Is it cheating/exploitation?

This is what I heard during conversation between RJs in RadioCity Bangalore recently.
RJ Pradeepa: Sir, Isn't it that wizards, astrolgers, swamijis, witches etc are cheating/exploiting people? (Kannada: Saar, e baba galu, maatavadi galu, swamigalu ella duddu kitkondu mosa madtaralva? )

RJ Upendra (Yes! our Sandlewood actor. He was RJ for a month or so) : How is it cheating/exploitation? (Mosa hege?) Suppose I sell Idli. If cost is Rs.4 and I sell at Rs.6, is it good/bad or cheating? Similarly, people go to these people and give Rs.10 or Rs.100 (in their capacity) and in turn get “peace of mind”. So what’s wrong in it?

I don’t go to such people. Hence I don’t worry.

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But, I felt, I was exploited when I went to Horanadu (a holy place near Sringeri) recently.

The hotel guy was quoting prices exorbitantly. I got room for Rs.300 per day. Next day, he charged (remaining rooms) some rooms at Rs.500 and others at Rs.600. In a way, I was lucky about my timing there.

Also, since there was mobile service except BSNL. I had to depend on STD booth. He charged me “STD service charge (Rs.3.40) + STD call charges” for making call.

Isn’t an exploitation?

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On the other hand, I charge “x” amount as rent to my tenants. The “x” is decided by me. I say rent is reasonable and fair. Truth is
- I can’t give prompt service (plumbing, electrical or other maintenance works)
- My rents are lower only “relative” to the rents in my locality.

So am I also exploiting people?

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Some more examples: Exorbitant ticket prices at multiplexes, parking rent for 4 wheelers at IT Park Bangalore (Rs.15 per hour!), fees charged by many schools in Bangalore.

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However if look into bigger picture, I see more. Let me explain.

Consider I invest in a property and rent it out. To buy the property, I take loan and I pay interest. To cover my interest expenses and other expenses, unless I am doing charity, I am bound to keep rent at certain levels.
Tenant earns money and pays me rent. I cover my expenses, pay interest to bank and retain profits. The bank covers its costs of managing money transactions and makes some profits.
Hence I see a chain of different entities(persons/organizations) involved. The "amount" of profit each entity retains is what decides whether it is cheating/exploitation. However it is difficult to make out if a product/service is reasonably priced or exploitation is at play.

The greed (to make money) easily takes over and it can lead to exploitation.

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Exploitation is kept under control due to competition among entities providing similar products/services. Also as a consumer of a product/service I have the "choice" of going for a product or service and hence controlling the exploitation.

However if I am addicted to certain brands, certain level of quality, certain level of comfort etc then I give an opportunity for product/service providers. And unless I make an effort to be Buddha, I continue to be dictated by my desires, giving an opportunity for exploitation.

What are your views?

Naati/Jawari v/s Hybrid: Myth?

Entry from LiveJournal blog - 08 Jun 2008

Often I have heard from people of our parents generation that their previous generation used to have Naati/Jawaari food. So they lived longer and were healthy and independent till end of their life. I too believed it so far but now I think it may not be the case.

I feel they lived longer because of their life style.

They ate good food. We eat lot of junk food.

They ate only what they could digest. We don't have control over food. If there is party and if we like food, we eat more...

They used to fast regularly.

They did enough physical work most of their life. We hardly do any physical work. We don't have (or pretend) time to do excercise. In some cases, we are couch potatos watching idiot box.

They indulged in prayers, visiting temples, socializing through festivals, "jaatras"/"mela"s. They lived in joint families. There was hardly any stress that needed to be managed. We are nuclear families. We need balanced work and personal life. We need to take care of everything ourselves. Lot of stress that needs to be managed.

They were social. They used think beyond their family. They helped others. There was hardly any competition. We are selfish. We want to secure our future. We want to earn more and more. We are in race to be ahead of others. We are restless.

So, is it just food what they/we ate/eat mattered/matters or is it lifestyle that defines our longevity and happiness?