THE GREAT INDIAN DEMOCKERY!

When Friedman said that India's advantage over China was democracy, it pleased those
Indians who love flattery - among them the celebrating well-off, the ecstatic juvenile section of the media, and most of the political class. But Indians who see the reality they live in took it as an example of Western opinion based on surface impressions and deep ignorance.
In every day fact the poor have no rights other than to vote; for that they may get bribed, threatened and/or beaten up. They are also used as fodder by the vicious, to make up mobs that commit violence. Law enforcing authorities tend to refuse to take their complaints of injustice against anyone with influence. The poor cannot afford to go to court. If they do somehow, the case is likely to linger on for twenty years or more; in the process justice is more likely to be subverted by the influential than served.
For long Indian political parties - as indicated by the candidates they put up - have fought elections by dividing the people by caste, religion, language spoken and region of origin. Repeatedly, parties have won by inciting divisive violence before an election. In general the Indian political class has a long way to go to realize no country can rise too far by creating alienations among her people. To rise to the top, in addition to talent and vigout, a country needs a united people.
Perhaps, Friedman felt nominal democracy is better than no democracy. But making a hash of democracy is no democracy either! It's plain demockery! (For more INDIA REALITIIES stories, see other blogs here and at www.myspace.com/india_realities) My latest blog at Myspace is - WHEN HOLLYWOOD MATES BOLLYWOOD YOU GET A RICH SLUMDOG!