CHANGE DEFINITION OF DEMOCRACY!

We have heard and read volumes about the TRUE meaning of democracy.  From the popular definitions of democracy from  “Democracy is for the people, of the people and by the people.” and “Democracy is rule by laws enacted by the majority.”  to “Democracy is the system where the  clever rule over the unfortunate idiots and make them like it.”! In practice all over the world democracy has been exploitation of the poor and weaker sections of the society by the affluent. Do you know of any 'poor politician' in any nation all these centuries since democracy as we know it today came into being? Even if you find one, you will also see all others thinking of him as “not practical”!

I wish our Prime Minister would give a new meaning to it. Presently democracy, as we see all over the world, means rule by those who are powerful by wealth, by muscle power or by the ganging up of some bad elements of society or even by particular religions claiming to be majority in number.  Why not make it totally need based? Wealthy can fill their needs without difficulty; a well educated also will not have much problem. It is the middle class and poor who have difficulty in meeting their needs. We have minimum age limits for politicians and those who work in offices. Why not also make maximum wealth as a barrier for politicians? Let’s make it they should not own more than say five lakhs in their name or in the name of family or should not be controlling more than that much amount in any way and if they come to own/control later while in office, they will stand disqualified.

Today, the wealthy MPs do know the problems of the poor and to a certain extent they do try to alleviate them also. But a sense of self preservation inherent in all social groups ensures that all the laws proposed or passed by them ensures that they do not affect adversely their own status very much. Though many of them come from poor families, money makes one abhor poverty. The result is though they may sincerely want to help the poor, subconsciously their first priority remains self-preservation over and above the dire need of alleviating poverty.

Imagine a Parliament in which 500 poor are Members. They may not be very well read. But how many of our present members are really educated? There are thousands of well educated but poor in every State. They may not understand economic theories. But how many of our MPs know anything about economics except counting their ill gotten money? A handful of MPs who are really well educated and experienced rule the country with the help of dedicated and experienced bureaucracy. That is the fact. 

I very strongly believe that at least in village level to start with, we should give this a trial, while firmly keeping in mind this change will be effected in due course at the highest level. This change, once implemented at the highest level,  

Changing the status quo is always fearful. Even the poor farmer does not think in terms of taking up some job, but commits suicide when in serious trouble. It is the nature. But those who overcome nature, change the nature itself.