Gaps between the super-rich and rich; rich and the middle-class, and, the middle-class and the desperately poor widens
Rotten, non-functioning democracy, where force of argument gives way to the argument of force
Everything can wait but, not agriculture
What is the return the majority of poor citizens get from these costly political outfits?
As Sri Lanka, conducts its biggest ever local council elections today, we need to reflect on the fact that poverty, unemployment, youth disillusionment, social and institutional degradation and disintegration, and environmental despoliation continues relentlessly to haunt the world and our country.
All this takes place in the backdrop of widening gaps between the super-rich and rich, rich and the middle-class and, the middle-class and the desperately poor, neglected, lower class.
Let’s not be ambiguous and blinkered; we do not live in a world that is economically and socially just and fair, information, knowledge, and ultra-modern technologies, notwithstanding.
Unsurprisingly, in the prevailing global socio-economic scenario where the dominating ethos is one of selfish arrogance, self-centredness, and self-absorption, many countries still flirt about with a never-ending cycle of elections, of course, purported to register the voice of the people, the very authenticity of which is seriously questioned and doubted by the public expressing the substance in their hearts and minds.
When calls for honest, clean, and just and fair elections are made and, swell to reach a crescendo, violence gets unleashed. They, the people, get instantaneously transformed and, are categorised as traitors, anarchists, conspirators and terrorists.
They are then crushed and silenced by the elected collectives using modern technological devices.
What boggles the minds of the minority of the few, is, the question how long will the vast minority of the people have to wait until the silent majority break the shackles that chain their minds and souls, and, step forward to organize themselves to clinically examine, with intellectual vigour and religious honesty, and, compassion, the current political systems and ruling political cultures.
Is there any hope of the silent majority raising their voices to demand radical changes, where necessary, as their sublime duty towards the vast minority of the poor, in fact, worldwide, who also have a God-given right to the fruits of the riches of this world which are now tightly controlled by the levers of power-political, financial, commercial, banking and even ethnic and religious?
Will they dare to salvage and re-enshrine authentic democracy and good governance, the most workable arrangement for ensuring economic and social justice to all human beings?
To a minority of informed people, in these confused times, it seems incomprehensible how a world endowed with such advanced connectivity in the 21st century, could remain so insensitive to the utter debasement of the political cultures through the criminalization of politics and, a rapacious greed for wealth and money by those concerned.
The proclivity of the people in this, and, many other countries to elect as their representatives celebrities, totally unsuited in a place where the country’s law is evolved, reminiscent of square pegs in round holes, and/or, persons of inferior educational and background qualities, results in poor standards of debate and deliberation in the so-called august assemblies.
This is the tip of the iceberg that has led to a rotten, non-functioning façade democracy, where the force of argument has given way to the argument of force.
The sum total of the contribution the occupiers of positions in the political establishments and institutions, do not help in the advancement and evolution of economic and social development, and long-term political and social stability.
Laws and regulations are no doubt passed without any incisive analysis and exchanges of differing points of view, while even the best contributions made by an opposition are, more often than not, rejected. The alpha and omega of a ruling caucus are how to use Parliamentary majorities to further their own interests, of their extended families, friends, supporters, and, the money changers who help these representatives to gain power and retain the office.
To add to this sad situation is the astounding fact of the servility of professionals, bureaucrats, and public servants, towards those in power.
It is the time that the leaders of all political parties and, more importantly, the silent majority, self-anesthetised, wake-up and strive towards bringing about drastic changes and reforms to restore authentic democracy and, the integrity of all public institutions before tsunamis of descent emerge and leave waves of destruction.
There is much scope and, windows of opportunity, to use hackneyed terms, for sincere and genuine leaders-political, civil, and heads of religious organisations, to perform some skilful surgery.
There is an amorphous mass of paid politicians and their cohorts in all organs of the State in the exercise of governance, who are only dedicated to goals of enriching themselves.
If this is done, those who have the strength of political purpose will find their names written in letters of gold.
What is the return the majority of poor citizens get from these costly political outfits?
They are human beings trying to survive the ravages of past colonialism and, now, neo-colonialism, the hegemonies of globalisation, and the unseen hands undermining the levels of production of our own economy, particularly, agriculture that is going on on a daily basis.
What boggles the minds of the minority of the few, is, the question how long will the vast minority of the people have to wait until the silent majority break the shackles that chain their minds and souls
It was none other than Jawaharlal Nehru who once said: “Everything can wait but, not agriculture”.
Sadly, we seem to fail to see reality - the fact, that democratic practices, law and order, and plain downright decency in conduct, have become hostages to a manoeuvring of selfish political forces, national and international.
Finally, we may do well in pondering and taking to heart the words of wisdom of a great Indian leader, Rajendra Prasad, who warned his country which was raging with economic, political and social conflicts at a crucial time, much like our today.
“Only a blend of honest political leadership and healthy public institutions will ensure the success of democracy in a cacophonic culture such as India.”
