Enough is enough
Mumbai carnage seems to have woken a few of us. ‘Enough is enough’, is abuzz on news channels to the street corners. But what next?
We are angry. We are blaming Pakistan, our politicians, our political system, establishment, the corruption in it, rather in every walk of life. The lack of transparency & accountability et all.
So, what next? Where & what is the solution to all this? Who knows? How much is enough?
Let us look at the whole issue dispassionately
Let us discuss some of the anger & frustration coming out
Let us get to the root of all this
Why are we angry?
Are we angry because of the Mumbai Mayhem
Are we angry because we do not feel safe any more
Are we angry because we lost our heroes, honest officers & innocent people
Are we angry because we saw a UNESCO heritage site up in flames
Are we angry because 10 people made the nation dance to their tune
Are we angry because the entire establishment machinery was caught napping
Are we angry because the politicians even after the carnage were lackadaisical in their attitude
Are we angry because our police were fighting with 303s as against their AK47s
Are we angry because it took NSG 10 hrs to reach
Are we angry because NSG didn’t have night/x ray vision
Are we angry because 200 crores are spent on our politicians’ security/status, while our ordinary citizen does not know if he/she would come back alive once out on the streets
Are we angry because we don’t have a disaster management & counter terrorism plan
Are we angry because our politicians let us down
OR
Are we angry that we let ourselves down by electing the wrong people at the helm of affairs
What are the issues?
Is terrorism the issue
Is security the issue
Is corruption the issue
Is lack of transparency the issue
Is accountability the issue
Is incompetence the issue
Is vote bank politics the issue
Is religion the issue
Is Pakistan the issue
Yes,
all of these and many more...
How do we address these issues?
Will politician bashing solve this
Will boycotting polls solve this
Will anger bytes on tv solve this
Will protest marches solve this
Will anger placards & banners solve this
Will candle lit vigils solve this
Will international lobbying stop this
Will sacking a few stop this
Will Pakistan bashing solve this
Will not paying taxes solve this
Would our leaders/politicians solve this
Will the media solve this
Will the NSG, STF or police solve this
NO!
We have to solve this
But how do we solve this?
Where do we look for solutions?
Where do we start?
What is the core problem?
OUR CURRENT SYSTEM OF VOTING
Why???
Do you know that you are not being represented properly?
Do you know a huge percentage of our votes go waste?
Do you know on ground our politicians represent only a minority?
What is our current voting system?
The plurality voting system (first past the post): Here we vote for only one candidate, and the candidate who wins the most votes is elected, whether or not he/she wins majority of votes cast. There is no requirement that the winner gain an absolute majority of votes.
What are the bottlenecks of our current system?
By this system we elect, mostly, the people who have the support of a minority of the people voting.
There is a wastage of votes of the people who have not voted for the winner.
Division of votes becomes a major factor hence politics of exclusion and vote bank politics gains ground.
The Winner in effect represents a minority of the constituency which means he cannot possibly truly represent the constituency.
What is the solution?
Preferential voting (or preference voting)/ alternative vote… is a type of ballot structure used in several electoral systems in which voters rank a list or group of candidates in order of preference. For example, the voter may write a '1' beside their first choice, a '2' beside their second preference, and so on. And counting of votes accordingly is done in a different manner. (Watch the space for a detailed explanation of this system and its advantages)
How is Preferential voting advantageous?
Since this system requires a candidate to win a majority of votes in the constituency, it can be seen as real representation of the constituency.
The system requires the politics to be inclusive.
None of the votes cast are a waste..
Would this solve rest of our problems?
It’s just one step.
In a democracy it makes every vote count.
We get a chance to elect true representative of the constituency.
As we have a parliamentary system this electoral system gives us the opportunity to have a government which is made of real representatives
A representative elected by the majority of constituency is a better chance for the majority to be heard…
And, this surely would be the CHANGE we are looking for
What we propose…
Channelise your anger. Don’t let it go waste.
Stand up for yourself. Be counted.
Come, let’s be a part of the system to change it.
Vision
To work towards becoming a transparent, corruption free & better Nation
Objective
To channelise the anger of our countrymen in establishing a COLLECTIVE, which stands as the voice of the ‘aam admi’; bridges the gap between the establishment & electorate
To be the change by becoming a part of the system and infuse transparency & accountability in it.
To try and look at all issues & policies both objectively & subjectively through a fusion of ideas from political science & management practices and make sure people at large are kept informed at all times
Structure & functioning
To be based on corporate fundamentals, practices & functioning
Roadmap
(Watch out for this space. Roadmap to follow soon)
Why this idea
Need of the hour. Help the commoner gain access to the system, its bearings and have a say in the change they call for. And, in the process call for more responsibility & accountability for tax payers’ money
Who are we seeking?
# Anyone who thinks it is time for change & is willing to stand up for himself/herself.
# Self motivated people who think they can be the change.
# Active support from INDUSTRY & INDUSTRY LEADERS, OPINION MAKERS & SEEKERS & the educated YOUTH
# PROFESSIONALS, CORPORATES, ENTREPRENEURS & MANAGEMENT GRADUATES who believe they can add to this movement
What possible roadblocks do we foresee?
History has been the greatest testimony to the fact that, any change faces resistance. But, according to Victor Hugo, ‘NOBODY CAN STOP AN IDEA WHO’S TIME HAS COME’ !
NOW, IF YOU THINK YOU CAN AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE, PLEASE MAIL US IN DETAIL AT OUR EMAIL ID: standupnbecounted@gmail.com
&
IF YOU THINK YOU CAN NOT CONTRIBUTE, BUT THIS MAKES SENSE TO YOU & WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THIS MOVEMENT, THEN PLEASE FORWARD THIS LINK TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN.
AND, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS. YOUR COMMENTS ARE MOST PRECIOUS AND COULD BE OUR INTROSPECTION, DIRECTION & MANY MORE.
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8 comments:
Hi!
I read your blog from your link on Aamir's blog. I really like what you have to say. And while I can't do much from over here in the US, I wanted to pass along some links about the voting system you mentioned. A lot of people here in the US are also trying to get that going, it really sounds like a great way to go:
http://www.fairvote.org/
http://instantrunoff.com/
http://www.calirv.org/
for both perspectives,here's a site arguing against it:
http://www.instantrunoffvoting.us/
Best regards,
Katie Skotse
Thank you Katie. These links are a great help & would be for many more who would like to dig more into this. We appreciate this.
I feel one end is to make the system more robust and sturdy to get the real representative in lead and another is to make people accountable of their vote. We should be able to get some carrots like tax rebates, priority in financial loans etc. for all the people who vote and also maybe little stick for all those who don't like extra fines, no priority anywhere in the country. (which anyway we don't but as I said alongside of making the system more robust)
Maybe we all will be able to create a difference...
Thanks for thoughts that you have put in. The analysis you guys have done behind the problems that we are facing today is commendable. If there is time for another movement like JP's movement of 70's, ITS NOW.
But the biggest task for each of us will be to overcome our cynicism & get involved!
This could be one of the alternative, you must study other alternates too to decide the right choice.
I like your writing because you have listed out all problems like a management GURU to know the exact problem.
I am glad to see that there are levelheaded people analyzing the real problems beneath the apparent turmoil. I just had a question for the people following this - has anybody given a thought to the following questions:
1. How do we discover where the people that we vote for stand on the issues that matter to us?
2. How we can ensure that the elected representative is still truly representative of public emotion and aspirations after being elected?
I can't believe that with the advancement of technology that we have, we still make excuses about the size of the task given the country's population when it comes to conducting referendum.
Good thoughts though. Forwarded to everyone I know.
Did you know that there is a system in our constitution, as per the 1969 act, in section " 49-O" that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding election officer that he doesn't want to vote anyone!
Yes such a feature is available, but obviously these leaders have never
disclosed it. This is called "49-O".
Why should you go and say " I VOTE NOBODY"... because, in a ward, if a
candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received "49-O" votes more than 123, then that polling will be cancelled and will have to be re-polled. Not only that, but the candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest the re-polling, since people had already
expressed their decision on them.
This would bring fear into parties and hence look for genuine candidates for their parties for election. This would change the way; of our whole political system.... it is seemingly surprising why the election commission has not revealed such a feature to the public....
Please spread this news to as many as you know...
Seems to be a wonderful weapon against corrupt parties in India ... show your power, expressing your desire not to vote for anybody, is even more powerful than voting... so don't miss your chance. So either vote, or vote not to vote (vote 49-O) and pass this info on...
Use your voting right for a better INDIA
A lot of room for thought. Yes, it is certainly a more conclusive alternative. But are we angry enough? I suggest that you tune in to Lok Sabha TV and watch some of our top 'leaders' answer questions in Parliament. Chances are that it may be more shocking and shameful than seeing a terrorist attack. You bet, I am talking of the same parliament that you voted to power.
The acid-test of post 26/11 hypocrisy is still not over. The litmus has still not surfaced. Hypocrisy has always been India's bane. We live in a nation some of whose leading newspapers fund the ink and newsprint of the 'Delhi:A City Unsafe for Women' Columns, from the proceeds of the money they earn by printing pink and blue 'Sexy Foreign and Indian Girl Escort Services' Advertisements. How can such a nation be angry enough? Spare a thought for the many spineless journalists work in these newspapers without being able to vent their anger about it? I will spread the word. Your blogspot may be their last resort. Good to have your blog around!! In channelising our anger, first we need to be angry enough. And then give this anger shape on the anvil of our 'conscience'. Let's go and look for it first. Our conscience...
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