New Year pessimism
Photo: STAR
The general elections are being held at regular intervals, but the political culture is not improving. It indirectly means that the feedback from millions of voters have no democratic effect on the ruling political regimes. Our political culture has become stale, due to domination by two parties, which believe in dynasty rules. It means living in the past, instead of looking forward. They party comes first; and the democratic gestures have second priority. Coming to power has become big business. Parliament is in limbo, being boycotted by the opposition; claiming democratic rights. This boycott by the successive opposition parties has turned into an ignoble culture. This posture is very much evident in the third world; and in the newly emerging nations. Cultivating democratic principles politically is a tough job in the LDCs. The leadership cannot reach higher levels, due to negative economic attractions. Internal democratic modes are not cultivated inside the political parties. The umbrella effect is very much evident. It would need a revolution to set the mentality into the right lanes in public interest. The latter has to be placed before the general masses in more attractive formats. Almost one half of the voters are illiterate, and live at or below the acceptable economic level. Hence political exploitation is the norm. The office bearers hold the advantage and leverage, as breaking the law and rules have become the norm. This is due to political sycophancy to sustain the dynasty regime (the have-not mentality). How to get out of this bottomless pit?
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