DailyPost 2861
THE TRAGEDY OF DEMOCRATIC NUMBERS!
Is democracy all about numbers or that is what is brought down to. Do numbers change the quality of democracy? All that has gone historically in the making of the functional democratic nations states; what we are today, cannot be both indoctrinated and delivered only by numbers. Numbers might play an incidental role. Or the inefficiency and vested interests of the elected democratic lot can be pulled off only by numbers. It all means to say that improving leadership’s expertise to welfarism to development; literally nothing can be done without the numbers.
On the contrary nothing great has ever been achieved by democratic numbers. If that were to be so, numbers could transform elected leaders, political executive, nature & quality of governance, of processes, of delivery and general satisfaction level increasing considerably till the last voter and the last citizen. Corruption would become inversely proportional to the democratic numbers of a party in the Lok Sabha, that is from where the power emanates. It would also lead to a qualitative difference in the parliamentary debate, and more and more suggestions and changes being incorporated post the parliamentary discussion on the bill.
The democratic numbers are so fascinating. If you score anywhere between 180 – 200 and manage to form a ramshackle coalition, the government is like a student clearing with the remark, “promoted with conditions.” Anything between 200 to 230-240 is passed with grace marks, 240 to 265 and you are able to make a government, it is passing in third class, 265 to 290 is passing in second class, 290 and beyond in passing in the first class, if you cross 310 – 320 you pass with distinction, a few seats more you become a topper so rare and if you cross the two third majority mark, you become a democratic Einstein.
The elected representatives remain the same, nor do they ever make any effort to improve their expertise because of overwhelming numbers or the lack of it. Nor does it lead to democratic culture becoming rampant and the spirit of democracy becoming our DNA. Numbers don’t add to experts getting into the party, politics and government and contributing their might. It does not improve the quality of education and health. Does bigger numbers lead to better financial administration of the country or creating a research and development regime that can propel the country to a different level. No current politico democratic thought process and actions synergises with the real agenda of the people, economy or the nation.
DEMOCRATIC NUMBERS CAN’T TRANSFORM A NATION IS A WELL PROVEN FACT.
Sanjay Sahay
Have a nice evening.