Democracy!?
Democracy is choosing your own leader. That does not effectively mean that the majority view point is the prevailing view point. Why?? Because the leader takes the decision on his own, without consulting with the people who voted for him. Hence I believe, democracy is choosing the person who make a right decision.
Do we really want to be governed by a select fews decision makers or we would prefer a decision to be made by the majority of the common people?? The whole concept of one man taking the decision on behalf of all the people was because had we gone out to take each man’s take on a issue, it would take a long time and would result in many other problems also.
With the advent of new technologies, I think it can be more easy now. (atleast in the metros and places where internet penetration is huge). When half of the nation can stand up and vote for their favorite participants on Television shows, I believe the same population will be more than happy to participate in the decision making process which are going to affect there day to day lives.
What if for every law that has to be enforced, our politicians take a mobile-poll or internet-poll??
Not only the method will provide direct say of the general public in large (atleast the public who is concerned), we will save a lot of money and time in the deciding and implementing critical issues.
Interesting Post… my comments.
I like to say- everyone says change the players, I say why not change the rules! Why have incapable, incompetent candidates even run the election, being elected and coming to power is stage 2. Change the Indian Constitution. If the Constitution means Of The People, By The People, For The People. Then it should be so not just be of the politicans, by the politicians and for the politicians…
Everyone is running campaigns from political parties to big media houses- vote India! Vote.. My point is I want to vote for someone who can lead the way to growth, and betterment of the society we live in.. I want a leader who is concerned more about security of the citizens of this country rather than getting a Z plus security cover for himself. Who thinks that their so called VIP movement on the roads causes discomfort to the common man walking on them too.
I think these parties think of people of the Nation only once in 5 yrs and that is when they need us the most- Election time!!!
Every Indian should echo the same sentiment- we want better quality leaders, we want don’t want illiterate and candidates with criminal records representing us. The ones who never walked the right path of life, how will they lead us?
Democracy- means my voice too counts not just my vote! It doesn’t mean use me as a vote bank based on religion, it means we should have leader who does not celebrates all festivals for a good photo opportunity but also respects them.
Democracy does not say as part of the political campaign go to a poor man’s house and sit and have a meal with him. It means go back to that poor man’s house and do something to make his life better, understand his needs and make sure he has the basics in life..
Democracy means I stand together as Nation and not just an individual!
Can we have a mobile campaign which says not going and voting is right rather than voting for the wrong!!!
And how do we change the rules when we are fighting against the people who make the rules??
Changes are not rather cannot be brought about in a day… W became an Independent Democratic country after 150 yrs of struggle. I hope this change doesn’t take that long.
First we need to figure what exactly are we aiming at, then we need to figure out how we need to go about it. Obvious way is amendments in the Constitution but like you rightly said, the ones who have to pass those bills are the ones we are fighting against.
Alternatively, if the majority of population doesn’t go and vote and everyone echoes the same sentiment- then it will not go unnoticed- If we claim to be the biggest democracy in the world then we better have the loudest voice too…demanding a change. It is our right and we should have it…
Third option- lets join these political parties- rather than sitting outside and debating/demanding something, let’s become a part of the system and do it ourselves. This one looks difficult to me- because I don’t think people like you and me are ready for this as yet.
As I write this I just got two back to back messages from congress & BJP with the same agenda- and why I should be voting for them. Ironical the political parties have same agendas- Same yes, they both want to come in power!
@magic
For long people don’t vote!! Do you know, on an average turnout for any kind of polls is below 40% countrywide!!
When the poll turnout is close to 60% we claim it to be a good turnout.
So what did we achieve in not voting, we are we were, or worse.
So basically, our democracy till now is 40-60% of the registered voters. How many of us are registered, that itself is a unknown story.
Join these political parties?? But somehow, I have always noticed, the favorites always rise. And if we bring a new manifesto, what are the chances you will be the favorite.
I am not saying nothing can be done, I am just trying to highlight the problem.
As you have rightly said, WE need to understand what we want. Indian Constitution is one of the biggest in the world. Yet, it is infested with loopholes. (Every country’s constitution is for that matter). But how many take it for the ride !!
The core-problem is with general public. Where the chalta-hai and me-first attitude are eating backbone of the country!!
I am with you on this- we need to get rid of this mindset- I am sure someone else will do something about it- Why can’t I only do something, when I can talk, debate, discuss- why can’t I also do something.
But the question is do what and how? Just by debating we will not achieve what we all want to. Will we?
We all live in hope that one fine day- things will change, just the way we want them to.. But who will bring about that change… I guess, we all look at each other’s faces with blank expressions.
Just by having a ‘dot’ on my finger and saying I VOTE, i am not being a responsible citizen. Responsible means when I am voting for the right candidate and deserving political party, hence using my power to the best of my knowledge. But am I doing it?
The answer I can give for myself is NO, because i don’t think if one candidate is a shade better than the other and I vote for him- i am doing the right thing.
Like a CEO of the company is generally the most experienced, qualified, a person with a vision and leadership qualities etc etc… The one who leader our country should also have all this qualities and much more…
Am I digressing from the subject?
But the bottom line- we all want the same thing- our ways of expressing maybe different!
I am yet to get an answer to my question what can be done and more importantly how?
@ magic/kid-This mobile campagin thing does sound like a doable idea- Kid what do you think?
Like you say, if all these reality tv shows can generate so much awarness, mileage and money thru it… then this shud help us in this as well….
The only problem with such things is it brings in some unequality. Not everyone in this country has cellphones. Most of the older age generation does not know how to send/receive SMS (purely my assumption) and above all…
there is always a huge chance of these things getting rigged.
How many people actually coming forward and voting for measures of national importance and the chances that people will simply buy sims/numbers to send more vote.
People will be able to send more votes per person…!!
The idea is to use is as tool to create awarness about what we are trying to say… the dent/big small always needs a repair, right? if not now, it will around the next elections but will not go unnoticed… even if we leave out the sr. citizens and the population that doesnot have a mobile- the number is still huge.. the idea to circulate it as a forward msg to begin with.. so one would not need multiple sims to send in entries…
just an Idea!
Hey Kid, very interesting thought… and I also loved the comment you’d posted for your last blog post, choosing Dogs over Pigs, could not stop laughing for quite some time there.
Anyways, coming to your issues about choosing the right leader who makes decision on our behalf. That is why we elect them… You see today, you can’t also forget that ‘Media’ plays a very important role when it comes to rule making. How you may ask? Watch the news and you’d know. Highly manipulated, is what i would say. Also any new rule proposed first has to go via the parliament, where the government and the opposition has a debate if the new law / rule is good for the country and the people at large.
Keep blogging my friend, I love your post and I’d keep adding my bit here and there. Also, I have to still read the comments on this blog post by magic, you and pallavi… will get back soon!! Cheers
Well, what I suggested, was more radical an idea than just using the new technology for mere informative purpose. The traditional ways (i.e Newspapers, TV and Radio) and lately the internet, should do a decent job and if they don’t then I don’t think the SMS will either.
The idea of SMS was to use it for feedback from the public in making laws in the country. Doing away partly or fully the functionality of the Parliament.
Mind you, the primary functionality of the Parliament is to make decisions/ laws in a democratic way by using votes from the representatives of the people. I think it is about time when we involve the public more into it and curtail the powers of our leaders.
The idea is very radical!!
@d_minor : Thanks for the words. But as a matter fact, we are excited about choosing dogs over pigs !!
Media is just an opportunistic industry. They will feed you crap if you like crap!! They will feed you what want them to feed you. The most selling english daily in the country is TOI, yet there is very little news in it. I don’t stand any of the Indian news channels.
The only way I am in touch with the external world is through the internet, and that helps me be selective on the kind of news that reaches. It has its drawbacks, but still.. I am far away from knowing in which city did aliens landed (that too with pathetic graphics) or which bollywood actor was chased by journos so that he boarded an auto and sped.
There is a very interesting take on present day journalism in the Mumbai Meri Jaan, I was relieved to find out that I was not the only who is tired of the way the journalism is treated in the country!!
@all: After reading the last comment, I think I need to come with a disclaimer very soon for this site.!!!