Now, anytime anybody has ever asked me about my political views...I have ranged from not political to plain old democratic (like most people in early childhood)..to communism (everybody has that phase)...to Autocracy (I know I would be an awesome dictator but what after me)..but I have mostly had a fascincation with Anarchy...and this was way before the iconic 'Introduce a little Anarchy' hospital scene from The Dark Knight
But just because am fascinated by it doesn't mean I want to practically live with it..its like just because am a fan of Salman Khan doesnt mean I wanna marry him...ok..really-weird-off-the-tangent jokes apart..I do believe Anarchy is an essential school of thought...its a 'necessary evil' you might say...People need to know what darkness is so that they can appreciate the light..But total Anarchy just like total Socialism sounds only cool on paper..or even better if you roll weed on to that paper and smoke it.
For all intents and purposes Democracy is the ideal form of government...even though it is flawed..at least we are all screwed together in it and have only ourselves to blame...also if not anything else..democracy gives us the illusion of choice...we at least have some say in a democracy..its the one form of Government where you dont disappear overnight for saying something against the government.
Anyways, call the Indian Democracy what you want but we are actually one of the most democractic nations ever..we have had democratic republics since the vedic times and even our most grassroots administrations are panachyats...Indian women had voting rights immediately after our independence..America had voting rights like 150 years after theirs..we have had one women prime minister and several chief ministers..so called champion of democracy USA has had none..but still dont get too carried away...even though we are a democracy we are a feudal democracy.
Yes...we choose to elect our opressors..in the past,we served people who earned our leadership by birthright..now we just elect them..(which they think they are eligible for just by birthright)
So whats the problem...ya we all know most politicians are power-hungry, corrupt and there is nothing a ordinary citizen like us can do about it...we are a culture steeped in heroes...we want some Messiahs or Mahatmas to come save us..because we are too lazy or scared (rightfully) to do anything about it..But a heroes job is like a nitro boost..its meant to bring about a balance to an otherwise unbalanced system..but its our job to change it and maintain it.
So, first let me say the basic thing that you ll always hear but never practice..please VOTE!..vote for the lesser of two evils..or at least go and register yourself for the 'none of the above' option..see its because almost 40% of the middle class has given up on its basic democractic function that we are still in a feudal mindset.
But still..I understand the problem doesnt end there...I believe that there is a inherently deep problem with our democracy..other than our servile mindset..I believe that bad leaders get elected only because we allow them to get elected..they create vote banks on the basis of casteism,regionalism,being-dirt-poorism etc. But to really stop this problem we have to realize the one basic fundamental flaw with democracy...democracy assumes that whatever is 'popular' is good for everyone...did it sound stupid when you read it..thats cause it is. People win not only coz they have loads of money bags to hand over..but because they manage to strike a chord with whatever vote bank they have created..people vote for someone who appeals to them not necessarily for someone who is actually good for them...Pepsi is a pretty popular drink..but in no way is it good for you.
In essence a democracy becomes a reality show where the shittily talented contestant wins and the actually talented one loses..thats because all people who voted for the show can't understand or appreciate music at all.
So whats the solution..whats the way to restore peoples faith in democracy...introduce a little Meritocracy. Now before you start googling this..let me tell you that even though meritocracy sounds like the rule of the elite..its not..thats aristocracy or plutocracy..in a meritocracy..power is given to those with skills and ability and their advancement is dependent on their achievements..its not heridatary..its doesnt seek to establish a ruling class..anyone with the skills and ability and performance to show for it can act as an administrator...as I said every political system is an essenatial element thats 'necessary' for a society...in the same way am not suggesting absolute Meritocracy..am suggesting introducing little elements of it.
Meritocracy has been written about since centuries.. practiced in ancient China,India and Greece..currently only one nation practices Meritocracy..its Singapore.. and we know what amount of progress its made. Osho was a big fan of Meritocracy and you 'll find some of his thoughts about it here.
But how do we introduce Meritocracy in our country where your caste or money are more important...well, lets start at the basic level.. Just like people who can't understand shit about music but think they can spot talent right away..you have to admit that the same happens in a democracy...do you see where am going here...ok .. I ll say it right away..even for the sake of being branded an elitist or snob or a general dick.. I believe not everyone is capable of voting..voting shouldn't be a right..its a privilege..just because you are eighteen doesnt necessarily mean you are capable enough of deciding whether someone can run your country better than others.
Ok..dont start throwing stones at me..in Jesus style let me say..he who hasn't thought that most people are fucking retards cast the first stone...right...thank god you realized it.
But now comes the obvious question..how do you decide that who can and cannot vote.
Well as usual here is a 3 step programme-
1) Voting is a right but only for those capable of understanding its power- Yes I said it..I know education is no guarantee of intelligence.. but its at aleast guarantee that you can read the papers and know what is happening to you and your society..pass a law that requires minimum Higher Secondary (HSC or 12th or 10+ 12 or whatever equivalent) to be the minimum qualification for someone to be able to earn a voting card.
After maybe having implemented a nationwide Aadhar card project..we can automatically issue Voting cards right after someone passes the HSC..that way we not only stress on the importance of voting, early in peoples minds but also ensure that some illiterate person who thinks that their vote is not registered unless they first press the button next to the hand symbol of Congress (by the way, there have actually been such incidencies reported) doesnt earn a share in deciding this country's future..yes I know it affects him as well and he should have the right..well does he/she know how this is affecting him..if you are not educated enough..well then I wont say screw you go home (even if I want to)..all I can say is we can have some refresher course..with an online test that can one can be certified as eligible to vote...so that one doesn't have to go back to college and risk being called uncle or aunty.
Also, I would suggest this law to be applicable not in retrospect..but from the date from which it is passed..so that not only the existing people are not discriminated against but also that future generations will not only know the importance of literacy but hopefully realize that you cant govern yourself by just the virtue of being born here..you have to earn the right to do it. I do realize that our educational system is flawed and inadequate but still no amount of resources can replace the will to learn.
Of course but now that we have talked about who can vote...what about the biggest problem of who we vote for..
2) Minimum qualification to get elected-
According to our constitution, any dumb schmuck who is above 18 years of age and was born here can compete in an election (the norms for being a Prime minister and Presidient vary..but only in terms of age)..well we have all seen cases of 4th fail retards as education or chief ministers...how about setting up some bench mark...something of a filter to ensure that shit gets filtered at some point. I am aware that just because someone passes an exam doesnt mean that they are an effective leader..charisma..leadership skills etc. are arts that are learned practically rather than from books. But am not talking about holding an exam for the post of a minister..am talking about a minimum standard for someone to be able to to decide the fate of millions of this country.
Lets say that you have to be a minimum of graduate in any stream to be able to stand for even municipal corporation election..this way we can avoid to some degree, all the illiterate bhabhis and bahus of dead criminals/politicians being voted in on merely emmotionally basis as puppets of other party heads. Let me tell you a person with a degree can also be a puppet and be swindeled..but at least it gives us some guarantee that your local Nagarsevika Ma. Dwarakabai Hingnekar w/o late Jagdishdada urf (Bhau) Hingnekar isnt as dumb as she looks on those election banners.
But still jokes apart..I believe that if you cant get 40% to graduate through college..no matter what amount of leadership skills you have..its not useful unless you are able to make an informed decision..yes I said 40% coz I knw even when you read the words minimum qualification you automatically assumed that the person needed to be a mertiorius or scholar..as I said education is no guarantee of intelligence nor leadership nor morality..I only propose that lets set a minimum filter for at least qualified people to earn the right to be leader.
Also, as much as I would like to say an even bigger SCREW YOU to any illiterate or less qualified politcians..we can maybe have some refresher courses with an in-camera online test..also the test can be something like 50 multiple choice questions selected randomly out of 500 questions and a small essay too..The MCQ result will be announced immediately..making the test in-camera and of randomly chosen questions will reduce the chances of cheating and corruption...Also,we do need an essay which would be checked by an impartial body so that we rely not just on lucky choices for qualification.
3) Not just educational qualifications-
By Meritocracy I just dont mean that people need to be educationally qualified..there are other qualifications..other moral filters we can set to minimize the risk of trash ruling us..we can completely destroy the politician/goonda nexus by introducing a few changes. Also, I believe that being a people's representative is a govt. job so all the changes here apply for all govt. jobs as well
So here its is..a bit of Meritocracy in our system wouldn't be so bad..yes it will have consequences just like every political system does..but no harm in giving it a chance...although am aware of all the flaws in our education system which seeks to test our memory more than knowledge or decision making ability..but thats another issue for another day (yes..because there are only so many things you can cram into one post)..am also aware that these dreams might never materialize..unless of course we all start taking a part....play your part..vote for anyone..vote for none-of-the-above..at least earn the right to criticize the problems in our country..Use your power.
PS- unless you have noticed that Meritocracy (democratic meritocracy) has never gotten the dues or the marketing it deserves..every other political ideology has a cool theme/color/symbol..Democracy though doesnt have a particualr symbol..all the american symbology somehow have come to represent that..blue and white..mostly come to mind when you think of Democracy...Communism has its Red color and sickle and hammer..Anarchy has its black and its 'A' in a circle (yes thats the symbol watermarked on this blog)..Hindu supermacy has Orange..Islamic supermacy Green..Meritocracy has never had its symbol..I have made an primary attempt to design a flag and a symbol for it..please comment on whether you like it or not.
The yellow is supposed to represent gold..or merit...the blue -knowledge and balance..the symbol in the middle is a nip of a pen representing the slogan 'Ability above everything'
 |
| if you dont know this scene...then...well...How about a magic trick where I make a pencil disappear |
But just because am fascinated by it doesn't mean I want to practically live with it..its like just because am a fan of Salman Khan doesnt mean I wanna marry him...ok..really-weird-off-the-tangent jokes apart..I do believe Anarchy is an essential school of thought...its a 'necessary evil' you might say...People need to know what darkness is so that they can appreciate the light..But total Anarchy just like total Socialism sounds only cool on paper..or even better if you roll weed on to that paper and smoke it.
 |
| Dude..socialism totally works..look at the USSR..its still there..isnt it... |
For all intents and purposes Democracy is the ideal form of government...even though it is flawed..at least we are all screwed together in it and have only ourselves to blame...also if not anything else..democracy gives us the illusion of choice...we at least have some say in a democracy..its the one form of Government where you dont disappear overnight for saying something against the government.
 |
| or do they... |
Anyways, call the Indian Democracy what you want but we are actually one of the most democractic nations ever..we have had democratic republics since the vedic times and even our most grassroots administrations are panachyats...Indian women had voting rights immediately after our independence..America had voting rights like 150 years after theirs..we have had one women prime minister and several chief ministers..so called champion of democracy USA has had none..but still dont get too carried away...even though we are a democracy we are a feudal democracy.
Yes...we choose to elect our opressors..in the past,we served people who earned our leadership by birthright..now we just elect them..(which they think they are eligible for just by birthright)
 |
| "Ruling you is our birthright and we shall have it.." |
So, first let me say the basic thing that you ll always hear but never practice..please VOTE!..vote for the lesser of two evils..or at least go and register yourself for the 'none of the above' option..see its because almost 40% of the middle class has given up on its basic democractic function that we are still in a feudal mindset.
But still..I understand the problem doesnt end there...I believe that there is a inherently deep problem with our democracy..other than our servile mindset..I believe that bad leaders get elected only because we allow them to get elected..they create vote banks on the basis of casteism,regionalism,being-dirt-poorism etc. But to really stop this problem we have to realize the one basic fundamental flaw with democracy...democracy assumes that whatever is 'popular' is good for everyone...did it sound stupid when you read it..thats cause it is. People win not only coz they have loads of money bags to hand over..but because they manage to strike a chord with whatever vote bank they have created..people vote for someone who appeals to them not necessarily for someone who is actually good for them...Pepsi is a pretty popular drink..but in no way is it good for you.
 |
| I Know Pepsi can cure cancer because I Like it |
In essence a democracy becomes a reality show where the shittily talented contestant wins and the actually talented one loses..thats because all people who voted for the show can't understand or appreciate music at all.
So whats the solution..whats the way to restore peoples faith in democracy...introduce a little Meritocracy. Now before you start googling this..let me tell you that even though meritocracy sounds like the rule of the elite..its not..thats aristocracy or plutocracy..in a meritocracy..power is given to those with skills and ability and their advancement is dependent on their achievements..its not heridatary..its doesnt seek to establish a ruling class..anyone with the skills and ability and performance to show for it can act as an administrator...as I said every political system is an essenatial element thats 'necessary' for a society...in the same way am not suggesting absolute Meritocracy..am suggesting introducing little elements of it.
Meritocracy has been written about since centuries.. practiced in ancient China,India and Greece..currently only one nation practices Meritocracy..its Singapore.. and we know what amount of progress its made. Osho was a big fan of Meritocracy and you 'll find some of his thoughts about it here.
But how do we introduce Meritocracy in our country where your caste or money are more important...well, lets start at the basic level.. Just like people who can't understand shit about music but think they can spot talent right away..you have to admit that the same happens in a democracy...do you see where am going here...ok .. I ll say it right away..even for the sake of being branded an elitist or snob or a general dick.. I believe not everyone is capable of voting..voting shouldn't be a right..its a privilege..just because you are eighteen doesnt necessarily mean you are capable enough of deciding whether someone can run your country better than others.
Ok..dont start throwing stones at me..in Jesus style let me say..he who hasn't thought that most people are fucking retards cast the first stone...right...thank god you realized it.
 |
| so what if I cant answer that right..I know who can solve my country's economic crises |
But now comes the obvious question..how do you decide that who can and cannot vote.
Well as usual here is a 3 step programme-
1) Voting is a right but only for those capable of understanding its power- Yes I said it..I know education is no guarantee of intelligence.. but its at aleast guarantee that you can read the papers and know what is happening to you and your society..pass a law that requires minimum Higher Secondary (HSC or 12th or 10+ 12 or whatever equivalent) to be the minimum qualification for someone to be able to earn a voting card.
After maybe having implemented a nationwide Aadhar card project..we can automatically issue Voting cards right after someone passes the HSC..that way we not only stress on the importance of voting, early in peoples minds but also ensure that some illiterate person who thinks that their vote is not registered unless they first press the button next to the hand symbol of Congress (by the way, there have actually been such incidencies reported) doesnt earn a share in deciding this country's future..yes I know it affects him as well and he should have the right..well does he/she know how this is affecting him..if you are not educated enough..well then I wont say screw you go home (even if I want to)..all I can say is we can have some refresher course..with an online test that can one can be certified as eligible to vote...so that one doesn't have to go back to college and risk being called uncle or aunty.
Also, I would suggest this law to be applicable not in retrospect..but from the date from which it is passed..so that not only the existing people are not discriminated against but also that future generations will not only know the importance of literacy but hopefully realize that you cant govern yourself by just the virtue of being born here..you have to earn the right to do it. I do realize that our educational system is flawed and inadequate but still no amount of resources can replace the will to learn.
Of course but now that we have talked about who can vote...what about the biggest problem of who we vote for..
2) Minimum qualification to get elected-
According to our constitution, any dumb schmuck who is above 18 years of age and was born here can compete in an election (the norms for being a Prime minister and Presidient vary..but only in terms of age)..well we have all seen cases of 4th fail retards as education or chief ministers...how about setting up some bench mark...something of a filter to ensure that shit gets filtered at some point. I am aware that just because someone passes an exam doesnt mean that they are an effective leader..charisma..leadership skills etc. are arts that are learned practically rather than from books. But am not talking about holding an exam for the post of a minister..am talking about a minimum standard for someone to be able to to decide the fate of millions of this country.
Lets say that you have to be a minimum of graduate in any stream to be able to stand for even municipal corporation election..this way we can avoid to some degree, all the illiterate bhabhis and bahus of dead criminals/politicians being voted in on merely emmotionally basis as puppets of other party heads. Let me tell you a person with a degree can also be a puppet and be swindeled..but at least it gives us some guarantee that your local Nagarsevika Ma. Dwarakabai Hingnekar w/o late Jagdishdada urf (Bhau) Hingnekar isnt as dumb as she looks on those election banners.
But still jokes apart..I believe that if you cant get 40% to graduate through college..no matter what amount of leadership skills you have..its not useful unless you are able to make an informed decision..yes I said 40% coz I knw even when you read the words minimum qualification you automatically assumed that the person needed to be a mertiorius or scholar..as I said education is no guarantee of intelligence nor leadership nor morality..I only propose that lets set a minimum filter for at least qualified people to earn the right to be leader.
Also, as much as I would like to say an even bigger SCREW YOU to any illiterate or less qualified politcians..we can maybe have some refresher courses with an in-camera online test..also the test can be something like 50 multiple choice questions selected randomly out of 500 questions and a small essay too..The MCQ result will be announced immediately..making the test in-camera and of randomly chosen questions will reduce the chances of cheating and corruption...Also,we do need an essay which would be checked by an impartial body so that we rely not just on lucky choices for qualification.
By Meritocracy I just dont mean that people need to be educationally qualified..there are other qualifications..other moral filters we can set to minimize the risk of trash ruling us..we can completely destroy the politician/goonda nexus by introducing a few changes. Also, I believe that being a people's representative is a govt. job so all the changes here apply for all govt. jobs as well
- People with a criminal record of serious crimes like murder, rape or involvement in a scam will lose the right to vote or stand for election or any govt job...this will apply to people undergoing trials or even released on bail. Also, people with more than 2 children henceforth, should also be barred.
- As I said that voting and getting elected should be privileges not rights..we can have a detailed system where there can there can restrictions according to the nature of your crime..so less serious cirmes will see a lesser ban and so on and so forth
- Establishment of a Sex Offendors registry where a list of criminals with minor offences from eve-teasing to major sexual assaults is maintained..the name stays on the list depending on the severity of the crime..(for example something like 3 years for eve-teasing ..7 years for physical abuse..lifetime for rape..even after jailtime etc.)...all govt./semi-govt jobs will require a check through that registry and anyone whose name is still there will be refused a job. Here you not only ensure morally appropriate candidates are selected but also disincentivize people to treat women like crap. Private employers will also be encouraged to follow similar practices. If you cant respect women, you dont deserve to have a standard of living
- Also, as I have said earlier freedom of speech is actually a privilege...yes I agree who and what anyone decides is inappropriate is a matter of persepective..but I think there can be consensus on setting a media/public appearence ban on someone who has had a particularly serial and severe (please note the underlined words and dont talk to me about giving people second chances) criminal history. Hateful speeches/obscenity are a bit of a matter of persepective..but how about banning someone with a background of actual violent crimes involving caste discrimination or religious hatred.
Bonus Step..making people Stakeholders - well though not directly related to voting or voting rights, we can ensure people participation in democracy by having everyone pay at least 500 rupees tax in a year..only if your annual income is below 1 lac you are exempt...monetary obligation ensures that people become not only citizens but stakeholders of the democracy..this kind of tax can be used to set up a national level massive group insurance..so that a minimum amount of lets say something around 2 lacs or more is guaranteed for any earning member's family in case of death or something or permanent disability. Dont get confused.. am not saying you cant vote if you dont pay tax..am saying that by introducing such a participatory tax (and of course reducing others..but thats another issue for another day) we can ensure more voter turn out.
So here its is..a bit of Meritocracy in our system wouldn't be so bad..yes it will have consequences just like every political system does..but no harm in giving it a chance...although am aware of all the flaws in our education system which seeks to test our memory more than knowledge or decision making ability..but thats another issue for another day (yes..because there are only so many things you can cram into one post)..am also aware that these dreams might never materialize..unless of course we all start taking a part....play your part..vote for anyone..vote for none-of-the-above..at least earn the right to criticize the problems in our country..Use your power.
 |
| ok..thats enough power for you.. |
The yellow is supposed to represent gold..or merit...the blue -knowledge and balance..the symbol in the middle is a nip of a pen representing the slogan 'Ability above everything'
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