Someone recently asked me what patriotism is in the context of a general elections. I answered that it is voting in the interest of the nation. This is in contrast to a commonly held view of voting in one's own interest. Voting in this latter way results in the interest of the majority being served, which is not necessarily identical with the interest of the nation being served. One key difference is that minority interests may be ignored or sidelined -- which is not in the nation's interest.
Now we come to the political dilemma.
When one is caught on the horns of a dilemma, one has to choose between two undesirable options. This is true by definition. There are several ways of dealing with a dilemma. One can show that one of the two options is not undesirable (swallow a horn), or one can find a third option (go between the horns).
The presented dilemma is: Some voters have to choose between "losing a capable minister" and "having no opposition in parliament".
Swallowing the first horn can take the form of "the capable minister can be profitably re-deployed". Swallowing the second horn can take the form of "there can be alternative non-ruling-party members of parliament". Taking either route will render that option no longer undesirable, and hence may be chosen without discomfort.
Going between the horns can take the form of spoiling one's vote. Unfortunately, this means dropping out of the political process, as spoilt votes are not counted towards any candidate winning a seat.
There is a final way to deal with a dilemma -- choose the less of the two evils. Here, the voter has to ask himself or herself which option is less undesirable in the nation's interest: "losing a capable minister" or "having no opposition in parliament" -- then vote accordingly.
END
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comments:
I am wary of any patriotism, anywhere. Firstly, the state is an accident of history and geography and I did not ask to be born in it. Secondly, the state may not be giving me a good deal. It may be using me to make others very rich and powerful. One has to ask 'what is the purpose of the state?' Certainly in many states it is to preserve a privileged and sometimes brutal elite.
I will not say which state I live in but what is true for me is that I have more in common with others of my ilk from other states than many in my own state.
Also you cannot be proud of your state as it is only an accident of birth that you are there at all. You can ADMIRE things about it but that is not the same thing as pride. You can only be proud of things you yourself have done.
Similarly, you cannot be ashamed of what your state has done before you were born eg modern Germans and the Nazis; European slave traders etc.
Further no MNC is patriotic - only to their share holders.
Patriotism is a sentimental emotion based on the misguided belief that the state actually cares about you and much as you care about it.
I think Patriotism, like paying taxes is only for the little people to quote Leona Helmsley :)
Post a Comment