Will it be better if we leave it to the stars?

After spectacular fireworks displays to greet 2018 we start the new year with old desires of lower taxes, so that we can spend more, fewer crimes, so that we are safe and are not forced to pay bribes, better public services, such as roads, electricity and water, and a less oppressive government, which does not treat citizens like criminals. 2018 is important for us in India because there are elections in 8 states, 4 of them in Northeastern states bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar, and in large states, like Karnataka, with a Congress government, and Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, with BJP governments. General elections in 2019, so this year's budget is going to be the last full one before the country votes on the performance of the present government. Is the Prime Minister spooked by results in his home state of Gujarat, where his party, the BJP, won a majority, but with a reduced margin, in last month's election? Accusations of tampering with voting machines by the BJP have cast a shadow on the victory. Such accusations have been circulating for sometime despite repeated denials by the Election Commission. Sadly, most Indians will believe any accusation against politicians and civil servants. After all there can be no smoke without fire, can there? BJP may have won in Gujarat, "But  BJP's victory in Gujarat elections has been underscored by a vicious rout in the rural belt," wrote Aurodeep. "Farmers with rising input costs, increasing debt burdens, random export restrictions, almost non-existent safety nets and underwhelming floor prices set by the government -- have grown increasingly impatient." There is also "disenchantment of youth" who cannot find jobs. "India has possibly the world's largest cohort of under-35 adults, yet companies struggle to find decently skilled candidates." The only way is to create millions of new jobs that will utilize our youth and allow farmers alternative opportunities for earning a living. Unfortunately, "India has no history of industrial-scale innovation -- no world historical inventions that it has scaled up," wrote Prof K Bajpai. So what should we do? We should rely on "agriculture and food processing" and "crafts such as textiles, garments, leather products, and jewellery". In short create more artisans and not inventors. Why not learn from the US, the richest nation on earth? "Between 2000 and 2017 there have been as many as 25 train mishaps in the US," wrote Prof D Gupta. "56,000 US bridges that need urgent repair" and the "2015 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) shows that 15 year old Americans are at 38th position in science when compared with those of the same age in 71 countries". So, we can't be like China and shouldn't be like the US, we can only be India. But not to worry, "Hope floats in 2018" wrote R Deshpande. Good thing we believe in astrology. It's all in the stars.