What is a democracy?
From what I have been taught, since I learnt how to write and walk, is that a democratic government is one that is of the people, for the people, and by the people. As of now, I understand that it is a government formed by people who are illiterate, of the people who wish to earn easy money and enjoy being in power and for no one. Basically, it is all a sham.
People who run for elections win votes by promising people land and television sets. They win too.. because the people who vote are people who can be won by such empty promises. Empty, why? A leader, here in Tamil Nadu, promised a TV set to every person in this state. 12 million families in this state. Production of television sets in India is 10 million. Ahem.
People who have little sense and actually fell for that promise might have read this. After reading this, they might have come back to their senses. After coming back to their senses, they still sit at home, while the people who have no sense go and cast their votes.
But, it's a democratic country, and we are free people.
How old ARE we?
We need people to hit us on our rears to bring us to our senses. But aren't we free people? Doesn't that mean we can do what we want, when we want and how we want?
Who are these people who can hit us and bring us on track?
The government. But there's so many people. SO many views. Infact, each person has his/her own view. How do you agree? Who do you agree with? What exactly do you agree upon?
Moral policing. What exactly is it?
From what I see around me, moral police is the police that takes care of the sexual "harassment" in this country.
Okie so lets go along with this definition.. the one we use in this country.
Leaglise prostitution. Is there something wrong in girls getting paid for their bodies? To me? Yes. To you? No, maybe. But the it depends on who the "you" is. So, who makes the law?
Ban dance bars. When you allow brothels and strip bars to exist, what's special about these dance bars?
You could tell me all these come under sexual harassment of women. Making them sex slaves. That in alot of cases husbands force their wives to do such things to earn money. That girls are bought in villages and brought here.
You could also tell me that these are poor girls who want to make easy money. Alot of easy money. So let them. God bless them.
You could say it goes against our culture. The Kamasutra indian culture, the Mughal raj indian culture... the Ashokan raj indian culture..?? Which one exactly are you talking about??
Again, it depends on the who the "you" is.
According to me, it'd be the police who kept track of anything to do with all the moral stuff. Moral stuff being all the stuff that comes under morality. Telling lies, behaving like maniacs like the incident in Bangalore, spitting on the road, not being capable of keeping your bladders in check... and more.
So, basically..
Do we need someone to keep us in check?
Yes.
Who might that someone be?
The government.
What is a government?
A collection of people who represent the rest of the people.
Who keeps the government in check?
The people.
Who keeps the people in check?
errrrrrrr...
The ideal solution to this whole mess that has been created is education. I'll tell you why. Each of us has the right to make our own choices and to express our views and thoughts. The only way you can express your own veiws and thoughts is when you know you have the right to do so. When do you have the right to do so? When you have been given that knowledge... and that's what's education. I am not talking maths and sciences. I am talking basic stuff.
If every person were to have this, there'd be no need for moral policing. We'd be our own inspectors. But that means behaving like responsible citizens of the country. If you can't be responsible for your actions, you don't deserve to be free.
It used to be so simple when we were younger. The class monitor would report the slightest mischief. Best friend or no best friend. Now that we are older, supposedly more sensible... we cover up for the people who do the wrong stuff and we corner people who are sincere. Why? I don't understand. When you put on a uniform, you are responsible to the people who've trusted you with it. You're responsible to what the uniform stands for damnit.
Why do people want to do what is NOT right. Why is there so much dirt in our system? Why aren't people doing anything about it?
What's right what's wrong? Which is black and which is white? Or are these all just shades of grey?
*Sigh*
That was a lot of thought. On a normal day, putting my thoughts down would help me feel better. I'd find some answers. Today it just makes me feel more depressed. And angry.
The sad thing, especially in TN politics, is that you don't vote for the better candidate, you vote for the lesser of the evils.
Right now it's sort of at a dead end. We need younger people in politics. Karunanidhi looks like he's going to drop dead any second now.
Koze
well for me democracy is something that starts from the people and ends with the same people.
It is nobody's fault if the people literate enough to see through the candidates profiles don't exercise their votes.
We all know our Rights..but none understand the Duties.
The country could sure use some fresh minds.
its sad that whoever we elect .. its still a bad choice.. sad..
ya know what? I am as utterly confused as you are. Even the larger democracies dont seem to be rid of problems, although they have higher education rates. America for example, has controlled media, where correspondents of war travel in an american ship and tell you the american story. They have propaganda wars. They have lobbyists claiming things to promote a favouring industry. They have minority appeasement. ...phew.
Lets just forget about all that crap for now. how have you been doing lately?
I find it particularly amusing how everyone goes on the road only just before the elections. It's like they're trying to make amends for what they didn't do the last time around, and trying to scavenge for votes this time around.
The problem here is that there are too many people. There is simply no way to appease them all. Hence, politicians intially tried to appease only the rich, as there was more in it for them. Many still do that. Now you have other nutcases like Vijaykanth, who try to appease the poor, because there are more of them. Either way, someone's going to be unhappy.
Illiteracy rules today's politics. It is no wonder that Bihar today stagnates as it does...it's people, less than a decade ago voted a man who failed in his eighth grade as their CM. Now his wife has taken his place because he was caught in some murky bullshit scandal. And he controls the Indian Railways, where the private sector, which surely has more brains and can achieve much, much more progress far faster tahn the public sector, cannot interfere at present.
Why don't they reduce the age for universal adult franchise so that all of us, who've got brains, can vote.
illiterate people vote if they are given alcohol/food for the one day (election day)
literate people dont vote at all thinking their one vote wont make a difference when most of the elections these days are rigged!! (seriously i've heard this from more than one person)
who is to be blamed for this????
i am yet to understand what is republic mean.
We say India is a repulic country.
Hmm So was i and so am i totally confused really !! democracy .. where are we heading to... hmm we need fresh ideas new blood or the fresh blood ...
Ya as you spoke about those television sets we recently had teh tamil nadu govt. saying that he is going to give ration for Rs.2.50 and then we immediately find the opponent say something different .All this lasts just for the election sake. Where is the sincerity in the people to really serve .Suddenly you switch on the television we see taht Mr.Vaikco who has been all these days aginst the present govt. has suddenly changed sides and is backing the very old govt. that he then despised. Whata change to just gain ! (power).
Kerala sees the worst parts in an age hwen he is not able to even walk Mr.Karunakaran stills yearns for power ...India needs a drastic change really ... and for that we need people who are fit to be leaders and lead the country for good!
I have posted my own political argument on my blog. Please refer you're interested.
*if you're interested.
I think people who don't want to cast a vote should go and declare their votes void. Which is possible. You have an option to officially not vote for any candidate. There's a button on the Polling Machine. At least then there will be a record of how many people are dissatisfied with the current parties, and that could help start better new contestants, or improve the current ones.
Koze
d'pak,
I have taken the subject civics seriously. I know the fundamental rights, their implications and the reasonable restrictions imposed on some of them (eg. on the Right of Freedom) to protect certain sections of Indian Society like the SC/ST/OBCs. I understand what you are trying to say. However, for what you wish to communicate to really take effect, we would require a change in the order up there among the candidates and the parties, too. We can't have old Moustach Petes, as I have argued on my blog, offering us the same bullshit that they did in their eras.
I understand what you're saying. I'm seeing adult (who has the right to vote) that I know giving excuses ("I don't have time.", "What's the point?", "Who'll go and wait in that cue?") for not voting. But those people, too, are from that era. I guess our generation, with the higher rate of awareness of things (arguments like those on this blog and several others, including my own), is sure to work towards sustainable change. I, for one, will vote once I 'come of age'. You have a point. All that can heal now is time.
intersting. everything you guys have said.
@aash: stop advertisiing!!! hmph.
@deepak: no i don't think you're sounding too paranoid on my blog. you can sound like whatever you want.
...thanks for visiting guys... i forgot what i had to say.. so lucky for you guys!!
yours sthupitly.
I see a lot of Alyque Padamsee's influence here. He's brilliant, ain't he? How I loved his closing statement.
Nice post.