I'm Ready To Join Politics

Its true that change is best brought around from the inside. And India, culturally, is not given to revolution but to evolution - and thats a good thing.

But I need a political outfit that can promise me the following:

1. The right to speak my mind. Especially when I disagree with them.
2. An RTI like policy that the outfit responds quickly and transparently to - no fine print - whenever a member or any citizen asks a question. Add a 100/- donation to the party if you feel like with the form.
3. A career ladder, including a decent growth path, for careerist politicians. Well laid out and transparent.
4. Transparent sources of funding, audited accounts.
5. One person one post.
6. Publicly shared constitution, auditable mechanisms and processes for citizen involvement, decision making and supporting/opposing policies or legislation based on issues.
7. Openly decided/debated list of candidates with internal elections, representation and debates. Details of decision making available through the RTI like mechanism above.
8. Every candidate/office bearer/party member should respond to queries about personal assets, stand on issues etc if asked, esp through the RTI like mechanism.

And then, sure - count me in!

 

i'm Ready To Join Politics

Its true that change is best brought around from the inside. And India, culturally, is not given to revolution but to evolution - and thats a good thing.

But I need a political outfit that can promise me the following:

1. The right to speak my mind. Especially when I disagree with them.
2. An RTI like policy that the outfit responds quickly and transparently to - no fine print - whenever a member or any citizen asks a question. Add a 100/- donation to the party if you feel like with the form.
3. A career ladder, including a decent growth path, for careerist politicians. Well laid out and transparent.
4. Transparent sources of funding, audited accounts.
5. One person one post.
6. Publicly shared constitution, auditable mechanisms and processes for citizen involvement, decision making and supporting/opposing policies or legislation based on issues.
7. Openly decided/debated list of candidates with internal elections, representation and debates. Details of decision making available through the RTI like mechanism above.
8. Every candidate/office bearer/party member should respond to queries about personal assets, stand on issues etc if asked, esp through the RTI like mechanism.

And then, sure - count me in!

Afraid To Lose

Our generation's version of Martin Niemöller's "First they came for the Socialists..." will be something like :

"I was too afraid to lose what I had - so I first lost my spine, then my sense of community, them I lost my voice, my eyesight, next my sense of right and wrong, and eventually my dignity and honour, and I had nothing left to lose at all"

Viewpoints : Crises or Crying Wolf?

There's 2 or 3 sides to the world now. 

One set's enjoying the orchestra of the numerous fiddles hired, well paid Neros are playing on an exquisitely crafted stage (to be followed with a master-chef prepared multi course dinner). They tolerate little argument or interference that breaks this engrossing, rapturous music and do everything in their power to try and make sure it continues - forever.

 

The other is a set that is not inside those concert or dining halls - for reasons as varied as opportunity, ability, circumstances, or a mere continuing of whatever they were doing earlier. Many of these end up supporting the wheels that keep the concerts running, without necessarily even knowing about them. Change has already happened to these, in the other direction - and they're paying the price already.

 

Then there's those who see bigger change coming, or even here, and cannot ignore it. Often they could just switch off and get into the concert, but cannot. They're trying to build lifeboats, and arks, and grow food in a pot, and grab electricity from the wind and sun and everything. Everything as it is seems wrong, worrying and worth questioning. The future is unknown but the present is certainly not pleasant. They see what's happening with the second set, the power that the first set possess but refuse to use, and worry even more.

 

Perhaps it always was like this. But the tension seems pretty heightened right now.