Friday, 23 May 2014

It is the economy, stupid!

So, there I was having a tête-à-tête with a friend who use to hail from the land of Karmasutra where the people could take you for a spin in more ways than you can shake your head. As I thought that the results of the recently concluded Indian elections would excite her, I started asking about the results at her home state. In Tamil Nadu, in spite of the bad publicity that Amma had many elections ago with the extravagant wedding of her adopted son, she literally swept the state this time around. Her nemesis failed to win a single seat. Over at the national level, the feared Hindu nationalist party won by a landslide. To be fair, Modi was cleared of wrongdoings by the court and the buoyant economic progress in his home state is the catalytic factor for his win. Many tragedies involving high level corruption, high profile national shames and stagnant economy of late had people going for a change.
So, my friend, when asked on Amma's victory, she nonchalantly asserted that the feel good factor won her over. Many of the poor folks were given monetary support. Rice was distributed freely to the needy. Senior citizens were given alms. Saving interests were higher for the elderly. With no major natural catastrophe to worry, she rode high to victory. At the end of the day, it is the economy, stupid!
Man, over the ages have experimented with a system that is apparently fair to everyone. They tried to unshackle themselves from the dependence of wealth and power. They tried to create an utopia where all man are equal, where human qualities are appreciated and law of nature is respected.
Unfortunately, time and time again, man have failed. And miserably, sometimes. Feudalism, communism, fascism, religious fundamentalism all met with the same disappointing fate.
Maybe, it is ingrained upon us to be rebellious. That is how we, as a human race have come thus far, from the plains of Sub Sahara Africa. Deep inside us is the desire for instant gratification.

2 comments:

  1. It seems ...it is the same everywhere on earth.

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    Replies
    1. The phrase "It is the economy stupid' is Bill Clinton's political phrase

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