Opinion

The Thomas Jefferson theory is arguable People don’t get governments they should

06 Dec 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Characters elected to government through habit and design make voters who elected them, hapless onlookers

nternal politics at places of work, in associations, schools, universities, trade unions and various kinds of coalitions, are insignificant when compared with national politics and politicos who hold the reins of a country’s affairs. And when in power, these characters through habit and even by design make others, including the voters who placed them in charge, hapless onlookers
who realise far too late the wrong choices they had made in using their franchise.

The Thomas Jefferson theory

“So, the governments you elect are the government you deserve, eh?” After completing a hearty breakfast of kiri buth, Shelton Perera the proprietor of the Wallside Restaurant and bar reading that day’s copy of the Daily Dodger, his favourite news paper remarked.
“Shelley, that was what a much idiolised ex-American president Thomas Jefferson said. And I think he was right, you know,” said Joy, Shelton’s better half who was making herself a cuppa, her second for the day.
“You think so?”
“Of course I do, and I am not prepared to argue about that great man’s view.”
“ Okay, okay, then let me ask you this; do you think present-day Americans deserve Obama’s government?”
“Now don’t be silly, as a Sri Lankan, how can I speak on behalf of the American people about Obama’s performance? But he seems to be coping well, isn’t he?”

Realities

“You are sadly out of date, Darlo, elections are around the corner and the indications are that Obama is going to be written off the map as another failed-US president. Why? Because his deliveries in satisfying public wants, needs and setting stages to meet their aspirations have fallen short of expectations. And he has been cutting a not-so-great-as-before figure internationally as well. The truth is that Americans don’t deserve to be under the buttery fingers of the Obama administration; but they would do something about it. I don’t blame them really for that. ”
“You mean they would install another president and another government they deserve to have?”
“Of course, otherwise there is no purpose in holding elections in any democratic country to select suitable leaders to nurse the country and the millions of souls in it. But perfection on that score is just theoretical jazz. In real life politicos woo, cheat and cajole voters through any means just to get power and fulfill their ambitions. End of story. That’s why I don’t agree with the Jefferson theory.”

"Did our governors deserve such pariahs the hybrid set up too? Worse, although the Yaha politiccas promised a moon-walk in 100 days, the country is in the same hole even after 365 sun rises"

“All right,” said Joy, “but do people get governments they deserve? The people; voters want and hope for a government they can depend on to provide, provide and provide. And they look forward to a leadership that could do that without a rattle of skeletons.”
“Agreed,” said Shelton. “They also vote on the belief that those they vote for are correct choices. To prove that they are the most suitable prospective parliamentarians, senators, councillors etc. periodically climb stages and run around blaring out their suitability. And the people impressed by the baloney vote in good faith that their selections to central administrations would deliver what is required. But as usual, governments voted into power do not deliver. So how

do you explain ‘people get governments they deserve’? Mr. Jefferson got it mixed up.”
“You have a point,” said Joy. “I feel that what Mr Jefferson meant was , ‘ If the people vote right, they’ll get a sound government they deserve. If they vote idiotically they’ll get a stupid government they don’t deserve. How does that sound?”
“Ha,ha,ha. That’s too simplified. People do not knowingly vote scoundrels or just plain eggs with bad histories to parliaments. Admittedly, there are some who vote for undesirables for personal advancement, monetary pursuance and assurances of various kinds, that are met when their horse breasts the tape-somehow. Individual citizens, small companies and large corporations are in this foxy bracket. The rest of the politicos who bluster their way through to power are just plain hypocrites who forget the people who put them there in no time.”

The Sataka regiment

“I am with bossa on that,” purred Tommo a pussycat in the employ of Shelton Perera’s restaurant and bar who had been listening to their master-mistress conversation. Pussy was relaxing on a carpet in the Perera house with his pal and working partner Ooty, an owl balanced nicely on an arm of a chair nearby. “Forget old Jeffy’s saying ‘people deserve governments they elect. Just consider our governors who voted in a yahapalanaya in the belief it was the entrance ticket they have been waiting for years and years. I am sure you remember the former Sataka regime that made mince meat of our governors? Tell me, did our governors deserve Sataka governance? Gosh, that lot was a bloody disaster. That Jefferson governor got it wrong. Our governors never deserved the doings of governments they elected.”

“Thuhoot, I agree; but our governors taught the Satakayas a lesson, didn’t they?
“Purshsh, they did a great job in Vim cleaning and placing fresh plates in front of the Green boss and the Blue boss sitting at the head of a mixed table. Now they are waiting hopefully for a government they deserved to emerge from the Sataka debris…”
“Thuhoooot, ha-ha-haaa,” laughed the bird. “It looks as if they are in for a long wait.”
“Well the mahajanathawa were promised a turn around with earnest kick starts in all directions.” “Yah, yah,yah. Kick starts that failed to kick their grand

hybrid bike to fire and roar to a win. The situ is as plain as plain tea. The track is there but the new model hybrid two-wheeler is being pushed by mechanics to get the darn thing going. But the only thing it does is to splutter. Maybe it needs more time to warm up. ”
“Meeoownahnah (Nah, nah). To be fair by the Yahapalakayas I suppose so. But they slipped in some of the mechanics our governors kicked out at the last selection, to the Cabinet and even cupboards and office drawers. Can you cap that? Did our governors deserve such pariahs to lead them in the hybrid set up too? Worse, although the Yaha politiccas promised a moon-walk in 100 days, the country is yet in the same hole even after 365 sun rises. It proves once again that governors don’t get governments they deserve, but an imitation of it delivered verbally. You should also pay head to another Americano who was a Jefferson supporter. He added a bit more to the Jefferson theory.”
“What was that?” The bird was curious.

"In real life politicos woo, cheat and cajole voters just to get power and fulfill their ambitions. End of story. That’s why I don’t agree with the Jefferson theory"

Good and hard

“Purrshsh, that Americano said,’ Governors get governments they deserve to get; and they deserve to get it good and hard.”
“Thuhoot! But that’s worse no?” protested the owl.
“Meeoowwyep” (Yep). The ‘good and hard’ describes what our governors got during the Sataka reign. But the ‘good and hard’ stuff taught governors bitter lessons and enough fire to burn the Sataka kingdom down. The current post –Sataka gang does not pose good and hard menus but they risk an end, not just badly; but very badly. But it won’t become a fatality because, a time would come when disappointed governors get an opportunity to liquefy the Yaha crowd they don’t deserve and vote in another one they think they deserve, only to get landed once again with a government they don’t deserve.”
“So?” the bird blinked.
“So….., the cycle would just continue as long as wayward governments are allowed to keep going because our governors choose to sit even after the political garbage starts stinking to high heaven.”

Opinion

The Thomas Jefferson theory is arguable People don’t get governments they should

Characters elected to government through habit and design make voters who elected them, hapless onlookers

The Thomas Jefferson theory

Realities

"Did our governors deserve such pariahs the hybrid set up too? Worse, although the Yaha politiccas promised a moon-walk in 100 days, the country is in the same hole even after 365 sun rises"

The Sataka regiment

"In real life politicos woo, cheat and cajole voters just to get power and fulfill their ambitions. End of story. That’s why I don’t agree with the Jefferson theory"

Good and hard

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