The first phase of elections in Karnataka is today and Bangalore is one area that goes to poll. Looking (and driving) around it is impossible to tell today apart from any other given Saturday (of course the booze joints, euphemistically called "Wine Shops" in Bangalore are shut). Some reports say the polling is 12%, which possibly explains why the queue outside the ATM is longer than that outside a polling station. Apathy towards a chance to decide governance is a dangerous symptom in a democracy. When I used to stay at Harare a lot of my friends took pains to tell me that this is exactly what used to happen during election time in Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe methodically ensured he "got" the votes year after year and stayed on power to rule the country. Twenty eight years into its independance, Zimbawe stands perilously close to economic obliteration. Chilling though but let me drop this analogy here.
The paradox of insular language
2 years ago
2 comments:
Subrata,
I'm enjoying reading your blog.
Is low voter turnout a malady? Or cause of a malady? Or a symptom of a malady? Is it really a portent of something as perilous as "economic obliteration"? I'm not really sure.
During the recently concluded assembly elections, many of my friends, especially the young and well-to-do, did not vote. Their justification: "Everyone is a crook and it really doesn't matter who forms the government"
On the other hand, my driver - a relatively older man - took the day off and traveled at his own cost to his native place just to vote.
Are the young and well-to-do more cynical and less optimistic than the older & poorer people? If one looks at the voter turnout stats are looked at, it appears so.
It's a bit puzzling because, arguably, the young & the rich have more to lose (or gain) by the kind of government that gets formed. The track record of various governments over the last 6 decades show that they haven't had much success in lifting people out of poverty. Surely, the older people -- especially the poor among them -- must know that. Yet, they continue to vote while the young-urban-well-to-do scoff at the political process.
There's a book by Bryan Caplan "The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies". I have read only the reviews. It seems it has some insights on these matters.
Thanks for an interesting blog!
..
Seshadri
Sesh,
I think the younger generation has become circumspect, bordering on cynicism, about the political system. That is partly because the impudence of youth and partly because they cannot relate to the system. The politician flock of the country have yet not reflected the demographics of the younger India.
That is one more reason why the older flock still votes. They have faith in the system and the participants. I don't have an answer for the cure. Perhaps patience, because the political demography sooner or later will reflect that of the country.
As for Zimbabwe, my friends there always lamented that they never went out and voted in the elections even when the first signs of economic decadence had started showing. They live (actually some don't) to regret the decision.
Thanks for reading the blog.
Sincerely
Subrata
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