Democracy
Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 11:40PM Today a very well read and knowledgeble Chinese American Colleague (I know he is a US Citizen) told me "India is going to vote today, huh?". They are saying the Beejaaaypeee is going to come back! Aren't these the guys who persecute moslems?
I took him aside and told him that I don't get to vote in India because of my US Citizenship. Got to vote for Obama and that was enough for a lifetime.
Power corrupts. Absoulute power corrups absolutely.
(Most south Indian's attribute this quote to C.N. Annadurai. Apparently it is from Lord Acton)
So no one knows if Obama will end his term or terms with his integrity intact. Still one can always "hope". He is doing things right so far and hopefully will continue to steer change the right way.
That said, it appears as though almost all my desi blog buddies are resoundinly saying that this year going to the polls is a waste of time because all their options are the same and they don't believe anyone is worthy of a vote.
Some have gone far enough to say that the only reason they would walk to the polls is to tick on "I choose not to vote" to make sure someone else doesnt exercise the vote in their name to a standing candidate.
Based on my limited knowledge of today's Indian politics ,explanation to my colleague was :
Congress = pseudo secular communism
BJP = religious socialism
If you have a way of explaining what these two parties stand for in three words or less, do let me know.
Relatives are all just shrugging their shoulders on talking about voting. Their response is "Yaarukkavadhu votu pottu dhane daa aaganum?" (we have to vote for someone right?") and they try to choose the lesser of the two evils.
Democracy is something, isn't it?
So much of this world has been changed, destroyed, remade in the last decade, all in the name of spreading democracy and hundreds of millions of people who are all part of a very large democracy get to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Is democracy something worth losing so many lives across the globe, when politicians the world over seem to be poor choices?
.
Reader Comments (4)
Democracy is indeed something. Well, if Congress = pseudo secular communism
BJP = religious socialism
what is the 3rd Front. And the Fourth ?
And the numerous opportunistic alliances that will get away with money bags exchanged.
Sigh !
sundar:
i have my eyes trained on our esteemed neighbours. i give democracy 12 months max, if that, before martial law takes over.
sometimes i think that the chinese model would work well both in india and usa.
- s.b.
Sundar - you're tagged : http://tiny-tidbits.blogspot.com/2009/04/around-world-in-80-clicks.html
what do you think about religious fundamentalism for BJP?