Friday, May 23, 2008

Democracy and its working.

The Election Commission in its attempts to bring transparency and accountability into the election process has ensured that all candidates declare their assets as part of the filing of nomination process.

The recent elections in Karnataka were a case in point; one could say that prospective candidates washed their linen in public or they had skeletons walking out of their closets. It was a veritable ‘get-into-your-candidates-coffers’ offer. Newspapers detailed the amount of gold, cars, houses, fixed deposits, companies, loans, bank accounts that each candidate had. I bet it would have made any Income Tax officer salivate, helplessly – helplessly because the poor officer won’t be able to do much right now as any action would be termed as politically motivated and later would be nigh impossible.

It is such brazen honesty that permits one to stand for election, such brazen honesty gets votes, and it is such brazen honesty that guarantees adulation and even emulation. It is because of this brazen honesty that the last will and testament usually translates into a party ticket for the next generation.

But this form of honesty is not the only indications of an election process of a vibrant democracy. Things get shut down for elections, things like schools, things like government offices and even liquor shops.

Things are shut for a purpose – schools are shut down because that’s where the polling booths are set up and government teachers also become polling officers, government offices are shut down so that employees can fulfil their constitutional duties. Liquor shops are shut down quite a few days before the polling day – no not to ensure that everyone is sober enough to vote but to ensure that the common person does not vote according to the number of pegs he gets.

Because India is also a vibrant economy many things can be bought and sold, there is also a very lively barter system. Candidates not only sell esoteric things like promises - common to all candidates, they also buy voters, and sometimes they barter commodities for votes. One could look at it like this - political candidates have not only taken it on themselves to improve on the current fundamental rights but they also try to ensure that these rights reach people – even if for a few days. So we have politicians providing food and drink to people (right to good food and alcohol), some go further and even distribute silk saris (right to fine clothes).

And so we once again creep closer to another General Election – the great bizarre bazaar of democracy where not only will aspirants pick winning and loosing parties but the electorate will get all the attention it needs to choose winning and loosing candidates. The bazaar where the ‘consumer’ is like the emperor with no clothes, where there is no guarantee on the products chosen, where the products on display do not come with statutory warnings, where there is no chance of returning defective goods.

But this bazaar has been undergoing transformations over the years. People now know what one needs to be done for free and fair elections. Bangalore newspapers were full of photos of saris meant to clothe the electorate and food meant to feed the hungry being snatched away from the hands of well meaning candidates. There were photos of police being deputed to various polling stations. There were even public messages asking people to vote. It may take many more elections before one gets to revel in a democracy and a democratic process that stands on achievements but we are getting there.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Do our politicians suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder?

Attention Deficit Disorder has been a byword in US schools - any child not paying attention in school or is hyper active is immediately branded as having ADD. As if staying put in a small class was not enough ADD now empowers adults to pop pills into kids without the usual diatribe that follows a chemical experience. But ADD has cast its net wide and now grown ups in the US are also being diagnosed with ADD.

However keeping the Indian politician in mind I have tried to compare the characteristics of our politicians with those required for a child to be diagnosed with ADD.

In 1987 the American Psychiatric Association provided a list of characteristics that a child must display for 6 months or more, at least eight of the following characteristics prior to the age of 7 for the child to be diagnosed with ADD:

1. Fidgets, squirms or seem restless,

2. Has difficulty remaining seated,

3. Is easily distracted, has difficulty awaiting turn,

4. Blurts out answers, has difficulty following instructions,

5. Has difficulty sustaining attention,

6. Shifts from one uncompleted task to another,

7. Has difficulty playing quietly, talks excessively,

8. Interrupts or intrudes on others.

9. Does not seem to listen.

10. Often loses things necessary for tasks.

11. Frequently engages in dangerous actions.

And from these characteristics I can very safely argue that our politicians suffer from ADD

  1. Fidgets, squirms or seems restless

This is noticeable especially before an election or when there is a reshuffling of cabinet seats. Politicians become restless and search for better opportunities else where.

  1. Has difficulty remaining seated

Closely observed during parliamentary sessions when politicians keep getting up for incomprehensible reasons

  1. Is easily distracted, has difficulty awaiting turn

A politician is easily distracted from his credo of ‘service to the electorate’ by the sudden appearance of money and personal profit. Also the politician’s use of revolving lights, security guards, and sirens indicates difficulty awaiting turn.

d. Blurts out answers, has difficulty following instructions

Seen most recently in the case of Arjun Singh, Jaswant Singh and George Fernandes.

  1. Has difficulty sustaining attention

The researcher hasn’t yet found this characteristic in politicians. The researcher proposes a completely opposite characteristic – that of being able to sustain attention. For example the BJP still holds the attention of people with its Ram Card, the Congress speaks about Aam Admi, both play the religious and caste card. Infact all politicians plays these cards very well.

  1. Shifts from one uncompleted task to another

Also explained as having a finger in more than one pie. Seen with the number of criminal cases these people have. Before they can be proved innocent/guilty in one case (and thus can pay for their crimes) they move on to another crime.

  1. Has difficulty playing quietly, talks excessively

Blame game – the favourite sport of politicians happens in public and is never quite, it involves media spectacles and a lot of verbosity.

  1. Interrupts or intrudes on others.

This characteristic is seen once again in Parliament where free speech implies shouting and other dignified political manners.

  1. Does not seem to listen.

This should be elaborated to ‘does not seem to listen to constituency’. The condition of roads, services etc make a strong argument for this characteristic.

  1. Often looses things necessary for tasks.

Memory – such an important thing for a politician is quite often lost. Seen most recently in the L K Advani cover up of his role in Kandahar.

  1. Frequently engages in dangerous actions.

Speeches that generate hatred and social disharmony made by politicians, attempts to hand over agricultural land to business are but a few indications of another of the stated characteristics that point out that politicians are indeed afflicted with ADD.

The good thing is that ADD in politicians is not an incurable affliction nor does it need chemicals to deal with it. All we have to do is vote in better politicians in 2009.