* Disputed vote plunges Kenya into bloodshed * Bhutto's son, 19, chosen to lead Pakistan Party * The Issues in Iowa *
A sample of the front-page headlines on the NY Times over the weekend. First look, they may have nothing in common. When we take a closer look - the news is about elections, the political landscape and the democratic process. The stories also illustrate what matters in winning elections:
* In Kenya, it matters which tribe you belong to * In Pakistan, it matters who your mother is * In the US, it matters where you stand on Health care, Taxes and Immigration *
Am I over-simplifying the headlines? Probably.
But, you get the point right?
A sample of the front-page headlines on the NY Times over the weekend. First look, they may have nothing in common. When we take a closer look - the news is about elections, the political landscape and the democratic process. The stories also illustrate what matters in winning elections:
* In Kenya, it matters which tribe you belong to * In Pakistan, it matters who your mother is * In the US, it matters where you stand on Health care, Taxes and Immigration *
Am I over-simplifying the headlines? Probably.
But, you get the point right?
10 comments:
I have had my doubts about the freedom and democratic notions...
Democracy assumes people to be informed, capable of making the right choices...
from the choices we make and the extent to which we are informed is anybody's guess...
so does democracy in its truest form really exist - as was envisaged by the thinkers of the notion - am nt sure!
Vipul,
I agree truest form of democracy entails making informed choices. However, its not the question of people's capability in making those choices.
Even in a country like Kenya, where most voters are not literate, politicians can choose to steer the discussion towards the real issues that matter (instead of race). I think Roti, Kapada and Makkan has a universal appeal and thats what makes democracy exciting...
Efficient Mkt hypothesis is dysfunctional here since, USD 2.49 and a bottle of country arrack can help buy 3 votes of blue-collar laborers, who can defeat the 'enlightened/educated' votes of say a shankar and/or a santhosh... :-(
HNY 2008 !
BigBro
Hmm.... I don't really see the your point here..... I think the Tribe (Race) matters in the US as well... Cons.idering all the presidents so far have been WASPS (Except for Kennedy) There are a million instances where an influential father has pushed his son to the presidential seat- Kennedy again.... What was it that you were arriving at?
Hari,
I was speaking in a relative sense. I completely agree with you that issue of race and family history appear in the politics in the US. At the same time there is a broader debate on issues that affect people too. I wasnt trying to make a absolute point anyway ...you get derive your meanings.
Santhosh
Big Bro,
Thats a valid argument. I dont think we have any models sophisticated yet to plug-in the variables of $2.50 and a bottle of Arrack. However, if it was really that simple, then we should think about running!
Santhosh
I will have to disagree again... I have seen speeches by grassroot politicians.. They do talk about issues... the only difference is that, a congressman or a senator here will atleast attempt to do something... with us third world countries politics is just flaky rhetoric with no followup action
Well no follow up action and also though i take ur arguemnt abt the roti kapda makkan logic but i dont completely agree that politicans at least in our part of the world make democracy all that exciting. More so when people can be guided by agendas that are communal.
Rhetoric i agree is what dominates.
What is the point?
The NY Times says that the problem in Kenya is more political than ethnic. . . and yeah of course winning elections would be about taxes, health etc.. so...the point is?
The point being that if you want to get elected in Kenya, you have better chances of winning if you invoke ethnic feelings - highlighting the divide. You are pretty sure to loose if you stand for issues and real change.
I think for astute politicians - this idea is almost common sense. Raj Thackeray strategy in Mumbai to create a divide between Maharastrians and 'North Indians' is a classic case...
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