Cronyism and Pseudo-Democracy

Although it has been several decades since kings ruled our people, feudalism is prevalent in many parts of our society, albeit disguised as democracies. Some people think that feudalism is a trait that cannot be removed from the deep-rooted mindset of the masses in a span of just 2 or 3 generations. Education, which apparently seemed to be the only remedy to change our thinking, failed to do the trick too. Educated people are not necessarily adept at ‘thinking through’ current developments in today's times. Not surprising at all! Education never taught us to think, decide, be prudent with money matters or deal with bullies in every walk of life – all of which is so essential to live a reasonably comfortable life. Dynasties and Rajas will continue to rule us eternally.

In the recent 2G telecom plunder episode, dynasties and Rajas could take a billion people for a royal ride. Rulers of the states of our country are grooming their sons (daughters, nephews, etc) to take over the reins by joining politics and getting ‘democratically elected’, so that the license to plunder remains within their clan for several generations to come. Gullible voters don’t seem to mind this one bit! If the father was a great leader, so would his progeny, they all seem to think. With the costs of contesting elections being ridiculously high, who can afford to field one’s son, except, of course the well-heeled - and a politician himself? With such entry barriers to keep well-intentioned reformers out of the election fray, this whole exercise of spending money on election campaigning has ensured that elected members will work to get adequate ‘returns’ on their ‘investments’.

Promises are quickly forgotten and one gets down to serious business! It is payback time, folks, and the cookie jars are all stocked up for the privileged few who can dig into them. “Cookie jars?”, you may ask. The average ‘educated’ man has not learnt to spot a ‘cookie jar’ in his school or college. Mines, land, special economic zones, spectrum, projects, mega-events, licences – there are plenty of them for the asking. Ambitious Corporate houses, who are the major funding bodies at the time of elections too only too impatient to get manifold ‘returns’ on their investment. Payback time, they tell the parties supported by them, as returns come in the form of government sops handed out to their industries and businesses – larger profits mean higher bonuses, don’t they? It is a Wink-Wink situation!

And what does the average man on the street get? Promises, some Crony Capitalism, a Crony Government, a Pseudo-Democracy, great excitement due to heightened uncertainty – and, of course, a large bill (read: higher taxes) for the excesses committed by the elected and the venturesome! The educated get newspaper editorials, some interesting television debates that appeal to their intellect – that’s about it. A heavy price to pay (read: taxes) for some cheap thrills. With the SC cancelling 2G licences, the Government is certain to raise money through auctions. Good for us, but the common man would like to know how and when will the looted moneys from several scams be recovered from the perpetrators? No wonder, the world is simmering with anger! But those at the cookie jars have gotten too deep inside it, to be able to listen to the din outside.

Just a pseudo-post by a pseudo-blogger hoping to pseudo-tickle the readers, for a change!