Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape Add this blog to my Technorati favorites

Saturday, September 19, 2009

How to make a mockery of Austerity

Bookmark and Share
One of my professors once said that, "a politician would do anything if it grabs the people's attention". Then the obvious question arises why don't they work hard for development.

The answer is not hard to guess. Development is a continous process. It takes years to make a difference that is easily distinguishable. Hence a politician goes in for easier ways to grab attention. So since development is difficult, politician would work hard to make Bombay to Mumbai, Madras to Chennai, Calcutta to Kolkata, Bangalore to ......(I am sorry I can't spell that). Never mind if there is any change on the ground. The politician would always claim that it is the people's desire to change the name. Similarly Mayawati finds it much easier to built statues than work for the backwards whom she claims to represent.

In a country where just 2% of the people travel by air, it was surely going to grab headlines and it has indeed. So if Rahul Baba takes a train or Sonia madam travels by economy class, then the Congress makes sure that it is publicized in the media. Austerity is a way of life and not just for the bad times. Moreover when you start showing off austerity then it loses the very purpose it was started in the first place.

The late Indrajit Gupta, who was the Home Minister during the United Front Govt from 1996-98 refused to move out of his two-bedroom apartment. He continued to eat in the common canteen in the MP's hostel. But he never made a big deal out of it or tried to get a mileage out of it. He was from a rare breed. MP's of today rarely vacate their bungalows after losing elections unless forcefully evicted.

After all, why should there be an austerity drive. Why not have a performance based pay structure for Ministers/MP's. Those who don't perform won't get the perks. I am sure we can save much more money with that. But of course that is never going to happen because politics is perhaps the only job where you get to decide you pay.

5 comments:

  1. People who actually make a difference don't want to be in the limelight...They quietly do their work...Austerity drive my a**!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I left a comment...!!

    I feel that the Party President's travel in economy class was kind of a 'statement' and a suggestion to the others to do the same...

    ...because politics is perhaps the only job where you get to decide your pay. Isn't this outrageous!! I think bureaucrats also get to have a say in this.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I mean the bureaucrats get to have a say in their own pay scales...

    I like this post :)
    Development is a continous process. It takes years to make a difference that is easily distinguishable. Hence a politician goes in for easier ways to grab attention. So since development is difficult, politician would work hard to make Bombay to Mumbai, Madras to Chennai, Calcutta to Kolkata, Bangalore to .. So true!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rahul Gandhi is what 38 or 39 years old and he is still called rahul baba? Really?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey Tazeen, welcome to the blog. Yes he is around that age. Baba is used only in media circles to mock the Congress party which is based only on the Gandhi Dynasty.

    ReplyDelete