Libertarian / Libertarian Quotes

Lastly, I would like to thank Govinda Siwakoti for providing me the photographs and Lokesh Karna for helping me design the wallpapers.

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Apr 6, 2012

केही लिबर्टेरियन भनाइइहरु - ९

April 06, 2012 Surath Giri

१) धन-सम्पत्तीको मुल श्रोत भनेकै श्रीजनात्मक चतुरता हो जसको कुनै सीमा हुँदैन । त्यसैले अस्तित्वमा भएको धन्-सम्पत्तीको पारीमाण जहिले पनि ब्रिद्धी गर्न सकिन्छ। त्यसैले नै त "पूँजीवाद" लाई "पैसा बनाउनु " पनि भनिन्छ । -Marc Geddes

२) सरकारको "सुरक्षित दास" हुनुभन्दा त म केही जोखिम सहितको स्वतन्त्रतामा नै जिउन रुचाउछु । -Dave Duffy

३) जनताको दिमाग भ्रस्ट गर्नेहरु जनताको ढुकुटीबाट चोर्नेहरु जत्तिकै खराब हुन । -Adlai E. Stevenson

४) समानताको सोख प्रती मेरो कुनै सम्मान छैन । यो इर्श्याको आदर्शिक्रित रुप मात्र हो । म इर्श्यालाई निन्दा त गर्दिन तर इर्श्यालाई म आफ्नो मालिकको रुपमा भने स्विकार्दिन । -Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

५) सरकारले बजेट घाटा आँफै कम गर्ला भनेर आस गर्नु माफियाले आँफै अपराध नियन्त्रण गर्ला भनेर आस गर्नु जस्तै हो ।- Anonymous

६) समाजवादीहरु आफ्ना अधिकारण र पुनर्बितरणका योजनाहरुलाई असल र दयालु भन्न रुचाउछन। तर हामीले सोध्नुपर्छ के चोरी कहिल्यै असल र दयालु भन्ने हुन्छ ? -Robert Hawes

७) पूँजीवादको सम्रचना माथि जती प्रश्न गरिन्छन , त्यती नै प्रश्न बिदेशी अनुदानको सम्रचना माथि गरिएको भए , आज अफ्रिका यस्तो हुने थिएन । -Dambisa Moyo

८) अनुदानले गरीबी काम गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने सोच एउटा मिथ्या भ्रम मात्रा हो । अफ्रिकामा आज लाखौ मानिसहरु झन गरीब भएका छन त केवल बिदेशी अनुदानका कारणले । गरीबी र बिपत्ती घट्नुको साटो बढेको छ । अनुदान , विश्वका अधिकन्श बिकासोन्मुख मुलुकहरुको लागि राजनैतीक , आर्थिक र मानबिय प्रकोप हुन गएको छ । -Dambisa Moyo

९) उदार र दयालु बन्न एकदम सजिलो हुन्छ जब अरु कसैले खर्छ बेहोर्दिराखेका हुन्छन । -Murray N. Rothbard

१०) कुनै पनि राम्रो काम स्वैच्छिक रुपमा भएको छैन भने त्यस्को कुनै नैतीक मूल्य हुँदैन । -Everett Dean Martin

Libertarian / Libertarian Quotes / Nepali / Translated

Jan 1, 2012

केही लिबर्टेरियन भनाइइहरु - ८

January 01, 2012 Surath Giri

यो नयाँ बर्षको सुरुवात केही स्वतन्त्रताप्रेमी भनाइइहरुबाटै गरौ होला ।

१) म माथि कुनै निर्णय चाहे कुनै तानाशाहले लादोस या त मेरो छिमेकीहरुको बहुमतले लादोस , के नै फरक पर्छ र ? मेरो स्वतन्त्र र शान्तिपुर्वक काम गर्न पाउने अधिकार त जे गरी पनि छिनियो नै । - Stephen H. Foerster

२) सरकारले जुत्ता कारखाना नचलाएकै भएर मान्छेहरु खाली खुट्टा हिंडेका चै होइनन है । -Anonymous

३) केही बर्षको अन्तरालमा मालिक छान्न पाउदैमा कुनै मान्छे काम दास हुन्छ भन्ने हुँदैन । -Lysandeer Spooner

४) मतदान गर्न पाउने अधिकार हुँदैमा मानिसहरु स्वतन्त्र रहन्छन भन्ने कुराको ग्यारेन्टी हुँदैन । कहिलेकही मानिसहरुले मतदान मार्फत आँफैलाई दाशत्वतर्फ डोर्याउने काम पनि गर्दछन । -Frank Chodorov

५)आँधी आउँदा गरिएका संकल्पहरु शान्तिको बेलामा बिर्सियिन्छन । -Old English Saying

६) राजनीति भनेको सिद्धान्तहरुको लडाईं रुपी खोल ओढेको स्वार्थहरुको झगडा बाहेक केही होइन । -Amrose Bierce

७) ऋन लिउ , खर्च गर , कर उठाउ ... अनी आस्वासन, आस्वासन अनी अझै आस्वासन देउ । यो नै लामो र सफल राजनीतिक करीयरको सुत्र हो । -Hal O'Boyle

८) स्वतन्त्र बजारमा हुने भन्दा विपरित राजनीतिक सरकारमा कुनै एउटा व्यक्तीले जित्नका लागि अर्को कुनै व्यक्तीले हार्न जरूरी हुन्छ । - Robert Klassen

९) लोकतन्त्रको एउटा बिशेषता भनेको बिशेष हित-समूहहरुको अन्तर्द्वन्द हो जहाँ प्रत्येक समूह आफुलाई बहुमतको समूह भएको दावी गर्छ र बाँकी समूहहरु माथि शोषन गर्न खोज्छ । - Robert Garmong

१०) निजी सम्पत्तिको प्राबधान स्वतन्त्रताको ग्यारेन्टी हो । यो धन हुनेहरुको लागि जती महत्वपूर्ण छ , धन नहुनेहरुको लागि पनि उत्तिकै महत्वपूर्ण छ । - F.A. Hayek

माथिका भनाइइहरु मन परेमा मज्जाले Share गर्नुहोला ।

Nov 7, 2011

केही लिबेर्टेरियन भनाइहरु -७

November 07, 2011 Surath Giri

केन्द्रिक्रित शक्ती जहिले पनि स्वतन्त्रताको शत्रु हुँदै आएको छ । -Ronald Reagan
स्वतन्त्रता बिनाको जीवन आत्मा बिनाको शरीर जस्तै हुन्छ । - Khalil Gibran
कानूनव्यवस्था बिनाको स्वतन्त्रता र स्वतन्त्रता बिनाको कानूनव्यवस्था दुवै उत्तिकै घातक हुन्छन । -Theodore Roosevelt
आर्थिक स्वतन्त्रता बिना साँच्चैको स्वतन्त्रता सम्भव छैन । - Margaret Thatcher
कुनै पनि सरकारको मुख्य उदेश्य देशको आत्मारक्षा हो , साम्राज्य बनाउनु होइन । -Joseph Sobran
पूँजीवादको अन्तर्निहित खराब पक्ष भनेको धनको असमान बितरण हो । तेसै गरी समाजवादको अन्तर्निहित असल पक्ष भनेको गरीबीको समान बितरण हो । -Winston Churchill
अर्थतन्त्रप्रतिको सरकारको धारणालाई केही वाक्यमा समेट्न सकिन्छ : चलिराखेको छ भने कर लगाउ , अझै चलिराख्यो भने नियमन गर । अनी जब चल्न छोड्छ अनुदान दिन थाल । - Ronald Reagan
हामीलाई सरकार चाहिन्छ तर सधैं बाजले सरह तेस्लाई निरिक्षण गरिराख्नु पर्छ । -Millicent Fenwick
जहाँ नैतीकता हुन्छ , त्यहाँ कानून को आवश्यकता नै पर्दैन, जहाँ नैतीकता हुँदैन, त्यहाँ कानून बनाएर पनि काम लाग्दैन । -Anonymous
समाजवादीहरु तेस्ता व्यक्ती हुन जो आफुलाई अरु मानिसहरुको ऋणी सम्झन्छन र त्यो ऋण चै सरकारले अर्काको पैसा बाट तिरिदेओस भन्ने चाहन्छन । -Gordon Liddy

Libertarian / Libertarian Quotes / Nepali / Translated

Oct 8, 2011

Seth Godin's Purple Cow and Promoting Libertarianism

October 08, 2011 Surath Giri

I just finished reading Seth Godin's remarkable book called Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable. Seth Godin is a well-known entrepreneur, author and public speaker and a very respected figure in the field of marketing. In this short and simple book, which in fact looks more like an essay stretched into a book, Godin presents one simple but remarkable idea; the old ways of marketing is dead. Overwhelming people with ads about your products or services through every conceivable medium doesn't produce results anymore. Why?

Because there is too much competition, too much ads and products but no time/money/interest among consumers for your products or services. He says, "The sad truth is that whatever you make, most people cannot buy your product. Either they don't have the money, or they don't have the time, or they don't want it. The world has changed, there are far more choices and less and less time to sort them out."

The way out? Be Remarkable. Create something that is worth noticing and that people talk about. Ideas that spread are more likely to succeed than those that don't. Rather than targeting mass public and spending millions of dollars on advertising, target the early adapters who are constantly in search of new products and services and make your products remarkable enough to impress them. Also known as sneezers these small segments of consumers aren't only looking out for remarkable new products, services or ideas but when impressed they also tell and urge their friends and families to use the product. This method is more effective in catapulting your sales.

I really liked the book and the idea. Although, the context of the book is purely business sector, I think the idea is equally applicable in the market place of ideas and ideologies. I have found in my conversations with many people that general people rarely have a preset set of stands regarding social or economic issues. The same person may take a liberal (classical) stand on one issue whereas he/she may take an authoritarian stand on another issue. As discussed in the book, I think it's because these people lack time and/or interest to learn more about the deeper implications of issues at hand. At the same time, too many ideologies are competing for their attention and support. I think targeting mass public with ideas is less effective than targeting the sneezers of the world of ideas. Grabbing their (sneezers) attention and impressing them with the remark-ability of classical liberal ideas could go a long way in promoting liberty. Libertarianism , I believe has the features of remark-ability and a set of Otaku supporters, which should be exploited for the mission. How to find these sneezers in the world of ideas could be a whole different topic of conversation.

Book Reviews / Books / Libertarian

Sep 27, 2011

केही लिबेर्टेरियन भनाइहरु -६

September 27, 2011 Surath Giri

धन को उत्पादन माथिको नियन्त्रण मानव जीवन माथिकै नियन्त्रण हो । -Hilaire Belloc
कर उठाएर कुनै देश धनी हुन्छ भन्नु कुनै मान्छे बाल्टिनभित्र बसेर बाल्टिन उचाल्न खोज्नु जस्तै हो । -Winston Churchill
पहिले उनीहरुले तपाईंलाई बहिस्कार गर्थे - काले भएकाले । अहिले उनिहरु तपाईंलाई समाबेश गर्छन् - काले भएकाले । तपाईं त्यसलाई प्रगती भन्नुहुन्छ ? -Marylin French
कुनै पनि सरकारले स्वेच्छाले आफ्नो आकार घटाऊदैन । सरकारी कार्यक्रमहरु एक चोटि लागु गरेपछी बिरलै मात्र हराउछन । -Ronald Reagon
समाज आफ्ना सदस्यहरुको भलाईको लागि अस्तित्वमा रहन्छ नकी समाजको भलाईका लागि मानिसहरु । -Herbert Spencer
नाफा कमाउनु नराम्रो हो भन्ने बिचार समाजवादीहरुको हो , म त घाटा खानु चै नराम्रो कुरा हो भन्छु । -Winston Churchill
राजनीतिग्यले आफुले भनेको कुरामा आँफै विश्वाश गर्दैन , त्यसैले अरुले उस्का कुरा पत्याउदा उ आँफै छक्क पर्छ । -Charles DeGaulle
मृत्यु र कर बिचको फरक के हो भने ,मृत्यु सदन बसेइ पिच्छे नराम्रो हुँदै जादैन । -Will Rogers
लोभी पुँजिपतीहरु पैसा कमाउन परे व्यापार गर्छन् , असल समाजवादिहरु पैसा कमाउनु परे अर्काको खोस्छन । -David Friedman
अधिकार भनेको "जुन तपाईंलाई अरुले दिनुपर्छ " भन्ने होइन । अधिकार भनेको "जुन अरुले तपाईंबाट खोस्न पाउदैन" भन्ने चै हो । -Ramsey Clark

Libertarian / Libertarian Quotes / Nepali / Translated

Aug 22, 2011

केही लिबर्टेरियन भनाइहरु - ५

August 22, 2011 Surath Giri

Source: Teamster Blog

मानिसलाई दास बनाउनका लागी सबैभन्दा राम्रो र प्रभावकारी उपाय उसलाई निहत्था गर्नु हो । -George Mason
आगो, पानी र सरकार -यी तीन कुरालाई दया के हो भन्ने थाहा हुँदैन । -Albanion Proverb
जब शब्दहरुले आफ्नो अर्थ गुमाउछन तब मानिसहरुले आफ्नो स्वतन्त्रता गुमाउछन । -Confucious
राजनिती भनेको दुबैलाई एक अर्का सँग बचाउछु भनेर धनीसँग पैसा र गरीबसँग भोट लिने कला हो । -Anonymous
मुद्धा जे नै होस्, सरकारद्वारा एउटाै समाधान सबैमाथि लाद्नु भन्दा स्वतन्त्रतालाई सयौ विकल्पहरु प्रस्तुत गर्न दिनु नै असल हुन्छ । -Harry Browne
स्वतन्त्र बजारले अनुत्तरदायित्वलाई सजाय दिन्छ, सरकारले भने अनुत्तरदायित्वलाई पुरश्कार दिइरहेको हुन्छ । -Harry Browne
त्यो समाज जसले समानतालाई स्वतन्त्रताभन्दा माथी राख्छ, अन्तत उसले न स्वतन्त्रता पाउँछ न त समानता नै । -Milton Friedman
आफुले गरेको निर्णयको मुल्य नचुकाउनु पर्ने व्यक्ती हरुलाई निर्णय गर्न दिने जस्तो मुर्ख र खतरनाक निर्णय गर्ने तरिका अरु कुनै छैन । -Thomas Sowell
राजनितिज्ञहरुले बम हान्ने व्यक्ती जस्तै आफ्नो शिकारलाई बिरलै मात्र देख्छन । - Donald Boudreaux
सबैभन्दा जटिल प्रश्न "सबैभन्दा उत्तम के हो ?" भन्ने हैन बरु "सबैभन्दा उत्तम के हो भनेर कसले निर्णय गर्छ ?" भन्ने चै हो । -Thomas Sowell
राज्यवाद लुटेर मौलाउछ भने एउटा स्वतन्त्र देश उत्पादन गरेर मौलाउछ । -Ayn Rand
कल्याणकारी राज्य संसारको सबै भन्द ठुलो ठगी खेल हो जसमा पहिले तपाईं खुसुक्क मानिस हरुको पैसा लिनुहुन्छ र त्यसको केहि हिस्सा पछी तडक्-भडक सँग फिर्ता दिनुहुन्छ । -Thomas Sowell

Libertarian / Libertarian Quotes / Nepali / Translated

Dec 25, 2010

Is libertarianism suitable for Nepal?

December 25, 2010 Surath Giri

Couple of weeks back, I received an email from a gentleman who showed concern regarding the suitability of libertarianism for Nepal. Reading the email, I was grateful to him for his time and effort to show his concern and I also realized that if one wants to promote ideas of liberty in a society like ours, she has to take in account the collective nature of our society and culture. And hence, the ideas need to be adapted into actions that make sense to the members of our society. Recently , I also participated in a colloquium on Indian Liberal Tradition and during the discussion I learned that one of the pivotal work Indian liberal leaders of first generation did was adapt the ideas of liberalism into Indian context so that they became very relevant to the society they were being discussed in.

Here, I present you the email I received and my reply.

The email:

Mr. Giri,
Although I am not a libertarian and in fact I do not agree with some of its core beliefs, I must commend you for your attempts to put your views forward. Individualism cannot work in Nepal for the time being because of the rigidly collective nature of Nepali society (and not so much because of the Nepali state, which barely exists).

‘Libertarianism’, or any other ‘ism’ has to be tailored to each society’s needs and aspirations. The failure to do so will only bring more confusion than previously existed. A country like Nepal—for the most part still living in the 15th century is not likely to accept the tenets of a new and rather radical system. People have been culturally programmed here not to accept responsibility for their actions.

Anyway, these are just preliminary thoughts. If you want to debate them you can always email me.

My reply:

Thank you Mr. Gyawali for the email and your concern and sorry for my late reply. You are right in saying that Nepali society is rigidly collective in nature. However I differ with you when you say Nepali state is weak or barely exists, It barely exists when it comes to its basic functions such as law and order, administration of justice, handling of foreign diplomacy but in other aspects of life I find it pretty much strong and interfering. Just look at our history to date...first the ranas, then the panchayat, then the monarch, don't you think the state had been strong in those times although it may seem a bit weak at the current transition phase. The economic sphere and social spehere of the citizens of this country has always been controlled by the state. The exorbitant tariff rates , restriction of foreign direct investment, inflationary monetary policy, cumbersome license permit raj and the massive corruption, state backed cartels and syndicates, highly politicized trade unions that are major impediment to our industrial growth, massive corruption and inefficiency through public enterprises and so on...what do you think about that?

Regarding relevancy of libertarianism, I take it more as a philosophy of life as compared to an ideology. I agree that it is a philosophy developed from the western thought but i also believe that its principles are more of universal nature (such as that humans are rational beings, free markets bring prosperity, private ownership brings better handling of any resources, spontaneous order emerging through markets is better form of organizing a society rather than an iron fist). For me it's primarily a way of living life and viewing the world and then secondarily a way of organizing our society and taking nation forward. I find it hard to believe that a long defunct-ridiculous and proven wrong world-wide philosophy like communism can flourish in our country even though we Nepalese have fought for our freedom time and again. I believe the collectivist thought of Nepali society has been accentuated by the leftist political parties and leaders even though i agree our society and mostly Hinduism is somewhat collective in nature. However, there is also this fact that even Hinduism has liberal aspects to it in the Charvak school of thought.

I wholeheartedly agree with you when you say any 'ism' has to be tailored to meet a society's need and aspirations and sincerely believe libertarianism in its purest sense won't be applicable here. Various dimensions of our society like diversity, caste systems, culture should be taken into consideration. I might believe in an individual's right to bear arms but i would not necessarily advocate it in the context of Nepal, I might believe education isn't a basic human right and state has no business in providing education and yet i would support state's minimal involvement although i would advocate some private components in it such as the education voucher system. However, i also believe that the so called "perfect time' for liberty never comes. I find it rather foolish when people say Nepal is not ready. what the heck...if it's not ready for freedom and prosperity then it can't be ready for anything else at all. There are examples of countries like Poland and Estonia who jumped from totally communist structure to free market structure. People there had hardly any sense what price of a good or service meant at all but still they did it. And they happen to be the most prosperous and vibrant societies among the nations that separated from USSR.

By the way, i was wondering what were the tenets of libertarianism that you disagreed with. It would be interesting to discuss, I believe.

So what do YOU think about the suitability of libertarianism in Nepal. Please share your thoughts, agreements and disagreements in the comment box below!

Aug 27, 2010

चुरोट आधरभूत आवश्यक्ता हो... ए होईन! हो हो!! होईन होईन!!

August 27, 2010 Surath Giri

क्युबामा सरकारले सहुलियतमा दिदै आएको चुरोटको सेवा बन्द गरेको समाचार सुन्दा मेरो हासोको सीमा रहेन । कुनै देशका सरकार(जस्तै नेपाल्) जनतालाई चुरोट हनिकारक हुन्छ भन्ने कुरा थाहा हुँदैन तेही भएर कानून बनाएर चुरोट खानबाट रोक्नुपर्छ भन्ने सोच्छन्, कुनै देशका सरकार भने चुरोट आधरभूत आवश्यकता हो भन्दै सहुलीयतमा जनतालाई चुरोट उपलब्ध गराउछन । यो सरकार भन्ने जन्तु चै साह्रै रमाइलो हुदो रहेछ चाहे त्यो जहाँकै किन नहोस । अझ अधिनयकबादी देशका सरकारहरु को त कुरै छोडिदिउ । प्रहसन हेरे जत्तिकै रमाइलो ।

ईन्टरनेट जस्तो कुरा चै २१ औ शताब्दीको रोग रे , चुरोट चै आधरभूत आवश्यक्ता रे । अहिले आएर खर्च ले धान्न नसके पछी चै चुरोट आधरभूत आवश्यक्ता होईन रे । हैन , के कुरा आधारभूत आवश्यक्ता हो, के कुरा आधारभूत अवश्यक्ता होईन भन्ने कुरा तोक्ने नैतिक अधिकार सरकारमा छ ?

How to be kind and generous-our government's way?

August 27, 2010 Surath Giri

If not anything else, our state run public enterprises have always provided us with enough reasons to be ashamed of them. From Nepal Telecommunications Corporation of the past which used to take just about a decade to provide a single telephone line, to Nepal Airlines Corporation, which came up with a brilliant idea of looting us in broad daylight by buying airplanes in higher than the competitive prices, our public enterprises have been very competitive in committing acts of pure corruption and causing public embarrassment. Not only the above mentioned entities but entities like Nepal Electricity Authority who has brilliantly designed and implemented the service of load-shedding and Salt Trading Corporation which dreams of selling products in prices higher than market prices despite receiving government subsidies – they all deserve equal accolade when talking about shamelessness. However, Nepal Oil Corporation with its recent staff bonus scandal proved itself to be very serious on being the forerunner of shameless acts.

Though general public and CIAA failed to appreciate, when NOC’s managing director Digambar Jha decided to be generous by providing bonus to his dear employees, he was trying pretty hard to impart the thought typical to Nepal’s policy practices, “always be kind and generous but at someone else’s expense.” You may find it surprising but the events that have led to this state of NOC were purely based on this principle itself. Didn’t get it? Well, one fine day in the past, the government thought that the general public couldn’t pay for the expensive petroleum products and Nepalese people didn’t know at all about the search for alternatives if something got expensive or alter the amount of consumption to adjust to the increased prices. So the government decided to be generous and provide us with subsidies. Despite our general belief, it’s a fact that there’s nothing such as free lunch in the world. So who is to cover the losses?? Of course, the government! Who is to finance the government? Of course, the general public! And to our surprise, we realized that the cost of financing the losses of NOC were even greater than the amount of expense we would have to pay for the petroleum products had they been allowed to be priced in the market prices. Hence, Nepal government made an example of its kindness at our expense; it’s as simple as that.

Curious? You have treasures of examples to explore in this regard. Just look at any of the public enterprises our government has created with this very noble intention. The major reasons for which our state has spent billions and continues spending millions in various public enterprises ranging from match factory to tannery is that it wants to provide us (people with political connections at least) with jobs and also wants us to provide us with goods and services so that they don’t cost us an arm and a leg. The state has spent about 123.85 billion in various public enterprises which generate a return of about 1.8 percent in aggregate .You may wonder that is too low as compared to private sector which would have at least generated something in two digits but remember the government is not supposed to make profits! Out of the 123.85 billion, the assets have depreciated to about 81.92 billion, 33 percent less than the original value. The loan has accumulated to 83 billion and unfunded contingencies are about 21.31 billion. And a total of 37,000 people are being employed by these enterprises. So, calculating the amount, more than 60,000 rupees is being spent per person (not including the salaries, benefits, pensions etc.) to provide employment. And of course, the recent trends of generosity, “bonus” hasn’t been included in these figures yet. Who pays for all of these costs you may ask? Of course, Nepalese citizens should be proud to be supporting such noble causes. Residents of Jajarkot are paying for it forgoing their medicines that could have saved their lives from diarrhea; people in Jumla are paying for it forgoing the infrastructures in their places. That’s the way it works; “be kind and generous but at someone else’s expenses”.

Libertarian / Nepal

Aug 13, 2010

स्वतन्त्र बजार र कार्टेलिङ :कती ठिक , कती बेठिक ?

August 13, 2010 Surath Giri

सारा नेपाली जनता मुल्यबृद्धीको पासोमा निस्सासीरहेको अवस्थामा ब्यापारिक सँगठनहरुले खुल्लम खुल्ला उपभोक्ता बस्तुको मुल्य तोकेर जनतालाई सास्ती दिरहेको र अझ आफुले तोकेको मुल्य लागु गर्न आबद्ध ब्यबसायीहरुलाई धम्की समेत दिरहेको देख्दा देख्दै सरकार मौन बस्नु उदेक लाग्दो कुरा हो । र यसबाट सरकार जनताको हितलाई लिएर कत्तीको चिन्तित छ भन्ने कुरा प्रस्ट रुपमा झल्कन्छ ।

आपसी सहमतीमा मुल्य निर्धारण गर्नु आफैमा स्वतन्त्र बजारको भावना बिपरीत नभए पनि बल्जफ्ती मुल्य असुल्नका लागी कर गराउनु र कुनै पनि सँगठनमा आबद्ध नभै ब्यापार गर्न नपाउने अवस्था सृजना गर्नु भने स्वतन्त्र बजारको मर्म बिपरीत मात्र नभै गैर्-कनूनी अपराधिक कृयाकलाप पनि हो । यस्ता अपराधिक कृयाकलापले गर्दा जनताले तेस्तो दुख पाइराख्दा पनि समबन्धित निकायहरु के हेरेर बसी रहेकाछन ?

स्वतन्त्र बजार र कार्टेलिङ

स्वतन्त्र बजारको अवधारणा अन्तर्गत मुल्य निर्धारण आफैमा अनैतिक होईन । आफ्नो सामान बिना बल प्रयोग आफुले चाहेको मुल्यमा बेच्न पाउनु ब्यक्तिको नैसर्गिक अधिकार हो । र स्वतन्त्र बजारको एउटा प्रमुख मुल्य-मान्यता नै के हो भने कुनै पनि ब्यक्तिलाई उस्को सामान उस्ले चाहेको भन्दा अरु मुल्यमा बेच्न बल प्रयोग गरी बाध्य गराउन पाइदैन । मेरो कलम म १० रुपैयाँमा बेच्न चाहन्छु भने मलाई उक्त कलम ८ रुपैयाँमा बेच्न बाध्य गराउनु अनैतिक काम हो ।

र कहिले काही स्वतन्त्र बजारमा कारटेल देखिन्छन पनि तर स्वतन्त्र बजारको सुन्दरता नै के हो भने यदी निजी ब्यक्ती वा सरकारले बल प्रयोग नगर्ने हो भने स्वतन्त्र बजारमा आएका कारटेलहरु स्वत हराएर जान्छन । किनकी एउटा स्वतन्त्र बजारमा कारटेल्ले मुल्य बृद्धी गरेर नाफा कमाएको थाहा पाउना साथ अन्य कुनै ब्यक्तिले कम मुल्यमा उक्त बस्तु वा सेवा प्रदान गरेर प्रतिस्पर्धामा उतृन सक्छ । जसले गर्दा कारटेलको औचित्य रहदैन ।

तर जब यस्ता कारटेल हरुले बल प्रयोग गरेर मुल्य निर्धारन गर्न थाल्छन अनि बजारमा नया ब्यक्ती वा ब्यापार लाई प्रबेश गर्नबाट रोक लगाउछन तब त्यो स्वतन्त्र बजारको मुल्य-मान्यता बिपरित हुन जान्छ । यस्तो काम अनैतिक मात्र नभएर अपराधिक पनि हो ।

हाम्रो परिरेक्ष्यमा

नेपालको परिप्रेक्ष्यमा भने कारटेल हरु पूर्ण रुपमा गैर्-कानूनी रुपमा सन्चालन भैरेहेका छन । उनिहरु आफुले भनेको मुल्य निर्धारन नगरेमा बल प्रयोग गर्ने मात्र होईन बजारमा नया सेवा प्रदायकले पर्बेश गर्न खोजेमा हिन्सा प्रयोग गर्न पनि पछिपरेका छैनन । जस्तै उदहरणका लागी नाई संघलाई नै लिऊ । कुनै न कुनै नाई संघमा दर्ता नभै नाईले आफ्नो ब्यापार सन्चालन गर्न सक्ने अवस्था छैन ।

अर्को उदाहरण यातायातको क्षेत्रमा देख्न सकिन्छ । कुख्यात अरानीको बस ब्याबसयी संघले अन्य सेवा प्रदायकले उक्त राज्मार्गमा आफ्नो सेवा सुरु गर्न खोज्दा हिन्सा प्रयोग गरेको हामीले धेरै चोटी सुनेका छौ । अर्को उदाहरण पश्चिम भेगका बिकट जिल्लाहरुमा खाध्यानन लादा समेत कारटेल्लिङले गर्दा मुल्य बढी भएर जनताले समस्या पाएको त हामीले सुनी नै राखेका छौ । यस्तो अवस्थामा पनि सरकार केहि नगरि बस्नु निरासाजनक कुरा हो ।

जनतालाई धुम्रपान गर्दा हानी हुन्छ भन्ने कुरा थाहा नै छैन जस्तो गरी "चुरोट का बट्टाहरुको ७५% भागमा बैधानिक प्राबधान राख्नु पर्ने" जस्तो ठट्टाजनक कानून बनाएर बस्नुको साटो कारटेल्लिङको प्रकोप बाट जनतालाई बचाउन तर्फ लगे सरकार , सरकार जस्तो हुन्थ्यो कि ?

economic freedom / Libertarian / Nepal / Nepali

Jun 24, 2010

What it means to be a libertarian!

June 24, 2010 Surath Giri

I wrote this article for two reasons:

1) My readers who liked my view-points wanted to know what libertarianism is. It was a new concept for them.
2) I was very very annoyed by this misleading article published on Republica, "Ironing out the People" and wanted to clear out the confusion caused by the ignorance of the writer.

What it means to be a libertarian!

It’s an exciting time for a global citizen to live in this world. Totalitarian socialism and other forms of tyranny are crumbling all over the world with the advancement of human liberty and prosperity. However as a Nepali, it’s a mixed time. For some making history is the glorified goal they want to achieve while for the common man, the time presents problems every other day. The transitory period and political instability has coupled together to create widespread anarchy. Rampant anarchy is making the life of an ordinary citizen too difficult to survive and progressing in these times is a far cry. With a dysfunctional government, lack of law and order, lack of a proper constitution in place and the already defunct collectivist thoughts presiding over the public policy discourses, a libertarian would not only be sad but also suffocate in our society.

Libertarians believe in individual’s supremacy and thereby individual liberty and voluntary exchange of free markets. Libertarians believe in liberty not anarchy. Liberty is the freedom to act as you please so long as you don’t interfere with similar rights of others which means you are free to do whatever you like for a living, associate with others voluntarily, trade with whoever you like, you can speak and publish freely, run your own business and live as long as you please. They consider an individual the primary source of power not the government, not the political leaders and definitely not the kings. They uphold liberty to the highest value as it is as much our requirement as other basic needs like food, shelter, air and water. Libertarians despise coercion of one individual against others be it in the any form or name, which is one of the reasons why they hate collectivist tyrannies – even the ones that appear in the markets!

For a society to function freely, it is necessary to protect an individual from being harmed by others through coercion or violence. For this reason, governments are formed. Hence the government is supposed to be a referee who sets the rules of the game and arbitrates between the players if any conflict arises. The government is not a player who takes sides with a certain team and exploits its privilege to use force against the other players. The primary functions of a government hence are maintenance of law and order, administration of justice, protection of a country from foreign invasion and protection of civil liberties. However, our government seems to have failed in all of its primary functions. Neither our lives are secure nor our properties. Neither are we saved from violence nor do we receive swift justice. Nevertheless, our state never ceases act like a nanny state making rosy promises to its citizens with free food, free education, free health services, which are neither the functions of the state nor are they free as many perceive it to be. It’s an irony that our state is quite worried that we won’t know or read that smoking is dangerous (ref: recent government edict that cigarette manufacturers should have 75% of their cigarette packets covered by the statutory directive) but is nonchalant about the proliferation of violent activities and crimes (most of which are promoted by the political parties themselves) like extortion, kidnapping, murder that claim our lives and properties. Libertarians believe any government that imposes itself in every facet of people’s lives is the major impediment to progress and the greatest threat to human liberty.

Libertarians believe in private ownership property. Private ownership of property gives people incentives to make the best use out of the available resources and it also promotes entrepreneurship and innovation which are the key components of prosperity. Nations and societies who have failed to acknowledge this truth have failed miserably impoverishing millions of their inhabitants like Soviet Russia, North Korea, Cuba, and East Germany. With every political party, exploiting every means (open extortion to land ceiling in constitution) to extort and plunder private properties for their personal uses, our society is in precipices of doom. Libertarians believe in a system that protects every individual be it a poor or a rich person and his property from robbery of the predators. However such a system is still a far cry for us. Yet for all the evil doings and plunders of the State, capitalism is always blamed. For a country which has never seen a capitalist party, let alone some capitalistic policies to promote growth and prosperity, it’s shameful to blame capitalism for the poverty. And turning a blind eye to the advancement of human civilization and prosperity that the world has achieved through free human action doesn’t please a libertarian at all.

Along with individual liberty, libertarians also believe in individual responsibility. When a person is given the opportunity to choose, he is also supposed to bear the consequences that entail. Liberty not only asks for the freedom of an individual but also demands the individual to be on his guard while making his choices. Believing in cheesy dreams and giving away your money and blaming free markets after being cheated is not a likely characteristic of a responsible individual. However, the philosophy of free markets or libertarianism never condones fraud. Fraud is a crime that deprives an individual of his life or property through mental coercion and hence should be punished accordingly. Before blaming markets for frauds such as Unity scheme, a person should question the morality and dependability of the government whose officials including the president and the prime minister were found to have been involved in Unity’s programs.

One should understand that it was the fault of the irresponsible consumers and the government, not of free market, that created the Unity Scam. President inaugurates Unity’s event and the blames goes to free market. No, such irresponsible behaviors never please a libertarian.

What this country needs are more self-reliant individuals who are responsible enough to account for their choices and actions to create a truly free society, a society where every individual is able to enjoy his life and liberties safely. To be prosperous all Nepal needs is sound ideas that promote entrepreneurship and innovation not parasitism of the collectivists or patronization of the state. Until then, libertarians cannot afford to sleep well for some misguided self righteous person is all too ready to blame liberty for all the evils present in our society.

Articles / Libertarian

Jun 8, 2010

जल-बिध्युतमा लाइसेन्स्,स्विकृती प्रणाली : अध्यारोमा पिल्सन्छन आम नेपाली

June 08, 2010 Surath Giri

मैले गएको ब्लग्पोस्ट्मा मनकामना केबलकारले आफ्नो सेवा बिस्तार गर्न भोग्नुपरेको लाइसेन्स र कर्मचारितन्त्रको झमेलाबारेमा कुरा गरेको थिए । एक जना पाठकको प्रतिकृया थियो: केबलकारको केसमा यो सबै झन्झट राख्नु लज्जास्पद हो तर जल्-बिध्युत जस्तो सम्वेदन्शील क्षेत्रमा भने सरकार ले नियमन गर्न र स्विकृती दिने-नदिने ब्यवस्था राख्न जरूरी छ । उहाको बिचारलाई म सम्मान गर्छु तर हमिले के बुझ्न जरूरी छ भने क सरकारी नियमनले काम गर्छ त । के सरकारले स्वृकिती दिए मात्रै जल-बिध्युत परियोजना सन्चालन गर्न दिने ब्यवस्थाले काम गर्छ त ?

यसै सन्दर्भमा हिजोको कान्तिपुरमा आएको बिकास थापा को लेख यहा उधृत गर्नु सान्दर्भिक ठान्छु:

खिम्तीका खलनायकहरु
खि म्ती र भोटेकोशी भित्र्याउन अरूण तेस्रोको अवसान गराइयो । अरूण रद्द गराएर ल्याइएको खिम्तीले व्यापारिक उत्पादन सु्रु गरेको दस वर्ष पुगेछ । ८ अर्ब लगानी गरेको खिम्तीले दस वर्षमै २० अर्ब रुपैयाँ बराबरको रकम फिर्ता लग्यो । उसको बिजुली किन्ने प्राधिकरणको घाटा भने १८ अर्ब नाघेको छ । अन्य आयोजनाका लगानी फिर्ता हुन कम्तीमा १० देखि १५ वर्षसम्म लाग्छ । तर खिम्तीले चार, पाँच वर्षमै आफ्नो लगानी उठाएर साहुहरूको साँवा-ब्याजसमेत भुक्तानी गरिसकेको छ । 'उपयोग गर वा तिर' सम्झौता भएको खिम्तीको बिजुली अमेरिकी डलरमा प्राधिकरणले २५ वर्षसम्म किनिरहनुपर्ने सम्झौता छ ।
विद्युत विकास विभाग र तत्कालीन जलस्रोत मन्त्रालयले खिम्तीको 'प्रोजेक्ट डेभलपमेन्ट एगि्रमेन्ट' गरेका हुन् । यसअनुसार खिम्ती निर्माणका लागि प्रवेशमार्ग र उत्पादित बिजुली सवस्टेसनसम्म ल्याइपुर्‍याइदिन राज्यका तर्फबाट खर्च भएको थियो । पीपीए सम्झौता यसरी गरिएको छ कि प्राधिकरणलाई जुनसुकै अवस्थामा पनि घाटाबाहेक अरू केही हात लाग्दैन । अरू आयोजनाहरूले विद्युत रोयल्टी आफैंले तिर्नुपर्छ । खिम्तीमा प्राधिकरणले तिर्ने प्रावधान छ । कहीं नभएको जात्रा हाँडीगाउँमा भनेजस्तै डिमान्ड चार्ज भनेर छुट्टै रकमसमेत प्राधिकरणले तिर्नुपर्छ । यति गर्दागर्दै पनि नपुगेर खिम्तीको बिजुली डलरमा तिर्नुपर्छ । जति डलरको भाउ बढ्दै जान्छ, प्राधिकरणलाई उत्तिकै घाटा पर्छ । अर्काेतर्फ गलत हाइड्रोलोजी -जलविज्ञान) को डाटा पेस गरेर पीपीए गरियो, फलस्वरूप सुख्खायाममा देशका सबै नदी सुक्छन्, तर खिम्तीले मात्र 'बढी ऊर्जा' उत्पादन गरेको देखाएर त्यसलाई डेढीभन्दा बढीमा भुक्तानी गर्नुपर्छ । यस्तो ऊर्जा ४० प्रतिशतसम्म छ । प्रतिव्यक्ति आय विश्वमा लक्जेमवर्गपछि दोस्रो स्थानमा रहेको नर्वेजस्तो मुलुकले नेपालजस्तो अत्यन्त गरिब देशसँग छलछाम गरेर ठगी गरेको यही एक्सेस इनर्जी प्रकरणबाट पुष्टि हुन्छ । नर्वेको प्रतिव्यक्ति आय ७२ हजार ३ सय अमेरिकी डलर छ । गतिलो सरकार र जलस्रोत -अहिले ऊर्जा) मन्त्री भइदिएको भए हिमाल पावर लिमिटेड विरुद्ध ठगी गरिएको भनेर मुद्दा हाल्न सकिन्थ्यो ।

खिम्ती भित्र्याउन नर्वेले नेपालको जलविद्युत विकास नीति तर्जुमादेखि नै यहाँ प्रवेश गरेको हो । नर्वेका नेपालस्थित दलालहरूको अथक प्रयासबाट विद्युत विकास नीति, ऐन, विद्युत विकास विभाग गठनसम्मका सबै कृत्य भए । खिम्तीकै लागि कुनै पनि प्रकारका कर नलाग्ने व्यवस्था गरियो । सबै प्रपञ्च र तानाबाना बुनिसकेपछि जलस्रोत मन्त्रालय र विद्युत विकास विभागले पीपीए गरे । त्यतिखेर सचिव सूर्यनाथ उपाध्याय थिए । रातभरि मन्त्रालयमा बसेर एगि्रमेन्टको नेगोसियसन गरियो र बिहानीपख सम्झौता गरियो । नेपालको आर्थिक हितविपरीत भित्र्याइएको खिम्तीको पहिलो खलनायक थिए, तत्कालीन जलस्रोत राज्यमन्त्री लक्ष्मण घिमिरे । त्यसपछि एमालेका प्रदीप नेपाल र राप्रपाका पशुपतिशमेशर जबरा । प्रदीप नेपालले एउटा दर तय भइसकेपछि दोहोर्‍याएर भाउ बढाए । पछि पशुपतिशमशेरले प्राधिकरणका कार्यकारी निर्देशक सन्तबहादुर पुनलाई हटाएर उनको ठाउँमा कीर्तिचन्द ठाकुर ल्याई पीपीए गराए । अरूण तेस्रोमा विश्वबैंकले राष्ट्रघाती सर्त राखेको भन्दै चर्को विरोध गर्ने रत्नसंसार श्रेष्ठले खिम्तीको तर्फबाट पीपीएमा हस्ताक्षर गरे । श्रेष्ठहरू जस्ताले किन अरूणको विरोध गरेको भन्ने बुझ्न धेरै बेर लागेन । अन्ततः अरूण तेस्रो भारतले लगेपछि राष्ट्रवादीहरू चुप लागेर बसेका छन् । अरूण तेस्रोको विरोधबाट दुई फाइदा पुगेछ । पहिलो, खिम्तीको दलाली गर्न पाइयो, अर्काे भारतीय कम्पनीलाई अरूण तेस्रो दिलाउन सकियो । अरूणको अवसानले मुलुकको जलविद्युत विकास दुई दसक पछि धकेलियो । (पूरा लेखका लगी यहा क्लिक गर्नुहोला । )

यो त केबल एउटा मात्र उदाहरन हो । हाम्रो देशका प्राय: जसो जल्-बिध्युत परियोजनामा यस्ता अनियमितताहरु भएका छन । लाइसेन्स , स्विकृती प्रनालिले अहिलेसम्मा राम्रो भन्दा नराम्रो नतिजा ल्याइराखेको छ । सोच्नुस त लाइसेन्स स्विकृती प्रनालिले कती हद्सम्म भ्रस्टाचारलाई बढवा दिराखेको छ ? नेताहरुलाई घुस ख्वाउन नसकेर कती परियोजनाहरुले लाइसेन्स पाएनन आजसम्म । पदमा बस्ने हरुले जनताको हित्मा सोच्ने भैदिएको भए २१ औ शताब्दिमा पनि अन्धकारमा बाच्नु पर्थ्यो हामिले ? अरुन तेस्रो भयको भए आज देश्ले एत्रो उर्जा सन्कट भोग्नु पर्ने थियो ?

यसै सन्दर्भमा हालै सरकारले गरेको अर्को निर्णय पनि पढी हेरौ :

स्वदेशी जलविद्युतलाई पनि बैंक ग्यारेन्टी
बैंकहरूले ब्याजदर बढाएर त्यसै पनि लगानी अयोग्य भइरहेका बेला ऊर्जा मन्त्रालयले विद्युत् प्राधिकरणसँग खरिद सम्झौता (पिपिए) भएका र हुने क्रममा रहेका कम्पनीले प्रतिकिलोवाट ६ सय रुपैयाँ बैंक ग्यारेन्टी राख्नुपर्ने निर्णय गरेपछि लगानीकर्ता हतोत्साहित भएका छन् ।
नयाँ निर्णयअनुसार दस मेगावाटको जलविद्युत् आयोजना गर्नेले अब ६० लाख रुपैयाँ बराबरको जमानतबापत बैंक ग्यारेन्टी राख्नुपर्ने हुन्छ । यो प्रावधानका कारण स्वदेशमा छरिएर रहेका पुँजी संकलन गरी जलविद्युत् आयोजना निर्माण गर्ने लगानीकर्ताहरू हतोत्साहित भएका हुन् । प्राधिकरणले करिब ६० वटा आयोजनाको ३२० मेगावाट बराबरको पिपिए गरिसकेको छ ।
मन्त्रालयले 'वास्तविक लगानीकर्ता मात्र आऊन्' भन्ने उद्देश्य राखी पिपिए गरेका वा गर्नका लागि प्रवर्द्धकहरूले अनिवार्य रुरूमा यस्तो बैंक ग्यारेन्टी राख्नुपर्ने निर्णय हालै गरेको हो । मन्त्रालयको निर्देशअनुसार प्राधिकरणले स्वतन्त्र ऊर्जा उत्पादक -आइपिपी) हरूलाई धमाधम बैंक ग्यारेन्टी राख्न ताकेता गर्न थालेको छ ।

आइपिपीहरूले सरकारको यस निर्णयलाई औचित्यहीन भएको र यसले लगानीकर्ताहरूलाई हतोत्साही गर्ने प्रतिक्रिया दिएका छन् । 'एकातिर बैंक ब्याजदर बढेर उसै पनि जलविद्युत् क्षेत्र लगानी गन्तव्य बन्न सकेको छैन, त्यसमाथि झन् लागत बढाउने मात्र काम भयो,' स्वतन्त्र ऊर्जा उत्पादकहरूको संस्था इपानका सदस्य डा. सुवर्णदास श्रेष्ठले भने, 'जसले पिपिए गर्छ त्यो नै वास्तविक लगानीकर्ता भयो, फेरि थप झन्झट र सर्त राखिरहनु आवश्यक नै छैन ।' (पूरा लेखका लगी यहा क्लिक गर्नुहोला । )

अब आफै बिचार गरी हेर्नु होला : लाईसेन्स स्विकृती प्रनालिले कस्लाई फाइदा गर्छ ? आम जनतालाई कि भ्रस्ट कर्मचारी र नेताहरुलाई ?

Jun 5, 2010

Red Tape , Strong State; Who really benefits?

June 05, 2010 Surath Giri

Just read Muse Nepal's post Cable Car Statism. Loved it. The blogger has pointed out our concern to a very serious issue. The cable car case is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many cases where good intentions and motivations of entrepreneurs to bring growth and prosperity have been thwarted by the red tapism and bureaucratic hassles nurtured by the state.

So it is especially maddening to read about the bureaucratic red tape faced by a new request made by Chitwan Co-E to build a new cable car operation in Pokhara. The request has to first go through the Ministry of Development, which formed a committee to decide if it was a good idea. After their prolonged preliminary report is completed, the request is passed on to the National Planning Commission which again forms its own committee to give its blessing before the project is finally approved by the government.

Trust me , the chance of the company of getting the approval is rather slim if there is any. Without passing some illicit funds to the pockets of all the bureaucrats involved , the project will never be approved. Who cares if we love the service provided by the company? Who cares how many local residents of Manakama temple premises have prospered due to the cable car? Who cares how many more people would be benefited if there were to be a new cable car operation in Pokhara? If there had been prevalence of any common sense at all , the project would not have been approved but would have got an encouragement, but the narrow self-interest and whim of the bureaucracy doesn't care at all. Another major cases of such red tapism and bureaucracy is the approval of hydro power projects. We have heard so many cases of local companies being denied of the license whereas we are facing power crisis in such a severe form.

Whenever I talk about canceling licensing system and cutting down bureaucratic hassles, the primary question raised is : And who will check about the intentions of the entrepreneurs? Without licensing and bureaucratic process, wouldn't thugs rule the scenario? Wouldn't some evil hydro power projects take away all our resources? What if the cable car cheated people or constructed the infrastructures poorly? blah blah blah..

Doesn't it sound funny that people always complain so much about corruption and yet naively believe that bureaucrats and policy makers work for their best? Isn't it funny that people love using cable cars and yet question the morality of the entrepreneur involved whereas they never question the morality of the bureaucrats who have nothing to do with the consequences of their decisions?

THINK AGAIN:

Red Tape, Strong State; Who really benefits??