Why Vote?
1. Vote is precious in a democracy.
It is not wise to give-up the right to vote. It is a precious right and without it, there would be a dictatorship. People have fought for it. The slogan of American settlers was, " no taxation without representation". Adult franchise was given to women in UK in the last century.African-Americans had also had to fight for it. We got it with our constitution and it was a wise decision. The rationale of adult franchise is, as an English constitional expert put it," wearer knows where the shoe pinches". Adult franchise without adult literacy diminishes the value of vote. However, our voters have what may be called native intelligence - common sense.
2. Every MLA/MP should get 50% vote.
In order to make our present election system and process more meaningful, we have to support only two or three parties at the national level discourging smaller parties who make major decisions very difficult ( remember the Indo-US nuclaer deal ? and we all know how it was manipulated). For this to happen, we have to amend the system slightly. In every constituency, there has to be another round of election after 8 days if the winning candidate does not get more than 50% of the polled votes in which election only the top two would be alllowed to contest.
3. Democratistion of political parties.
There has to be democratisation of the political parties as well. The various posts in parties should be only through election, not selection. Their acounts should be audited by the Auditor General of India and should be published just like a limited company to avail exemption from income tax.
The parties should pesent their manifestoes to their General Body meeting and get it approved. It should have inputs from their members. The election commission should ban all populist measures such as free TV sets, free power which harm the finance of the state/centre. People have to be empowered with education, health and employment. People have to be taught fishing rather than give free fish which make them dependent. The candidates should be chosen by the local committee, not imposed by the central committee.
4. Educated should participate in politics.
Educated people should join the party of their chioce and make them more amenable for change, new ideas and good governance. There should be "Think-tanks'" at various levels - local, state,central - to educate the mases, classes and the masters ( politicians). Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
This is likely to get good governance including good security. Giving up vote and negative vote diminish our democracy and the country. That is defeatism.
( This was written in response to the decision of some people after the terror attack in Mumbai on 26/11/2008).
December 9,2008.
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