Democracy is in decline

DEMOCRACY INDEX

• The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) latest Democracy Index 2016 shows 72 countries experienced a decline in democratic values last year. Countries with declining levels of democracy outnumbered those becoming more democratic by more than 2 to 1.
• The EIU’s Democracy Index measures the state of democracy by rating electoral processes and pluralism, the state of civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation and political culture in more than 160 countries worldwide. 
• World strongest democracies are (1) Norway (2) Iceland (3) Sweden (4) New Zealand (5) Denmark (6) Canada & Ireland (8) Switzerland (9) Finland and (10) Australia in the same order.

• Less than half (49%) the world’s population lives in a democracy of some sort, and only 4.5% reside in a “full democracy.” This is a steep decline from 2015, when it was just under 9%.

• The US is now a flawed democracy. This dramatic decline of US getting demoted to a “flawed democracy,” is as a result of low public confidence in the government in evidence prior to the presidential election that saw Donald Trump become president.
• In the EU referendum, 72% of the UK population turned out to vote, compared to an average of 63% in general elections over the past decade. The UK also saw a marked increase in membership of political parties. As a result, Britain’s democracy score has gone up from 8.31 in 2015 to 8.36 this year, placing it 16th among the “full democracies.”
• The former communist bloc in Eastern Europe has experienced the most significant regression since 2006. There is widespread disenchantment with democracy, with 18 countries in regression on its democratic trajectory and the remaining nine stalling to various degrees. Estonia ranks the highest, at number 29. 
• Sub-Saharan Africa is beating Eastern Europe but is on the back foot in terms of formal democracy. The region has made very little progress, suggesting that it still has a long way to go to improve aspects such as pluralism, the functioning of government and civil liberties, amongst others. Mauritius tops the regional list and is also the only country in the region to be considered a full democracy.
• Latin America has been ahead and last year saw the region supporting pro-market candidates stepping into office. However, Uruguay is the only country to make it into the list of “full democracies,” at number 19.
• After achieving significant headway over the past decade, Asia’s score stagnated in 2016 (5.7), and is lagging behind Latin America (6.3), Europe (8.4) and North America (8.6). Japan is the highest rated, at number 20, which also makes it top of the list of flawed democracies.
• In the Arab countries, Tunisia has slipped by 12 places in the global ranking, putting it toward the bottom of the list of flawed democracies.
• The report confirms that the quality of democracy has receded in the world as more and more of the electorate has been left disenchanted. However, it would appear that there is a silver lining in the increased political participation this has led to in many parts of the world.

INDIA IMPROVES DEMOCRACY INDEX; CIVIL LIBERTIES CURTAILED

• Democracy Index 2016: Revenge Of The Deplorables published by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has yet again termed India a flawed democracy. In the index published by the magazine, India is ranked 32 out 165 nations. Last year India was ranked 35 on the same index. The parameters include electoral processes, functioning of government, political participation, political culture and civil liberties.
• Although India ranked below USA on the overall index, scores better than the USA on all parameters except one. India’s political culture is worse than some authoritarian regimes like China and Sub Saharan African nations like Sierra Leone. 
• Since the Narendra Modi government came to power, there has been a significant improvement in functioning of the government and political participation in India. However, this has been accompanied by a decline in civil liberties and political culture.
• It seeks data from the World Values Survey (WVS) about the proportion of a country’s population that thinks “it would be fairly good to have a strong leader who doesn’t bother with parliament or elections.” 

Political leaders with majority succumbing to temptations and 

overriding institutional procedures in the garb of speed and efficiency 

are betraying the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters and founding fathers 

in establishing the sovereign republic of India ... Manmohan Singh

Since 2014, there is gradual deterioration in democratic governance by Prime Minister Modi with his cabinet ignored, institutions undermined, parliament irrelevant, bureaucracy subverted, election commission influenced, state governments disrespected, media brought to knees, all decisions originating from PMO and quack advises taking precedence over expert advisers and decisions hurriedly implemented. This type of governance is similar to that of Nizams and erstwhile Maharajas, in history books, but unacceptable in 21st century democracies where transparency & accountability are paramount with discretion eliminated. In democratic governance, as a matter of rule, defined procedure must be followed by all including by Prime Minister. The fears of Ambedkar are coming true - Modi's regime is nothing short of establishing Hindu Raj, which in the Indian context meant unbridled rule of the majority community, the Hindus. Modi’s penchant has a chilling similarity with Mussolini's Fascist Italy regime where politics starts to be less concerned with the act of governing people in an efficient way, for instance, in solving their economic problems and social well being. Instead, it is focused more on the spectacle of power, on the visual and impressive display of symbols, myths and rituals. In short India's democracy is in peril!

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%

Rising fuel prices indicates economy in mess?

• Govt of India is the biggest cheater of nation and Prime Minister and his gang (read Cabinet) are worst cheats. 
• During the past three years, crude oil prices in international markets have fallen to 1/3rd and more than 80% of it was knocked off by GOI in the form of increased excise duty.
• Every fortnight Oil Companies adjust their tariff matching international prices in Shastri Bhavan and North Block announces increased excise duty within an hour.
• Since few months fuel pricing was shifted from fortnightly to daily and consumers were to benefit from falling crude prices without any delay is what Arun Jaitley surreptitiously indicated to people of India. 
• But what happened is opposite and reduction in excise duty was conspicuously never mentioned as if it is irrelevant item. It becomes relevant only to lay hands on people's money and not otherwise. Today fuel prices in India are one of the highest in the world. Worse than Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
• Higher fuel prices resulted in higher commodities prices and cost of living is almost doubled, especially to workers and wage earners, during past three years of Modi regime while it was static throughout the world. Are these 'Achche din'?
• For all these non sense activities of driving economy into mess, Modi & Jaitley neither has people's approval nor sanction of Parliament and this issue was never in the agenda of Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. Gross misuse of Executive powers by PM & Ministers. Why can't they stick to sanctioned budget and follow standard expenditure procedures?
• What Modi and Co talk of 'bold fiscal reforms' and raising taxes any time they wish are contradictory to each other and none in world will believe our government. Our credibility is lost and who will come to our country with bags of dollars for investing?
• With these bunch of rogues and cheaters at the helm, there is no way we can progress as a nation.

In a democracy, winning election doesn't confer on winner

autocratic powers to do nonsense things. He must confine to 'rule of law'

Government must confine its expenses with in the legislature approved  budget, in letter and spirit. Only emergency expenses could be met with executive orders. Ditto for modifying tax rates. Today Budget and Parliament are just formalities. Govt does what ever it wants to do, albeit whimsically, without following any procedure or laws and answers none. No rule of law for governments. It is only for the people. Once in a while, courts strikes down some actions of governments giving resemblance of existence of democracy. Our FM Jaitley has announced several times before GST roll out that its revenue model is neutral meaning some prices may go up and most prices will come down and overall government doesn't get more or less. Then why all commodities prices have gone up including food and essential items? Any answer?

Parliamentary processes diminished

• What is our conception of Prime Minister Modi when he called parliament “the temple of democracy”? Is it merely a place to ratify decisions made elsewhere in party cabals or cabinet meetings? Or is it a chamber where the representatives of the Indian people assemble to express their considered opinions and thoughtful disagreements, before coming to an outcome in the interests not of a party but of the country as a whole? I guess for Modi it is the former.
• In parliament, the Government will propose. The opposition will oppose. If matters come to a head and a vote is called, the Government’s brute majority will dispose. Merits of the matter hardly matters. This is how our parliament works these days.
• Parliamentary debates have become a ritual. On most issues whip is cracked and MP's duly vote on party lines.
• Even sensible suggestions by the opposition are never adopted.
• With overwhelming majority the Government simply chooses not to listen.
• The Anti-Defection law was passed with good intentions and with which the road to hell is paved. It was intended to stop the aaya Ram-gaya Ram practice of legislators crossing the floor in pursuit of power and pelf. The idea was noble, and rested on sound principles: governmental stability matters; people must stay loyal to the party on whose platform they contested; the intent of voters must not be betrayed by defections.
• The Anti-Defection law 1985 enabled a practice of party whips on all issues, making receptivity to the ideas of the other side punishable with expulsion from the House. The ‘argumentative Indian’ is on display only when he is arguing strictly according to his party’s position.
• The Anti-Defection law has not eliminated the defections, but dramatically reduced them. It only made defections a group affair, more costlier and at the mercy of Speaker, without fear of legal scrutiny.
• Parliament is supposed to be a forum where individual MPs of ability and integrity met to discuss common problems and agree upon solutions.
• MP's are supposed to advocate the wishes of their constituents, rather than themselves. MP betrays himself and his voters while surrendering his own better judgement to the dictates of his party leadership. This is a travesty of the parliamentary process.
• In the UK no whip was issued on a vote for Brexit. No whip was issued for UK supporting the US in the Iraq war. Dissent was freely and honestly expressed on both sides of the aisle. Such freedom is unknown to the Indian MP with the Anti-Defection Law.
• Government and legislation are matters of reason and judgment, and not of inclination. And what sort of reason is that, in which the determination precedes the discussion; in which one set of men deliberate, and another decide.
• Parliament is a deliberative assembly of one nation, where not local purposes, not local prejudices ought to guide, but the general good of the nation. 
• In the early days a prime minister could even be challenged by MPs from his own party -- think of Nehru being attacked by Feroze Gandhi, Finance Minister TT Krishnamachari being forced to resign by his own backbenchers, or Mahadev Mishra challenging his Prime Minister’s China policy. Today conformity rules the roost. So why give parliament an importance its performance does not warrant?
• The first three Lok Sabhas saw as many as 140 days sittings a year. We are now at about half that number, and it is reducing every year. BJP Government clearly has very little time for the distractions of Parliament. State assemblies are even worse: many sit for fewer than 30 days a year, and in Haryana the average is 12 days.
• In the last Lok Sabha, 25% of the bills were passed with scarcely any discussion. Barely 15% of the Union budget is discussed in detail. Our government is spending taxpayers’ money without the taxpayers’ representatives having a meaningful say in how it is spent. 
• Once bills are passed they become Acts, and these are implemented through the promulgation of rules drafted by the Government and are supposed to be placed on the table of each House. The rules are subject to parliamentary scrutiny. Guess how many rules have been discussed in the current Lok Sabha? Precisely zero.
• Our Prime Minister Modi spoke of introducing ‘minimum government, maximum governance’. Instead, we are heading to a system of ‘minimum parliament, maximum government’. The judiciary is stepping into the breach, taking initiatives that should have been done by Parliament. Unelected judges substituting themselves for the people’s representatives. It’s nobody’s fault but our own, but it’s not the democracy.
• It is time to look at our institutions and ask if they are really providing the foundations on which our democratic freedoms must be built. The crisis assailing our legislative representation in Parliament makes this task imperative and urgent.

Beware of ministers who can do nothing without money, 

and those who want to do everything with money

Thrift should be the guiding principle

It is essential that a democracy must function with transparency & accountability and rule of the law must be followed. No expenditure should be allowed without prior approval of parliament or legislature except while dealing with specified emergencies. Ordinances must be discouraged and must be subjected to detailed scrutiny. No Act shall be passed without detailed discussion and rules framed for implementation must be ratified or modified by Parliament or Assembly with in 60 days. Discretion must be eliminated and replaced with well defined processes. Executive decisions must have either cabinet and/or legislature ratification. Projects must be granted by a 'Planning Commission' or 'Niti Aayog' type expert bodies but never by any individual office bearer. Government must focus more on Governance rather than money matters. Nothing should be done unless it benefits larger masses. Extravagance should be despised.