Since BJP is performing Ghatashraddha, and Nehru-Gandhi clan is against my upbringing. I’m at a lurch, who do I back,particularly at the post dinner conversations in the departmental dinners .
Okay so all those who are disappointed in BJP can help me here and help themselves.
Let’s shop for a political party.
The first hurdle arose— I’ve decided to follow fellow blogger and friend of youthful follies rlakshman’s advice—( his advice was how to buy a laptop) ( he always was a good guy to be around when you contemplate mischief) so let—me—make a list of what I’m looking for. Sitting down to make a list of what I would like in a political party. Since I’m at it, I decided to make the list in earnest. Here is my criteria.
· How active would I like the govt. to be in people’s life? should they take care of basic needs? Should people be responsible for their behavior? Or is it somewhere in between.
· We probably need to make our minds up about issues that are important and not let political parties push their views.
Coming to choosing the parties, I discovered that most parties fell into some “isms” or the other. So the ism could be
ü Capitalism—an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of profits gained in a free market.
ü Communism—capitalism is viewed as exploitation and oppression that would eventually lead to imperialism and monopoly.
ü Socialism – freedom, equality, production for use and not profit, employment, worker and community control(?) and ecological harmony ---sounds impressive
ü Environmentalism desperately needed in India, can’t find anyone, and am too lazy to float a party.
ü Conservatism – A political philosophy or attitude emphasizing respect for traditional institutions, distrust of government activism, and opposition to sudden change in the established order
ü Libertinism--One who defies established religious precepts; a freethinker.
Let’s look at our available options:
Indian National Congress (INC, led by Party President: Sonia Gandhi)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, led by Party President: led by Rajnath Singh)
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP, led by Party President:Mayawati)
Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM, led by Party General Secretary:Prakash Karat)
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP, led by Party President:Sharad Pawar)
Communist Party of India (CPI, led by Party General Secretary:AB Bardhan
With so many parties it did make sense to check the manifestos, that’s where I was stumped. nobody had any vision, goal or concrete “to do” plans. the congress manifesto was mudslinging BJP and visaversa, at least the above parties had some stuff that they could pass off as manifestos-but superstar chiranjeevi’s party is a no manifesto party.
Some individuals from academics are slowly foraying into the political arena,trying to tap the hip urban middle class voters. Professional people’s party from Pune, Shiva Khera’s bharatiya rashtravadi Samantha party and jago party are a few. These are definitely trying to do the Lokasatta. They do have interesting manifestos though how practical I don’t know.
One interesting party was Jago party. You can check the details out at www.jago.in
The top 5 points in their policies are as follows:
1. Reservation for none, job for everyone through free English education.
2. Hang terrorists, murderers, rapists & corrupts; Judgments in 3 months.
3. All voters will get Rs 800 p.m. in lieu of subsidies.
4. 24 hrs electricity & comfortable train journey through privatization; less government activities & more private enterprises.5. No Income Tax up to Rs 4 lakh; Reduction in the number and rates of taxes.
Here’s what Shiva Khera has to offer,through his Bharatiya Rashtravadi Samata Party
What we stand for
VISION
:
To bring respect and dignity for every citizen by making India physically, mentally, morally and economically strong.
MISSION
:
Freedom through Education and Justice by eradication of corruption, crime, injustice and poverty and bring equal opportunity for every citizen.
What we stand against
This party is formed to fight against:
Corruption & InjusticePoverty & HungerIlliteracy & UnemploymentTerrorism & Social Crime
With all this no one talks of the things that really concern me. (These could be quirks to others)
ü Environment
ü Health – focus on preventive health, and not drug therapy, prophylactic or otherwise.
ü Import restriction on global garbage like diaper, instant food, etc.
ü Education—not literacy
ü Employment—not creating jobs for the engineers, doctors, and MBA but finding the right people for the jobs we have to offer.,in professions that we need people in.
ü The Indian identity—again goes back to education.
May be I need to shop some more. I need expert help so may be my super shopper sister in law Mona can help. She will be thrilled that I considered shopping at least here. Her grouse against me is I hate shopping.
Still better, I here by resolve to excavate my buried voter’s card, make a personal wish list of what I would want my representative to do, and hand it to the candidate if and when they land at my door step.
Here I rest in peace.
Okay so all those who are disappointed in BJP can help me here and help themselves.
Let’s shop for a political party.
The first hurdle arose— I’ve decided to follow fellow blogger and friend of youthful follies rlakshman’s advice—( his advice was how to buy a laptop) ( he always was a good guy to be around when you contemplate mischief) so let—me—make a list of what I’m looking for. Sitting down to make a list of what I would like in a political party. Since I’m at it, I decided to make the list in earnest. Here is my criteria.
· How active would I like the govt. to be in people’s life? should they take care of basic needs? Should people be responsible for their behavior? Or is it somewhere in between.
· We probably need to make our minds up about issues that are important and not let political parties push their views.
Coming to choosing the parties, I discovered that most parties fell into some “isms” or the other. So the ism could be
ü Capitalism—an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of profits gained in a free market.
ü Communism—capitalism is viewed as exploitation and oppression that would eventually lead to imperialism and monopoly.
ü Socialism – freedom, equality, production for use and not profit, employment, worker and community control(?) and ecological harmony ---sounds impressive
ü Environmentalism desperately needed in India, can’t find anyone, and am too lazy to float a party.
ü Conservatism – A political philosophy or attitude emphasizing respect for traditional institutions, distrust of government activism, and opposition to sudden change in the established order
ü Libertinism--One who defies established religious precepts; a freethinker.
Let’s look at our available options:
Indian National Congress (INC, led by Party President: Sonia Gandhi)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, led by Party President: led by Rajnath Singh)
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP, led by Party President:Mayawati)
Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM, led by Party General Secretary:Prakash Karat)
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP, led by Party President:Sharad Pawar)
Communist Party of India (CPI, led by Party General Secretary:AB Bardhan
With so many parties it did make sense to check the manifestos, that’s where I was stumped. nobody had any vision, goal or concrete “to do” plans. the congress manifesto was mudslinging BJP and visaversa, at least the above parties had some stuff that they could pass off as manifestos-but superstar chiranjeevi’s party is a no manifesto party.
Some individuals from academics are slowly foraying into the political arena,trying to tap the hip urban middle class voters. Professional people’s party from Pune, Shiva Khera’s bharatiya rashtravadi Samantha party and jago party are a few. These are definitely trying to do the Lokasatta. They do have interesting manifestos though how practical I don’t know.
One interesting party was Jago party. You can check the details out at www.jago.in
The top 5 points in their policies are as follows:
1. Reservation for none, job for everyone through free English education.
2. Hang terrorists, murderers, rapists & corrupts; Judgments in 3 months.
3. All voters will get Rs 800 p.m. in lieu of subsidies.
4. 24 hrs electricity & comfortable train journey through privatization; less government activities & more private enterprises.5. No Income Tax up to Rs 4 lakh; Reduction in the number and rates of taxes.
Here’s what Shiva Khera has to offer,through his Bharatiya Rashtravadi Samata Party
What we stand for
VISION
:
To bring respect and dignity for every citizen by making India physically, mentally, morally and economically strong.
MISSION
:
Freedom through Education and Justice by eradication of corruption, crime, injustice and poverty and bring equal opportunity for every citizen.
What we stand against
This party is formed to fight against:
Corruption & InjusticePoverty & HungerIlliteracy & UnemploymentTerrorism & Social Crime
With all this no one talks of the things that really concern me. (These could be quirks to others)
ü Environment
ü Health – focus on preventive health, and not drug therapy, prophylactic or otherwise.
ü Import restriction on global garbage like diaper, instant food, etc.
ü Education—not literacy
ü Employment—not creating jobs for the engineers, doctors, and MBA but finding the right people for the jobs we have to offer.,in professions that we need people in.
ü The Indian identity—again goes back to education.
May be I need to shop some more. I need expert help so may be my super shopper sister in law Mona can help. She will be thrilled that I considered shopping at least here. Her grouse against me is I hate shopping.
Still better, I here by resolve to excavate my buried voter’s card, make a personal wish list of what I would want my representative to do, and hand it to the candidate if and when they land at my door step.
Here I rest in peace.
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