Comments on: Pakistan’s fixation with feudalism

By: Shahzad Kazi

Shahzad Kazi — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 23:03:05 +0000

Land should not be taxed, but it is income that should be taxed.

By: abbastoronto

abbastoronto — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 22:57:36 +0000

Michael. You can not eliminate feudalism by decree. The State has no levers to pull.
Feudalism automatically disappears when the over 50% of the economy turns to urban/industrial from rural/agrarian, because it becomes inefficient.

By: Michael Kugelman

Michael Kugelman — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 16:17:57 +0000

Thanks to all, as always, for the feedback. To clarify: This piece does not endorse feudalism (believe me, I’m not that naive!). In the piece, I say that ideally both the institution and mindset of feudalism would be eliminated. But this is unrealistic, given how powerful feudalism is in the country. I see feudalism as part of the solution because it has to be, not because it should be.

By: saj

saj — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:37:33 +0000

the problem is not owning large amounts of land in prosperous countries people own thousands of acres, the soloution is to tax land so that some of the benefits from owning the land trickle down to the poor in the form of goverment services if you can only own a small farm it is inefficient and will make the country less productive. Taxing land wlll mean people will have to make the land work for them thus making emplyment goods and prosperity

By: Khanm

Khanm — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:17:19 +0000

Really like your comment. It is up to the masses they can achieve any thing once they set their mind to it. .look for instance MQM have no feudal lord in their party. Mostly people are from middle class families. May be the other parties can follow suite. Nothing wrong in accepting well from any party as long as it is for the betterment of the country…. Aye Zuzba-e- dil gar may choun,her cheese mukabil aajaey.

By: Saeed

Saeed — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 22:48:16 +0000

You are right . I never see so many angry people. They were not furious when little helpless girl drag from her house in the name of blasphemy !thousand people killed in the name of religion. Pakistan law have no provision which protect influential people, individual are the one who protect them .
Hate of other kind is just tattoo in our DNA . Our hate divided India , than Pakistan and exactly how far we go in this division no one know. But we all nuturing our hate for other well

By: Mo

Mo — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 19:34:48 +0000

It is not Pakistan’s fixation with feudalism…. it is pakistan’s government of the feudals for the feudals that ails us. As long as we have benevolent feudals we shall remain respectful slaves.

By: RudeMentally

RudeMentally — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:53:58 +0000

I love to see all these special cases, who live in cities have not spent a day in rural Sindh or Punjab and claim to be the all knowing problem solvers ready with a quick-fix for all of Pakistan. I ask what it is and they all chant the same thing, feudalism feudalism!! So let me help you swallow this pill, whether you like it or not this system will not change until those in cities don’t stop looking down on those from rural background. If you continue to fail at understanding why Bhutto gained so much popularity with the down trodden rural peasantry it will remain your fate to be ruled by their votes(67% of the population). I have 3 friends who are doctors all born and raised lahoris, they would according to them die before they go and work in a village, i say nice sentiment the village people will reply in kind!!

By: RudeMentally

RudeMentally — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:31:51 +0000

I suggest you nationalize factories too or take away huge plazas and residential buildings. Only then would Pakistan truly prosper. 20-30 acres ? right that in its total is not even worth a 1 Kanal house in Defence. Do you know that the REAL feudal lords or Jagirdars have moved on to industry and lets add to that the fact that majority of Industrialist have either Millions in low interest loans and still fail to pay their Gas and Electricity bills. Nationalize all Industry, redistribute residential property and bring in rural land reforms. Why should one group suffers while others get a free pass. Please keep your naivety to yourself lest it infects other sane people.

By: Ali Hayat

Ali Hayat — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:39:55 +0000

I wonder what Mr. Kugelman thinks about someone making the following statement about pre civil war America: “Slave owners are part of the problem in the United States of America, yet they are also part of the solution.”