Tuesday, August 20, 2013

India and the illusion of democracy...

On august 15 India celebrated Independence Day. The mainstream media wallowed in it, and key figures indulged in the type of self-congratulatory back-slapping that is common across the world when celebrating nationhood.

But what were people celebrating? The throwing off of British colonialism, the development of nationhood? Perhaps both of those things, but maybe neither.

Forget nations, flags or fly-pasts. Freedom and self-determination should be about ordinary people, ordinary people who farm and produce, who create genuine wealth, things of genuine worth.

Forget about soundbites referring to "the world's biggest democracy."

 Placing an X on a ballot paper every four years or so does not constitute democracy. Full story...

Related posts:
  1. Democracy in India, democracy in Switzerland...
  2. To the people of the Midddle East: copy Switzerland, not the US...
  3. " Politicians in India have looted the country more than the British did..."
  4. India's political despair...
  5. Elections Bollywood style: India's chutney democracy...
  6. Democracy, Asoka and Koodankulam...
  7. Corporate India vs indigenous peoples...

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