What can we do to prevent politicians from taking us for a ride?

Question

Given the latest developments in the Karnataka government crisis, with parties withdrawing support every two days and politicians taking arbitrary and baseless decisions, isn't it a shame that we vote these people to power? Isn't this a blot on the name of democracy? What can we citizens do as the fulcrum of a democratic set up to stop this rot?

Answer 1

DON'T VOTE THEM IN AS YOU GOVERNMENT

Answer 2

Basically, We-the citizens have to be responsive on every aspects in democracy. However, we the Indians are not responsive. Your question that isn't it a shame that we vote these people to power has no relevancy as far as he practicality of the matter is concerned. In our piquant state of democracy anyone with a more vote, irrespective of the a specific majority stipulation. In actual a very minority in votes are governing. It could be a blot, if at all democracy is there. Is it not the high command or the party higher-ups who decide who to me leader or the minister in our system of democracy, which is a more blot. We the citezens are never any fulcrum or even a point in the democracy under which we are living. Just to illustrate, is our PM elected by any citizens!

Answer 3

We should come up with a framework that is significantly different from what we have seen so far in the governance framework.

In the yesteryears, we had conscientious people, who articulated their vision and passion for the overall good, incidentally became politicians - Nehru, Gandhi, Kamaraj, Rajagopalachari, Lal Bahadur Sastri were examples.

Today, we have hooligans through terror, extortion, murder and other types of fourth rate crimes and means, amass wealth, mislead youth and eventually become politicians. As we perceive and practise today, politicians have the legitimacy to govern. Such a politician today claims he has more powers than judiciary which is the backbone of any good civilisation, just because he ‘gets elected’ as a minister or speaker.

Some initial thoughts: The framework could broadly be like this:
*Have a council of Ministers drawn from a varied section of people: Industrialists, Doctors, Farmers, Teachers, NGO founders, Artists and Educationists * this council can be the policy making body including budget approvals * elections to be held only to elect local bodies who will implement programs * the council framework can be replicated both at the centre and at the state * the current Parliament along with an outside committee can be given the task of arriving at a panel of Doctors, industrialists etc from who the council can be chosen

Answer 4

I think its now become a cliq'ue with us condemming the politicians for their doings. The most important question that we first need to ask ourselves is, Why did we allow these people to take us for a ride? Where we that stupid that we didn't see it coming? And if we did, why didn't we take any precautions?

No matter who the politician is, corruption and false promises will remain. Its not that India is the only country in the world which suffers at the hands of corrupt governments, even the super giants like the U.S. also allows this form of human behavior. The only difference lies in the fact that the people are more decisive there. It is us eventually who cause our undoing. Before we condemn these irrational political monkeys, we need to introspect and ask our selves, what we really need from a person whom we'll choose to be our flag bearer. If our choice is right, then the ride would be right, because we must not forget that, every ride ain't bad. Some are good, others bad. Its upto us to choose the good over the bad. Maybe a few years ago, we really didn't have that power to decide, but now, this is gen next, its our time, we need to decide, and we need to decide the right thing.

Answer 5

A good question. Unfortunately, the answer I am going to provide may seem pessimistic, but my real answer does present hope for the long term.

The problem with India is that more than 50 percent of the people (the figure is more around 60 percent or more) are the villagers. They are not involved with the urban economy. The industralization process etc. The policies that affect us people in the cities mean little to them. However, its these people who vote in the government. You or I have little say in who gets voted in power. Yet, it is us who have to bear the brunt of these politicians as the politicians can only make money through us. But we cannot vote them out. Now do you understand the connundrum.

Not until more than 50 percent of India will be directly affected by the policies made by the ruling parties will we ever hope to see real change in India. Eventually, this will happen. Already we have seen the number of people in the cities and towns go up from 20 to 25 percent to around 40 percent. As this number rises and more and more people start paying taxes as less and less are involved in agriculture, more people will become aware of their rights and their duties. Actually, there may come a time when even agriculture income (at least of well to do middle class, upper middle class and rich farmers) would be taxed.

Eventually a large proportion of Indians will be involved in the decision making process as they will be directly affected by it. And when a big proportion of people are contributing to the government by paying taxes we should see some real change. However, until then all we can hope for is that we see some good leaders who may try and do some good. But the system will remain corrupt till what I mentioned above happens. Even when it does happen the journey to real change will not be easy but hopefully it will happen.

Answer 6

Politician are for sure taking the citizens for a royal ride, the only way this could be prevented is by holding them responsible for what they do, there should be a change in legal system which should take tuff action against the politician who do not do their JOB, the way individuals are reponsible at their work place for not performing their job, these Pliticians should be held responsible.

These guys think no one can question them, there are portest held for various issues, i dont see any protest for an act like what is happened in Karnataka, people should come and protest against what they have done, raise voice make these politicians feel the pressure. Punish or Fine them for the expenses for those two days.

I thank Gandhi Ji is not alive to see this situation. Mr Devegowda and party you have done what ur at the best. Mr Kumarswamy Pls do not end your political career so early, this kind of act wont take any place.

Answer 7

"Don't vote them" is a very theoritcal statement. Politics is something which is, infact, the only bad thing in india. (taking for granted that the word corruption is the part of the word politics). Im in UP, i know whats the condition here, basically, th vote bank is the villager class, and all that class need is maybe 50 rupees and clothing. Not blamming them, because they need it. One governmnt is worse than the other. In the state captial, Lucknow, there are two sper huge parks, each representing one government, when one comes one park is lighted and illuminated, and when the other comes, the other park is re made using up 100 crore rupees. Thats the present state. What we citizens can do is, basically, (though whatever i am going to say hereafter is also theoritical) that ge the proffessional class into politics without parites. Or, (now the practical answer). I dunno TOI or HT had that lead india stuff, thats a good thing and we can promote that, becuase there we know that the people are well educated and not 8 grade or 10th grade pass.. Otherwise with th reservations (for the vote bank), with the rallies (for the votes), with the huge bribes (for votes again), india will loose its economy totally, and the situation would be worse than it was in the british rule.

Answer 8

Basically this problem is due to the manner in which the winner is decided. All the parties that come to power at the Centre and States get only about 30 to 40% vote share, which means that 60% to 70% have actually voted against that party. Also a small difference of 3 to 5% in vote share makes a huge difference in terms of the number of seats actually won. Thus it is clear that who ever comes to power with majority or with clumsy agreements such as in Karnataka are not the real representatives of the people. Also the present arrangement makes it technically possible for a party with actually lesser vote share to capture power. (For eg., Party A wins in 500 constituencies polling 10 votes more (in each seat) than Party B, whereas party B, wins 34 seats by polling 1 lakh vote in each seat. Here who is the real rep. of the people. Also the multi party system and splitting of votes makes every tom, **** and harry running a pol.party a power centre. The solution lies in allotting the no. of seats according to the % of votes polled with fixed tenure for the parliament/assemblies.

Answer 9

The first and foremost thing is educated youth need to come forward in the political decision making process. There shall me minimum qualification to become the ruling class who should have worked from the lowest panchayat level to the higher ranks. Further, the media is having a pivotal role in educating the public what is right and what is wrong and what is the position in the contitution. Public should be reminded of the wrong politics boldly by the media without bias. National interest should precede the individual interest. A politician should not be allowed to hold the post more than a minimum number of time whatsoever high he/she may be. Last but not the least, women representation in all the elected bodies shall be brought to 33% immediately and to be further improved to 50% in due course as they are people who look after the welfare of the family and can take of the nation in the same spirit.

Answer 10

Good Question!
The first thing is We must be 'UNITY' in all aspects especially in political matters like voting. We must choose the right person and right party to vote. But today nobody and no party is cared of democracy. Your example is the right one. The situation in karnataka shows that the Indian Politics is for only politicians not for the democrats.
The justice can stop this. The Supreme court must warn those politicians and it should dismiss their party.
If you dont like to vote, you have the option to say no interest to vote in the Election Poll when you r voting. Everybody must follow this.Because in election rules one can vote for a person or if he dont likes to vote he can choose the option as I mentioned above.
Another option is You start a party and stand in the election (This is Serious) and Ihope the democracy will reimburse!

Answer 11

In order to prevent politicians from taking us for a ride the best thing we could do is stop giving them votes.Not a single person should vote for any of the ploticians 'cos initially they seem to be very good promising no. of things and when they win they rule according to their whim and pleasure.
As India is a democratic country ,the public has the right to express its feelings and odds which we go thro' due to these acts of politicians and the best way is to deny for vote. Then only a question will arise in their minds which would make them move towards the public and we would be able to express how and what they r doing.This will help them realize
how they can harm us or the govt can run out of order and probably they will change or stop doing this.