rama_dan

> a mode of 'voluntary' interaction that others, myself included, argued is indistinguishable from feudalism

Good thing you've got The State extorting and enslaving you then, to protect you from that "feudalism".

It's because there are no free market forces affecting telecoms, because they're a state-maintained cartel.

It's the same with ISPs and banks, etc.

> Most of the elected officials and bureaucrats are there to line their pockets.

That's the same everywhere of course. In some countries it's just more blatant and short-sighted than in others.

> I have friends who had to pay bribes for every little thing, company registration, getting the VAT certificate, Police verification etc.

Yyep! And all those pointless bullshit requirements are in place so that plenty of pissy little parasites get to collect their bribes.

> The Indian government needs to ensure that there is no disorderly unwinding of the debt markets that hurts citizens.

You saying that suggests you think they actually give a flying fuck about the citizens or their interests. In reality they don't, of course.

> Think it's actually 4%. Seriously huge fines

And we'd all be delighted with taxes as low as 15%!

> In other words, the government is paying through the nose

With our money, one might add.