Further to my post earlier on this topic, some further conclusions I have made:
1. Democracy is not such a bad thing when it comes to not letting things get worse.
Our professor in finance was giving us an example of the wonderfulness (pardon the word) of democracy. He said if there is famine anywhere in the country today, the incumbent party and the opposition party will fight tooth and nail to ensure that that show concern and sympathy for the victims. This will highlight the issue and make sure that the victims are taken care of. And therefore hurray for democracy.
No.
The flaw with this story is that the famine shouldn't have taken place at all. There should have been enough systems in place to ensure that such a situation doesn't arise at all. In fact the politicians probably let the situation worsen so that they could get some photo ops.
Ok, lets assume for time-being that they are "kind hearted". Be sure I am saying that they are kind-hearted only and no other noble attributes.
The above situation is a case where democracy made sure that things didn't get worse off than they already were. But will democracy help to forsee such situations and make sure they never occur?
Vivek and I were having an intense discussion about a similar issue and were astonished at how just single persons who had the vision and the grit to see that vision implemented were the ones who influenced the course of a country, an organization and that of a people. Beware that this "vision" need not be the right one and something which will bring prosperity upon people who have to live through its consequence. A case in example is of course Nehru and to the contrary are the people who founded modern America. Nehru had a vision, a deeply flawed one, of a social country which would survive just on its goodiness. He went about implementing it with zeal and look where we are now because of him. Because of one single person.
The founders of USA too had a vision. Fortunately the right one. A country based on basic fundamentals and rights. And look where they are now.
So ultimately democracy or no democracy, the long-term and even the short term fate of a country/organization/people are determined solely by strong individuals who stand up and dare to say what they believe in, be it wrong or right.
Therefore democracy or a democratic institution can in no way effect the right vision being envisioned by its elected representatives. Nor compulsorily induce actions by its elected representatives which will lead to long term progress and betterment of a people.
So finally it is our luck as a collective people which determines whether the people we have elected will act in the best interest of the nation as a whole, its people current and future.
Funny isn't it. It all comes down to luck. Best of luck then to all of us.
Quotes:
A article in the Aug 2nd issue of The Economist title "Turning Sour" somewhat confirms my thinking.
"But India also benefits from what financial types might call the "democracy put"' its politics forestalls the worst outcomes, even if they squander the best. India's policy makers only seem to be able to reform under duress."
"..as recent events show, the India story often resembles a comedy as much as an epic. Its policymakers run around in circles, swapping partners and scandalising onlookers, but with luck pull it all together in the end."
A Note: I unfortunately post the above based on plain armchair thinking and my current base of knowledge. I have not done any research and therefore there can be a lot of nitty gritties which I might miss out on. But I stand by the core idea and thought which I espouse here unless and otherwise proven reliably wrong.
6 comments:
>So ultimately democracy or no democracy, the long-term and even the short term fate of a country/organization/people are determined solely
What do you think is allowing the vision to be not botched up 60/230 years later? Democracy and institutions put up by those visionaries.
Abhay, I don't think I understand your question correctly.
Regards,
Abhishek
You say: "It is great men who shape the future not the democracy and its institutions"
I say: "I agree"
However, I add: "Visionaries give the future goal and path to reach it. Then they die. All kinds of wrong people come into power. Here is where those democratic institutions come in to prevent the wrong folks from messing up that vision"
The problem with India is that the democratic institutions have failed us as much as politicians.
Well what I am saying in our case is that the vision of our leaders, although noble was flawed to the extent of almost destroying the country.
Your argument is correct to a certain extent but the democratic institution itself (here, the constitution) was drafted by people with flawed ideas (here, Dr Ambedkar) and the reason politicians today are able to exploit the constitution so much is because it had too many loopholes and was flawed in many ways. But the responsibility for the failure of this democratic institution ultimately lies with the ultimate leader at that time.
Once the rules are set and people start playing by them and get used to it, it is very difficult to change the rules or the people and it takes ages to do so, which is what is happening to India.
It is similar to a company where once the vision/mission and the all the rules and ways of working (the culture) is set by the founders, it is difficult to change them. Only when a strong leader takes the helms and decides that things are being done wrong, he/she overhauls the system completely. Or the company goes under loss and ultimately goes bankrupt and is dissolved.
I completely agree and I have mentioned a number of times that the US has been very lucky in case of its founding fathers ( one just has to read the article penned by them )
Very few among today's politics have the ability to think and express their thoughts so clearly. Instead of standing on the shoulders of those giants, most are dwarfs and the remaining ones with abilities are busy preventing the other bunch from creating too much damage
Exactly.
And you used the word "lucky" .. I rest my case :)
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