Why limit the government?

Why limit government? Why not?! 

• We do a better job describing Hell than Heaven. 
• We want to limit government, because we are opposed to excessive government. 
• We want to limit government because we support freedom and the free society.
• We want to limit government because we want to maximize opportunity, enterprise and creativity.
• We want to limit government because we want to permit individuals to go as far as their talents, ambitions, and industry can take them.
• We want to limit government because we want people to dream and to have the room to bring those dreams to fruition -- for themselves and their families.
• We want to limit government because we want to strengthen the institutions of civil society that tend to shrink as government grows. Institutions such as the family, church, synagogue, mosque, community, and the many voluntary associations are the bedrock of liberty and self-reliance.
• We want to limit government because it ought to be confined to certain minimal, but critical, functions and otherwise leave us alone.
• Government has nothing to give anybody except what it first takes from somebody, and a government that is big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you've got.
• The political process is no way to run a business or almost anything else. The deficiencies, absurdities, and perverse incentives inherent in the political process are powerful enough to frustrate anyone with the best and most altruistic of intentions. It frequently exalts ignorance and panders to it. 
• A few notable exceptions aside, the political process tends to attract the most mediocre talent with motives that are questionable at best. Government runs on the political process and all of the problems endemic to politics show up in what government does and doesn't do.
• Politics is a serious business because it's the part where coercion puts flesh on the rhetorical bones.
• What makes a politician a politician and differentiates politics from all other walks of life is that the politician's words are backed up by his ability to deploy legal force on their behalf.
• Mutual consent encourages actual results and accountability, the political process puts a higher premium on the mere promise or claim of results and the shifting of blame to other parties.
• In the marketplace, you always pay for what you get. In politics, the connection between what you pay for and what you actually get is problematic at best.

Limiting government is a lofty endeavor. It's good, honest work. It's a powerful message when presented well.

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Politics may not be the oldest profession, but the results are often the same.

Government is not reason. It is not eloquence. It is force. 

Like fire, it can be a dangerous servant or a fearful master - America's Founders

Epidemic of dishonesty

Micheal Bloomberg served as mayor of New York City for three consecutive terms beginning in 2002. Bloomberg has an estimated net worth of $53.4 billion, making him the 11th richest person in the world. "Americans are facing an "epidemic of dishonesty" in Washington." Media mogul, philanthropist and former New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg warned in his speech at Texas' Rice University that "an endless barrage of lies" in national politics poses a dire threat to U.S. democracy.

• If you don't know what you're going to do for the rest of your life, don't worry about it. Leave that to your parents! 
• The concept of honor has taken on different meanings through the ages: chivalry, chastity, courage, strength. And when divorced from morality, or attached to prejudice, honor has been used to justify murder, and repression, and deceit. 
• The words ‘honor’ and ‘honest’ are two sides of the same coin. To be honorable, you must be honest. And that means speaking honestly, and acting honestly, even when it requires you to admit wrongdoing and suffer the consequences. The commitment to honesty is also a patriotic responsibility.
• One of the first things children learn about American history is the story of George Washington and the fallen cherry tree.  ‘I cannot tell a lie,’ young George tells his father. ‘I cut it down.’ The cherry tree legend has endured because it's about what what we value in our leaders: honesty. 
• We’ve always lionized our two greatest presidents -- George Washington and Abraham Lincoln -- not only for their accomplishments, but also for their honesty. Today when we look at the city that bears Washington's name, it's hard not to wonder: What the hell happened?
• People are entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts. 
• Those in politics routinely dismiss any inconvenient information, no matter how factual, as fake and they routinely say things that are false. 
• The plain truth about America -- the freedom, opportunity, and prosperity. 
• The more communists had access to real news, the more they would demand freedom.
• Today many of those at the highest levels of power see the plain truth as a threat. They fear it. They deny it. And they attack it. And we are in the midst of an epidemic of dishonesty, and an endless barrage of lies.
• Free societies depend on citizens who recognize that deceit in government isn’t something to shrug your shoulders at. 
• When elected officials speak as though they are above the truth, they will act as though they are above the law. And when we tolerate dishonesty, we get criminality. It's in the form of corruption or abuse of power or both. Left unchecked, these abuses erodes the institutions that preserve and protect our rights and freedoms and open the door to tyranny and fascism.
• There’s always been deceitful politicians and dishonest politicians in both parties. But now, there is now more tolerance for dishonesty in politics. The only thing more dangerous than dishonest politicians who have no respect for the law, is a chorus of enablers who defend their every lie.
• The Honor Code doesn’t require you to be honest but also requires you to say something if you saw others acting dishonestly. If we want elected officials to be honest, we have to hold them accountable when they are not -- or else suffer the consequences. [Bloomberg was a high profile critic of Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign, branding the future president as a “con” and “demagogue."]
• Honest people can disagree. That's what democracy is all about! But productive debate requires an acceptance of basic reality.
• If censorship solved problems, today we’d all be part of the old USSR.
• It's always good to be skeptical and ask questions. But we must be willing to place a certain amount of trust in the integrity of scientists. If you aren’t willing to do that, don't get on an airplane, don't use a cell phone or microwave, don't get treated in a hospital. Scientific discovery permeates practically every aspect of our lives, except our political debates.
• The dishonesty in Washington is about lack of good jobs in many communities, to the prevalence of gun violence, to the threats to the economy and threats to the environment -- because too many political leaders are being dishonest about facts and data, and too many people are letting them get away with it. [The Washington Post has documented more than 3,000 false or misleading statements made by Trump since he took office in January 2017]
• How did we get here? How did we go from a president who could not tell a lie to politicians who can not tell the truth?  From a George Washington who embodied honesty, to a Washington, D.C. defined by deceit?
• It’s popular to blame social media for spreading false information. The problem is the public's willingness and eagerness, to believe anything that paints the other side in a bad light. That's extreme partisanship, fueling and excusing dishonesty.
• Extreme partisanship is like an infectious disease that cripples the mind. It blocks us from understanding the other side.  It blinds us from seeing the strengths in their ideas and the weaknesses of our own. And it leads us to defend or excuse lies and unethical actions when our own side commits them.
• But governing is not a game.
• When people see the world as a battle between left and right, they become more loyal to their tribe than to our country. When power, not progress, becomes the object of the battle, truth and honesty become the first casualties.
• Honesty leads to trust and trust leads to freedom. If we aren't honest with one another, we don't trust one another, then we place limits on what we ourselves can do, and what we can do together as a country. It's a formula for gridlock and national decline. It doesn't have to be that way.
• When I was in city government, I didn't care which party proposed an idea -- and I never once asked someone his or her party affiliation during a job interview, or who they voted for. As a result, we had a dream team of Democrats, Republicans, and independents.  That diversity made our debates sharper, our policies smarter, and our government better.
• In Washington today, partisanship is everything and the dishonesty it produces is one of the greatest challenges that the present young generation will have to confront.
• Partisanship is not a new problem. George Washington warned against it as the ‘worst enemy’ of democracy, a precursor to tyranny. There is now unrestrained, rabid partisanship everywhere we look.
• Fifty years ago, most parents didn't care whether their children married a member of another political party, but they didn't want them marrying outside their race or religion, or inside their gender. The percentage of parents who don't want their children marrying outside of their political party has doubled and the more people segregate themselves by party, the harder it becomes to understand the other side.
• The country is more divided now than ever before. An era during which “alternative facts” and “post-truth” have entered the nation’s vocabulary, and like-minded groups huddle together, drowning out the opinions of others and rejecting scientific and other evidence that contradicts their world views.
• Honesty matters. And everyone must be held accountable for being honest. So as you go out into the world, do what honesty requires.
• No one, nor either party, has a monopoly on good ideas. Judge events based on what happened, not who did it.  Hold yourself and our leaders to the highest standards of ethics and morality.  Respect the knowledge of scientists. Follow the data, wherever it leads. Listen to people you disagree with -- without trying to censor them or shout over them. And have the courage to say things that your own side does not want to hear.
• It will be up to you to decide how to live your life and to follow your own honor code.

Mike Bloomberg's speech at Rice University on May 12, 2018

Today in India, all the traits pointed out by Bloomberg are in gigantic proportions but what surprises is its resilience to survive without collapsing. Truth and facts are hard to spot. Politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen and even common man practices dishonesty and tell lies for making money and abuse society & laws with impunity. Justice delivery system is at its worst with very low conviction rate, unaffordable for majority of Indians, drifted away from common man -- serving only rich and well connected. No ordinary citizen can think of approaching courts for grievance redress. This is not democracy in any sense. The only sign of existence of some kind of democracy in India is that its general elections often unseats ruling party and once in a while anti-establishment judgments pronounced by courts.

Law is the answer to corruption

In India, politicians in power are the richest in that category anywhere in the world. The reason is enormous power and discretion they wield without any accountability. Next comes bureaucrats with lots of power in their hands with very less accountability. Combined, they just loot the nation.  Corruption undermines merit, that results in economic under performance of India as a nation. Corruption today is a high profit and low risk activity. This must be reversed.

• In a vibrant society everything is provided for by law and only a few things are left to the discretion of politicians.
• The law should govern the nation where the judiciary, the police and the civil servants dispense justice and services to the citizens in merit order, with no discretion whatsoever. The discretionary powers must be with autonomous institutions never with politicians. The politicians must be confined to making laws and enforcing them properly.
• But in Indian civil society it is 90% politics and 10% law whereas in American civil society it is 90% law and 10% politics.
• Prosperity evolves by the laws of nature, particularly the entrepreneurial character of the people.
• Redundant institutions like President, Vice President, Rajya Sabha, Governors, Legislative councils etc consume the tax-payer's money without giving anything tangible in return. These must be wound up.
• All public institutions must be headed by well qualified, experienced, meritorious professionals in that field, rather than politicians or IAS officers who know nothing about that organisation.
• Justice delayed is justice denied. There is no justification for courts piling up millions of cases and making litigants wait for their life time to get justice. The procedures could be streamlined and expedited to dispose of cases with in six months time.
• Government must be small so that rule of law is implemented by the judiciary, police and the  civil servants.
• Only mass literacy will make the voter cast his vote to the right candidate. Progress is indigenous. It cannot be imported.
• The main reason for India’s pervasive corruption is material greed. Some 20 million Indians have left India to seek monetary gains abroad. These people were intelligent people and were educated at national expense and they serve foreign countries. This much of talent migration would not have occurred had there been matching opportunities in India. This basic moral defect has to be kept under leash only by law. 
• Indian politics, instead of standing on the legal high ground, opted for huge state power. All powerful ministers, MPs, MLAs and IAS officers amass wealth without any let or hindrance. A tall leader is required to put on the pedestal the majesty of law. Then only corruption will disappear from India. India has to take a U-turn from politics to law, from money to moral rectitude. Political change has always been difficult to effect. Only an ethical society can achieve this arduous task. 
• Economic progress must have a firm legal and democratic foundation. The West too is suffering because of the excessive pursuit of wealth and many are predicting even the demise of liberalism. If the West cannot afford immoral affluence, how can India afford it? 
• To seek to pursue growth on a shaky legal foundation is dangerous. Economic growth in the absence of law has created the present corruption levels. India must strengthen its judiciary. Then judiciary, police and the civil servants will put an end to black money.
• In India, the job of a minister is glamorous with power and pomp, whereas a judge, police and civil servant have to do their jobs in relative obscurity. A minister should realize that her or his job is largely decorative and that the job of the judge, police and civil servant is constructive. True politician must be humble. By a political awakening, a legal illumination and honesty in civil service, corruption can be put to an end. 
• Citizens must become alert and create the right atmosphere for a lofty political leadership to emerge. A highly politicised society has to become a highly legalised society. Politics is partisan, law is unitary. Moving from politics to law is evolutionary progress.
• As politics is deep-rooted in the moral character of a society. An MP who is willing to live on bread and water will not need any bribe. His heart and stomach should be filled by patriotism. Also, economics is a zero-sum came. When the rich live in palaces the poor have to live on the streets. A voluntary tendency to lead a simple life by all will create the right atmosphere for economic probity.
• We cannot create a draconian state to end corruption. The moral transformation of civil society must be natural and based on persuasive leadership. Money should become meaningful, moral and deeply satisfying. If true wealth is found in a rich heart, no one will want to touch money even with a barge pole.
• Law is the fulcrum of democracy and democracy is what holds the people together without force. Law and democracy can combine to form the life of politics to cleanse the country of corruption. Cheap politics has done enough damage to India. India needs Newtons and Einsteins in its politics to make it clean, pure and inspiring. Then the best and the brightest will come to politics to make it a haven of virtue and science.

In a democracy, winning election doesn't confer on winner 
autocratic powers to do nonsense things. He must confine to rule of law.
People may or may not have respect for the law; but they must fear the law.

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In India, politicians life style is more vulgar than erst while kings, nizams and zamindars. Even an MLA's monthly expenditure is more than Rs.10 lakhs! Their spending is outright ludicrous. Political parties and their massive election expenditure is a point of concern. Election reforms must change this by providing level playing platform for all contestants with least expenditure. Political contributions from other than individuals must be prohibited, which is the big source of corruption, crony capitalism, nepotism and quid-pro-quo. Even individual donations must be by bank transfer and all donations received and expenditure accounts of political parties are properly maintained and must be audited.

Jayadev Galla's direct warning to Jaitley & Modi

Jayadev Galla's speech in Lok Sabha on Feb 7, 2018

Jayadev Galla's speech - Translation into Telugu

Jayadev Galla's powerful speech in English in American accent, mincing no words in Lok Sabha on Feb 7, 2018 regarding Centre's neglect in Budget 2018-19 allocations shocked BJP and its bosses. Imagine pin drop silence in Lok Sabha.

• We trusted you and waited for 5 budgets. This budget is the final chance for fulfilling your promises to AP.
• I may be new to politics but I do understand trust.
• Your allies are feeling neglected, betrayed and humiliated as of the 5 crore people of AP.
• This budget has no mention of AP Reorganisation Act commitments.
• Some of your party leaders might have convinced you that BJP can grow in AP by breaking the promises and weakening TDP. 
• Congress too was convinced as well in 2014 of a ill advised strategy and paid a very dear price. From being the strongest state Congress went to zero in AP where it is likely to stay for a very long time. Congress thought by betraying people of AP it will win in Telangana with a secret deal with TRS and win in AP with a secret deal with YSRCP. People of AP are no fools and Congress was wiped out in AP. 
• Please don't be of the opinion that the BJP will fare any better if it by treads the wrong path.
• YSRCP is praising the budget, cozying up the central government, shifting the blame from BJP to TDP. People of AP are no fools, they know YSRCP supports who ever is in centre in order to keep their leader out of jail.
• If you think that YSRCP would make a better alliance partner for BJP in AP it would be a serious lapse of judgement and morality. What is the message you have sent to the country by supporting the party whose founder and president is the poster boy of corruption in India.
• AP CM visited New Delhi 29 times met PM, Ministers and submitted report after report and it is shameful for the government to say that they are still waiting for information and/or examining the situation.
• There are 19 items as AP Reorganisation Act alone yet to be fulfilled.
• In Sep 2016 FM 'Special Financial Package' was announces that stated that they will support AP to the hilt. But nothing has been done so far.
• Not mentioning special package requirements of AP in this budget is injustice and deceiving people of AP. 
• Different packages for several other states were announced from time to time and we all know their fate. Hence AP CM asked for legislative backing for AP special package in lieu of Special Category Status which was agreed in Sep 2016 but not done till date.
• Packages given to back ward districts in MP & Orissa received Rs.6,000 crores where as Rayalaseema & Uttarandhra received Rs.1,050 crores till date. We want the package, not a pittance.
• Five main items are ...
• (1) Polavaram revised proposal for Rs.54,000  crores (Land acquisition and R&R 30,000 crores), as per 2014-15 estimates, is pending with GOI.
• (2) Railway zone at Visakhapatnam that requires consultations with neighboring states. This should have been done earlier. Why are we hearing this after 4 years? Are they not delaying tactics?
• (3) No mention about Vijayawada & Visakhapatnam Metro in the budget which provides Rs.17,000 crores for Bengaluru metro, because of Karnataka state elections soon.
• (4) New capital Amaravati requirement is Rs.1,20,000 lakh crores. Rs.42,935 crores required for essential infrastructure like Secretariat, Assembly, Council, Rajbhavan, High court etc. During last 3 years only Rs. 1,500 crores was provided. Demand at least Rs.10,000 crores annually for next five years.
• (5) Institutions of national importance. Pittance so far. With paltry allocations every year will take 10-30 years for completion. AIMS estimate Rs.1,680 crores. So far not a single penny. May be because elections are not coming up in AP.
• Budget 2018-19 allocation for central corporations in AP is Rs.1,814 crores. Much less than the movie 'Baahubali' collections!

If people of AP has given zero seats to Congress for passing AP Reorganisation Act, imagine what they would think about BJP for not fulfilling minimum requirements of this Act. We demand an explanation. Failing which, we have no option than considering you acting in bad faith and certainly have to reconsider why are we in this relationship. This is your last chance to fulfill your promises and maintain your alliance dharma which we maintained patiently so far. It gives us no joy telling you all this. It is now or never. But we still have belief and trust in FM & PM. Let me remind you again that people of AP are no fools. 

You can fool all the people some of the time, 

and some of the people all the time, 

but you cannot fool all the people all the time .... Abraham Lincoln

With this paltry budget allocations BJP's vote share in AP will definitely nosedive from the present 6-8% to close to zero and may not win any seats in elections. BJP MP K. Haribabu, BJP MLA & Minister Kamineni Srinivas and BJP MLA Vishnukumar Raju, sensing this danger, are rumoured to considering joining TDP for contesting next elections. If this happens, BJP gets buried under ground in AP for next 20 years, worse than Congress.

Failed state

• Failed state is unable to project authority over its territory and peoples, and it cannot protect its national boundaries. 
• The governing capacity of a failed state is unable to fulfill the administrative and organizational tasks required to control people and resources and can provide only minimal public services. Its citizens no longer believe that their government is legitimate, and the state becomes illegitimate in the eyes of the international community.
• A failed state is composed of feeble and flawed institutions. Often, the executive barely functions, while the legislature, judiciary, bureaucracy, and armed forces have lost their capacity and professional independence. 
• A failed state suffers from crumbling infrastructures, faltering utility supplies and educational and health facilities, and deteriorating basic human-development indicators, such as infant mortality and literacy rates. 
• Failed states create an environment of flourishing corruption and negative growth rates, where honest economic activity cannot flourish.
• A strong state provides core guarantees to its citizens and others under its jurisdiction in the three interrelated realms of security, economics, and politics. State failure comes in degrees and is often a function of both the collapse of state institutions and societal collapse.
• A failed state cannot maintain a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence and minimize internal conflict. It cannot formulate or implement public policies to effectively build infrastructure and deliver services or effective and equitable economic policies. 
• It cannot provide for the representation and political empowerment of its citizens or protect civil liberties and fundamental human rights. State failure manifests itself when a state can no longer deliver physical security, a productive economic environment, and a stable political system for its people.
• The total collapse of the state marks the final, extreme phase of state failure, and very few states can be described as completely failed or collapsed. 
• Many states suffer from various degrees of weakness and are therefore potential candidates for failure. Weak states were failing with increasing frequency, most of them in Africa but also a handful in Asia and the Middle East, and failed states are known to be hospitable to dangerous warlords and groups that commit terrorist acts. 
• Somalia and Afghanistan under the Taliban regime, are examples of states failure completely.
• Understanding the dynamics of state failure and strengthening weak nation-states in the developing world assumes new urgency.
• 25 Most failed states in the world are:

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India qualifies many aspects of 'failed state' but not yet failed. But if you look from view point of poorest man it is definitely a failed state.

Trust & Respect can't be demanded; they have to be earned

 

• I am not supporter of "judges appointing judges" i.e. SC Collegium that do not invite applications from all eligible candidates prior to processing thus undermining the democractic principle of equality of opportunity.
• If PM and LM etc are that much trustworthy where is the need for checks and balances? Does Ravi Shankar Prasad wants all institutions be dismantled just because people elected them?
• Democracy becomes stronger only with strengthening of institutions, transparency & accountability of all decision making authorities, following due procedure for each and every decision, thread bare discussion about the suitability of every decision and minimal or nil use of discrete powers by people in responsible positions even under extreme conditions. In any case parliament's prior approval must be mandatory in 99% cases and post-facto approval in very very few emergency situations. Otherwise ours is pseduo democracy.
• Trust and respect are funny things. They can't be demanded; they have to be earned. The more you crave for them the more they elude you.
• Modi is elected by people not out of any trust but due to lack of choice. They thought he is better of all devils.
• Modi was elected by people to be their PM for 5 years to administer the nation with in the framework of constitution and laws. Nothing more; nothing less. What ever he wants to do he must follow due process of law. He can't get a dream in the midnight and do it next day morning.
• Finally, the fact that every decision originates from PMO indicates his gross disrespect for others and institutions and exhibits his authoritarian tendencies. History is a testimony for every dictator going down sooner or later, often ignominiously.

In this world, no one is trustworthy 100%

Lessons from Demonetisation Nov 8, 2016 - Man Mohan Singh

• Demonetisation was a misguided act of coercion that shocked and had impacted every single Indian. It was an ill-conceived economic policy decision. 
• Even if one were to take the purported economic motives of eradication of black money or enabling a digital economy at face value, arbitrary demonetisation was not the means to achieve those objectives.
• Contrary to belief, demonetisation was not a case of a “good idea, bad execution”. It was a fundamentally flawed idea. 
• One year later, it is well established that the reckless decision caused enormous damage. Not just economic but social, institutional and reputational damage.
• The economic impact of demonetisation is evident in the slowing of GDP growth and deterioration of other economic indicators. The precise quantum of the negative impact of demonetisation on economic output is both inestimable. 
• The current economic slowdown triggered by a liquidity shock due to demonetisation was needless and entirely self-inflicted. Such a shock may be temporary in nature but can have a lasting damage on the weaker sections of our society and industry. 
• A liquidity crisis often turns into a solvency crisis for the weak, as is borne out in data and stories from poorer households and small businesses that are struggling to recover from the damage to their livelihoods caused by demonetisation.
• Money is an idea that inspires confidence. A sudden withdrawal of money can dent confidence. Business confidence has plummeted. Stability and certainty are essential ingredients for a well functioning macroeconomy. Demonetisation has dented both. 
• At a time when individual and regional economic inequalities in India are rapidly widening, measures such as demonetisation have only exacerbated such inequalities. 
• Millions of our youth are being left out of economic development with limited access to jobs. Three-quarters of non-agricultural employment is in small and medium enterprises. Construction and small manufacturing have been hit the hardest post demonetisation.
• Mahatma Gandhi, exhorted us to “recall the face of the poorest and the weakest” while contemplating policy decisions. Advice that was evidently not heeded in the decision to demonetise India’s currency. 
• Demonetisation inflicted tremendous suffering on the weaker sections of our society is now indisputable. The demonetisation idea was whimsical is well established. It is only appropriate that the Prime Minister now graciously accept this monumental blunder and seek support from all to rebuild our economy for the larger good of the nation and her youth.
• It is likely that GDP growth will now begin to recover from current lows but the nature of recovery is likely to be unequal and unhealthy. Any headline economic recovery may not adequately capture the permanent damage to the informal sector. 
• Unequal and jobless economic growth are the twin challenges confronting our nation today. In a quest to construct a facade of justification for the demonetisation decision, there is a genuine risk of chasing wrong priorities for our nation. 
• Pretentious pursuit of a ‘less cash economy’ to justify a fundamentally flawed act neither recognizes nor solves these twin economic challenges. 
• It is imperative that we move beyond the rhetoric and politics of demonetisation and come together to find solutions to our challenges of employment and equality. 
• But economic damage of demonetisation aside, I also worry deeply about a creeping culture of erosion of institutions and their credibility.
• The India that awoke to freedom in 1947 was a geographical mass of impoverished humanity embarking on an audacious journey of self-governance and nation-building. Seven decades later, we are a proud, cohesive nation rapidly ascending the ladder of global power. This enormous rise of our nation has been built on the edifice of strong institutions, conceived, built and nurtured by our founding fathers and subsequent leaders. Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabhas, High courts and the Supreme Court, the media, public universities, Election Commission, Central Bureau of Investigation, Central Statistics Office, Reserve Bank of India, the Securities and Exchange Board of India etc have formed the bedrock of India’s steep ascent in the global stage.
• These institutions frame rules and ensure continuity, regardless of individuals in power.  Independence, credibility and trust of these institutions is of utmost importance to India’s sustained growth and development. It is these institutions that ensure the nation is accorded greater importance than individual leaders. Any attack on an institution’s independence or credibility is a direct attack on the nation and her citizens. 
• RBI is an institution of utmost importance with carefully nourished independence and credibility. The demonetisation decision was an impingement on RBI’s institutional authority. RBI was not given a chance to exercise judgement or opine in the decision to demonetise currency. 
• The inexplicable delay by the EC in its announcement of election dates for Gujarat, adds to growing concerns about the solidity of the nation’s institutions. Attempts to thwart the freedom of such institutions portend grave dangers for the nation.
• The independence and integrity of the media, investigative institutions, educational institutions and cultural institutions are all being tested and subject to intense pressure. India today is experiencing a clash of the might of executive power against the resilience of its hallowed institutions. The leaders of India’s institutions shoulder an enormous responsibility to defend their institutions with all their might for the sake of the nation’s future.
• Every political leader is faced with a temptation to override institutional procedures in the garb of speed and efficiency. Leaders with a political majority even have the ability to fulfill those temptations. But succumbing to such temptations will be a betrayal of the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters and founding fathers in establishing the sovereign republic of India.
• I sincerely hope demonetisation was just an economic blunder and not a harbinger of institutional erosion. Overriding institutions, circumventing consensus, and haste are what made the demonetisation decision possible. A truly liberal society is one that strives to ensure that not even a single innocent is punished unfairly. The role of institutions is vital in ensuring such order. It is indeed time to move on from demonetisation but not move away from institutions, procedures and processes.

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Not withstanding what ever MMS said, at least Rs. 4 lakh crores evaporated from Indian economy during past one year and recouping is painfully slow and might take another 2-3 years, even then some permanent scars will be left behind. Modi believes in Goebbels like propaganda and keeps on telling that demonetisation is giving positive results at every uptick in vast number of economic parameters and trolls followup in social media while maintaining stoic silence on negatives. He will never accept it as a flawed idea implemented badly, even if the whole world says so loudly. He is a demagogue and with chilling similarities of Fascist Mussolini, bulldozes and does whatever nonsense comes to his stupid brain. He has no regard for institutions and their independence. No amount of persuasion will change this stubborn fellow. The only way out is to throw him out in 2019 general elections and by defeating in Gujarat elections now.

Dynasty in Politics

The Preamble of  The  Constitution of India states ...

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN, SOCIALIST, SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this 26th day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

• Equality of status and of opportunity means all men are equal and can aspire for any political positions irrespective of caste, creed, color, or any thing which includes the so much talked about 'dynasty'. There is no way 'dynasts' can be relegated as 'untouchables' in independent India.
• It is no body's job to install or pave way for the ascending of aspiring common man occupy such positions. If the process has become so much cumbersome and expensive it is not the fault of 'dynasts'. It is our own political and social problem.
• Can we debar effective communicators like Modi, KCR etc paving way for so called aspiring common man? If 'dynasts' have some inherent advantages of their fore fathers and money that is their good luck. Everybody looks forward standing on the shoulders of their parents & grandparents. Nothing wrong in that.
• These days, money is playing decisive role in politics and it is due to failure of government, institutions and people themselves. Not the failure of constitution. Education, awareness and independent media are the keys.
• Social justice is not a goal or a dead end. In a good society there would be many above the thin line of 'Social Justice' and few below. The other way round like in India is worrisome. It is the responsibility of underprivileged to work hard and alleviate themselves and also the duty of Society and Government to extend helping hand to accelerate the same.
• Representative & Constitution based Democracy is neither perfect nor foolproof but is the least worst forms of Democracy. There is no such thing called ideal democracy.
• Extreme democracy, as practiced in 'small & rich' Switzerland too has many aberrations.
• The beauty of Indian democracy is that very often erring famous people encounter defeat and were sent into oblivion indicates its inherent strength and resilience. But that should not be a limiting factor in eradicating most of the ills the of society, if not all.
• As long as our economic policies aids corruption & capitalism in the name of 'rewarding the talent' and in reality rewards the rich, educated and perverted who will continue to become richer while poor will remain poorer resulting in Gini coefficient increasing beyond limits and eventually could result in social unrest and destruction of the nation.
• In a democracy 'Elected Executive' stands tallest of all. If institutions proactively doesn't control erring executive, at every step, democracy dies and authoritarianism erupts. The real power is with that person who control Money, Police & Military i.e. The Executive. Institutions have no jurisdiction over them. Where ever 'Elected Super Boss' subverts constitution and institutions, dictatorships have ruled those nations. It is imperative for people to elect good person to positions of power. People can't elect rogues to rule them and expect institutions to control him with checks and balances. Life doesn't work that way. 
• Every undebated and nontransparent decision of Executive & Legislature must be subjected to judicial scrutiny prior to its implementation.

“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.” ― James Madison

Why do people vote for 'dynasts'? That is because familiarity of that family with the people and people enjoyed some benefits of their generosity in the past. Why do parties rally behind dynasts with in the party? That is because of their belief in their charisma to hold the party together. Without Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi at the helm of Congress party, it would disintegrate. As long as so called 'dynasts' have popular mandate, it is perfectly in order. What is wrong in standing on the shoulders of forefathers and looking forward? Which everybody does. Some years ago an ageing cricket batsman was asked when he would retire paving way for young aspirants. He said that he wouldn't do any such thing and it is for the young new cricketer to work hard and prove better than him and displace him. That answers the concept of merit, the underpin of democracy.

Democracy and its Perils

• Democracy is a political system which combines the elements of fairness, legitimacy and effectiveness. It is the least worst system. 
• Democracy is imperfect and, when misapplied or incorrectly interpreted, can be saddled with flaws and weaknesses. 
• Democracy is the most expensive & inefficient form of governance.
• A democracy is not a democracy unless it has independent and strong institutions that help facilitate good governance and right thinking citizens demanding accountability and transparency.
• Proper democracy is far more than a perpetual ballot process. It must include deliberation, mature independent institutions and checks and balances. It may include educated citizens, strong civil society and strong laws.
• Freedom is an essential part of democracy. Freedom is essential for both the ruled and the ruler.
• Unfettered freedom brings with it its own hazards that would undermine the institutions that help sustain democracy.
• The victim of democracy is the politics itself. Politics in a democratic set up tends to be looked upon with contempt by the people. It is much maligned and abused field in all the democracies.
• Politicians once elected to power become the custodians and abusers of power.
• Bad politics leads to corruption. As the people responsible for corruption are ‘enabled’ to loot the exchequer either by the loopholes in the laws or indifferent ‘people’ who form the very basis of democracy.
• Corruption has reached gargantuan proportions, because of the indifferent attitude of the people and enabling environment provided by democracy for the corrupt to practice their art. 
• Democracy aides both the individual and the ‘corrupt’ authority. Democracy with weak institutions gives them free hand to run the government, they tend to err, and err with impunity.
• Criminalization of politics is the biggest peril of democracy. With it comes misuse of position and authority. It inevitably leads to corruption.
• Corruption directly brings underdevelopment and spawns poverty. In India poverty is the major benefactor for the politicians. As long as poverty is sustained, they can amass wealth – always unaccounted.
• Democracy promotes capitalism which in turn results in uneven wealth distribution. Rich becomes much richer while poor remain poorer.
• Risk of capitalism is usually socialized while profits gets privatized.
• Democracy in itself is not a threat, but any weak link within it is bound to weaken the whole structure.
• Democracy has become synonymous with elections and is reduced to the process of elections.
• In democracy poor people vote, and the elected become rich at the cost of the poor. It’s a government of the rich, for the poor to sustain the poverty. This sounds cynical, but hard facts vindicate the statement. If 70% of India’s population still earns less than Rs 50 per day, even after 70 years of independence, should we compliment ourselves or introspect?
• Development has suffered more in democracy than in other forms of governments. Though it is fashionable to say that democracy is better than despotism despite lack of development, does it do justice to the vast millions who go to sleep hungry?
• Within democracy, we need a change of mindset both of the people and politicians in their attitude towards development. We are witnessing the loot of our resources by the powerful few who are covertly supported by the government machinery. Every penny that’s put to improve the lot of this country is unaccounted for. The crux is lack of accountability.
• Education of the masses and strong institutions is a solution to most problems in India.
• Institutions which are not pestered and interfered by the ruling classes perform better. The fear that these institutions if given complete autonomy would grow as a threat is unfounded. The Supreme Court of India and Election commission of India are governed by bureaucrats, not by the elected politicians. These institutions function well within the scope of our constitution.
• Our military has gained reputation for being fair to its people and the constitution. Where there is no interference by the politics, the institutions serve well. For a democracy to thrive and bring development to the masses, we need independent institutions to act as check and balances on the government.
• We need universities which are not at the mercy of government; we need public service commissions not interfered in their functioning by the government; we need a strong Lokpal to punish the corrupt; strong local governments to bring development at the bottom; independent CBI and a police force which is pro-people; the list goes on.
• These changes are not difficult to bring on. It is the will which is missing, lest it affects the power of few to amass the wealth. Perils of democracy are the result of loopholes within it. To plug them, we need to fight. Of course, non-violently.
• A blanket endorsement of it as a convenient panacea will do more harm than good.
• There are very few nations on this Earth, which openly reject the notion of democracy. Most countries espouse it, or at least offer it lip service.
• Myth #1: The people can do no wrong.  The legitimacy of majority rule with no reservations or caveats raises the issue of sub-units within the voters viz territorial, cultural, ethnic or religious. What happens if the people change their minds? Democracy cannot be just if it is not just over time. Does a coalition automatically legitimize the action of individuals or groups or nations without regard to higher principles of morality or ethics? The doctrine of popular infallibility can be kept as a useful reference point but must not be abused or overextended.
• Myth # 2: Direct  democracy is always better than representative democracy. Given the volatility of public opinion, the complexity of social psychology and the possibility of inter generational conflicts, the representative democracy is often superior to direct democracy, with the representatives acting as buffer. Mistakes can then be attributed to representatives and not to the people. The conventional assumption is that the will of the people should always trump that of the elites. The principal arguments against leaving too many decisions to the direct appreciation of the masses can be summarized as follows: (1) Uninformed or insufficiently informed electorate (2) Influence of money and media (3) People changing their mind (4) Contradictory Referenda (5) Deleterious effect on public policy.
• Myth #3: Democracy trumps all other social goals. The backlash against Dumb Democracy is the realization that democratization, although a valid goal, is not the only desirable one that a Society can legitimately aspire to. The following compete for priority with democracy. (1) Peace (2) Justice (3) Liberty & Freedom (4) Security (5) Good governance (6) Escape from extreme poverty (7) Public Vs Private goods (8) Good health (9) Traditional values (10) Climate change and sustainable development. 
• Myth #4: Democratic countries will never go to war against each other. There is a frequent assumption that once a country becomes democratic it will renounce violence, avoid going to war especially against other democracies, and try to resolve outstanding problems by peaceful means. Experience shows that the relationship between democracy and war is actually very complex and far from straightforward. 
• Myth #5: National democracy automatically leads to global democracy. Will a world composed of democratic nation-states automatically mean that it will also be democratic? This question is as complex and there are no simple answers. The UN Security Council, with coercive powers, is composed of five permanent members with veto powers who appointed themselves to that position. The other non-permanent members are elected by the UN General Assembly, but do not have veto power. The elected President of United States has real authority over the whole world by virtue of the overwhelming military power, which it has used in Iraq and threatens to do so elsewhere. There is a serious democratic deficit where 2% of the world’s voting population manages to have a determining influence on the entire world.
• There is no formula of global democracy and every formula suffer from inefficiencies and conflict of goals. The attempted simple transition from national to global democracy without a lot of preparation and adaptation is therefore destined to fail unless treated with a more sophisticated analysis.
• Other than democracy, there are no other known political alternatives which will work in the long run.  There is no permanent security in tyrants and the checks and balances of democracy make it the only sustainable political system, which can claim both long-term efficiency and legitimacy. Democracy must prevail because of mounting global interdependence requiring team responses and collective decision-making. A leader has to motivate his troops and keep their confidence. No single individual holds absolute power anymore, and everyone has to report to some group or a parliament, all leaders are accountable to some committee of peers, which makes democracy sustainable, indispensable and inevitable. 
• The modalities of this accountability have to be modulated and perfected.
• The construction of a democratic state must be gradual and well planned. It can rarely be imposed by non-democratic means. Democracy by force of arms is self-defeating. 

 In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great 
difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; 
and in the next place oblige it to control itself ... James Madison

The Perils of Dumb Democracy


Ambedkar described constitution as a fundamental document stated that the purpose of a constitution is not merely to create the organs of the state but to limit their authority because if no limitation was imposed upon the authority of the organs, there will be complete tyranny and complete oppression. The legislature may be free to frame any law; the executive may be free to take any decision, and the Supreme Court may be free to give any interpretation of the law. It would result in utter chaos. Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment. It has to be cultivated. We must realise that our people have yet to learn it. Democracy in India is only a top-dressing on an Indian soil which is essentially undemocratic. Demonetisation has negated the fundamental and constitutional rights of Indians. By forcing every Indian, and not just the black marketers and counterfeiters, to stand in queues to withdraw hard earned money, our elected government has insulted all. Citizens have been temporarily deprived of property by a single fiat, even though the constitution says this can only be done with the authority of law. Countless have died, been rendered jobless, hungry and homeless. Is this a democratic act? RBI has been reduced to cipher. Fiscal policy has become political and the finance ministry redundant. The parliament and the cabinet have been turned into a mere formality. Judiciary appears seriously weakened. It is not easy for the victims of police and investigative agencies to get any relief against wrongful detentions and prosecutions. But it is the concerted attack on institution after institution by the Modi government that raises serious concerns. Bhakti in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul. But in politics, bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship. India has moved away from constitutional democracy to populist democracy. Ambedkar is losing. Modi is winning.