An Ad For An Ad

With inflation crossing 11.7 per cent (bravo to the statisticians who measured it so precisely) it has been reported that the government is coming out with a “slew of ads” as propaganda designed to confuse the public into thinking that this inflation is caused by “global factors”.

They are calling it an “awareness campaign”!

Whatever happened to Truth?

What about Truth in democratic politics?

What are the “values” of the senior functionaries of The State? – the cabinet secretary is quoted in the report.

What kind of people squander public money in a poor country – where there are so many better ways to spend this money – in spreading treacherous lies?

Actually, even this slew of ads will be inflationary, considering that the government will “create money” to pay for them.

Taking into consideration that the government will pay in its own paper notes, and that they will be exchanging “real” ad space for these property-less paper notes, newspaper owners should refuse to accept these ads. They should politely inform the government that they are actually quite broke – in “deficit” – that this deficit is causing inflation. They should voluntarily refuse to accept ads paid for by further deficits.

And if these ads are carried, civil society should release its own ads, telling the government that it needs to tighten its belt – for it is loose spending by the government that is causing inflation in India.

Our ads versus your ads, Manmohan.

And read my “Funny Money” to understand money, inflation, and the ultimate cure.