A week or so back, I read an article on the Sunday times regarding the voting system in our country.
That I found Samata Party’s ex member Jaya Jaitleys statement in that article ludicrous is the least to say. [A few of her & others opinions on the voting system on the country were shared in that article.]
According to her, though she theoretically believes in the policy of compulsory voting, she also thinks it is impractical implementing it in a democracy. She goes further to state that if voting was made compulsory too, then it would be coercion of a democracy.
But if democracy means total freedom, then why do we have LAWS too? [however 3rd grade they may be] Why do we have courts & jails & parliament too? There too, someone or the other IS ruling us right?? Someone dictating/pronouncing to us whether we are right or wrong!
We have all those so that there is a unit for the welfare of the country.. [Supposedly!!]
When we have everything upgraded.. & want rather demand for the best for our personal use.. why do we not think, support & demand for the upgrading of our constitutional definitions??
Democracy too should have some defined boundaries. In the name of democracy, we cannot not value the privilege that we struggled to achieve... a privilege which is absolutely free to use now.
If we have the right to be a democracy, then should’nt we protect THAT freedom & cherish it? If compulsory voting is considered coercion, then how do we plan to safeguard the country that runs on limited votes.. [in which most are sold!] Even if our politicians are corrupt…then too voting would bring a consciousness among the voters to elect someone whom they know about a bit atleast??
As for the now situation with politicians like Jaya Jaitley & her similar lot, whose brains are anyways somewhere ... probably on thier hip bone;
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That I found Samata Party’s ex member Jaya Jaitleys statement in that article ludicrous is the least to say. [A few of her & others opinions on the voting system on the country were shared in that article.]
According to her, though she theoretically believes in the policy of compulsory voting, she also thinks it is impractical implementing it in a democracy. She goes further to state that if voting was made compulsory too, then it would be coercion of a democracy.
& that was the point that made me write this blog.
Democracy means, freedom of speech, freedom to choose. Democracy also means , ' government by the people or their elected representatives ' & 'government by the people or their elected representatives ' [Source: Dictionary.com]
If this much is understood, then how is it coercion to bring a law where its compulsory that people DO choose?? Afterall, the Government IS for the people & by the people. Right?
But if democracy means total freedom, then why do we have LAWS too? [however 3rd grade they may be] Why do we have courts & jails & parliament too? There too, someone or the other IS ruling us right?? Someone dictating/pronouncing to us whether we are right or wrong!
So if we have those units that govern our actions, then by NOT protecting the country [by NOT voting, in a way we ARE harming the country] what kind of democratic freedom is expressed???
Is there no defined definition for the protection of democracy itself? How do we define it? I don't mean those constitutional definitions made 100 years back or so… but a more practical approach. A more progressive approach.
When these definitions of democracy must’ve been put inplace that time; the time, the era… the POPULATIONS of the country also was at another level altogether. So these laws were applicable THEN!
When we have everything upgraded.. & want rather demand for the best for our personal use.. why do we not think, support & demand for the upgrading of our constitutional definitions??
Why don’t the courts/government understand this is another of the baffling questions of our country’s political scene.
Democracy too should have some defined boundaries. In the name of democracy, we cannot not value the privilege that we struggled to achieve... a privilege which is absolutely free to use now.
If we have the right to be a democracy, then should’nt we protect THAT freedom & cherish it? If compulsory voting is considered coercion, then how do we plan to safeguard the country that runs on limited votes.. [in which most are sold!] Even if our politicians are corrupt…then too voting would bring a consciousness among the voters to elect someone whom they know about a bit atleast??
I mention that coz unfortunately, in our country most non voters do NOT even know who the candidates at the national central govt level are… forget the local constituency candidate. Such is the poor response & pathetic state of awareness & interest.
If not for any other practical & but obvious reasons, just becoz India got her independence after such a struggle, that is enough for some strong safeguarding laws to be in place. & by that I mean, laws of voting, laws against people entering politics…rebates for educated people forthcoming regarding entering politics etc..
Afterall, we’ve won this freedom after some serious bloodshed & struggle.. so we better be responsible towards it.
As for the now situation with politicians like Jaya Jaitley & her similar lot, whose brains are anyways somewhere ... probably on thier hip bone;
I hope those hipbones collapse so that these damned psychos & selfish politicos are never able to even get up on their feet.. forget being able to sit on a political seat again!!
© All rights reserved with Biraj 3Vedi. To re-print, prior permission required from the author.