I’m totally elated that Obama won today. Mostly because he pronounces Pakistan as Pock-i-stahn but also because I never truly believed that politics could be so bottom-up.
I’ve never lived in a true democracy and never witnessed one in action. Too young for the 2000 elections and too ignorant for 2004. The country where I was born, India and the country where I’ve lived longest, Indonesia are officially democracies. But too often, votes are won by free umbrellas, free meals and violence.
On the other hand, where I live now, Singapore, is a true democracy. The last two presidential elections in 1999 and 2005 were canceled because all the other candidates were simply not qualified enough. The qualifications being “…chairman of the board of directors or chief executive officer of a company with a paid-up capital of at least S$100 million..”. The “anyone should be able to run for the presidency” crowd might not like these stringent requirements but they are a necessity. Otherwise, ignorant stupid people might vote for dumb candidates like Sarah Palin and the resulting incompetency would ruin this nation. In the last general election in 2006, a whopping number of opposition party members (2) were elected. Indeed, it is such a wonderful vibrant democracy that elects a governments of the people, for the people and by the people.
But elections aren’t the true measure of a democracy, the involvement of ordinary people in things beyond their everyday lives matters more. And even compared to the tight control on elections, it’s the apathy here that is fundamentally worse. Apathy isn’t lacking as much even in Indonesia and India. 15,000 poor peasants in a rural state in India managed to revolt against the biggest corporation in the country. Ultimately, they succeeded and the Tata group were chased out of the state. Obviously, there were plenty of political considerations and under-the-table deals that eventually lead to Tata’s pullout, but it’s significant that it all began with just helpless farmers standing up for their own rights. And as Obama proved today, the enthusiasm is even higher in the United States. If you are a 18-year-old in the US, you can actually change the world, help someone get elected, maybe just a congressman, or defeat a proposition that codifies discrimination.
But, not so much here. For the last four years, I’ve attended dialogue sessions with government ministers, “grassroots” (not really, it’s just a label) events and youth seminars on the future of the country. But at the end of the day, after the “that’s a wonderful point you make!” moments, after the smiles and promises, nothing changes.
Of course, there’s nothing more depressing than that feeling. That no matter what you do, no matter how much you care, nothing will ever change. It’s just incredibly sad.
7 Comments
November 5, 2008 at 10:16 am
Yes, the open spirit of true democracy is why stupid socialists like Obama can be elected leader of the so-called “free world” and why even more stupid people like Austria’s current Chancellor can make the sandbox wish they had as a child a truth.
But you have a point: It’s really cool that everyone can stand up and vote for what he believes or even go a step further, enlist into a party (or found one) and try to get elected and take matters in his/her own hands. Us citizens of countries where this is the usual way of how politics work often forget what a good thing that is.
November 5, 2008 at 11:47 am
I find it odd that you really believe the situation in the US is that different. It’s not, except for window-dressing. At least Singapore is honest about what it takes to get elected; in the US you just have to add that “or is willing to take marching orders from one of the above” to the list.
November 5, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Obama may or may not be a socialist, but you don’t get to run the Harvard Law Review by being stupid.
Phil
November 6, 2008 at 12:01 am
Regarding “election won by umbrellas and meals…” That’s what the country is..its developing and people’s primary concern is their daily meals. Which is not the case of America.
Obama is Socialist or not is another question which might get answered soon but “Over capitalism ” has really shown its bad effect.
And i always wonder why America is always there where ever there is war…:) Find out any region where they are not interested
By the way…anybody has info about Obama’s stake in any oil company ?
November 6, 2008 at 11:26 pm
“Of course, there’s nothing more depressing than that feeling. That no matter what you do, no matter how much you care, nothing will ever change. It’s just incredibly sad.”
That’s why a good number of Singaporeans don’t bother to do anything about things they care about. They go, “why should I bother doing anything when it wouldn’t even work?” without trying or making the first step. A local saying to explain this, is “cover one’s backside”. That way they don’t get blamed for anything that fails in the future.
(You’ll see what I mean once you enter National Service.
This attitude reflects a certain something on themselves, though I’ve grown used to it.
*shrugs*
November 7, 2008 at 6:55 am
Robert, Obama is not a socialist and he’s definitely not stupid. Also, socialists in general are not stupid.
I’m quite appalled with those remarks, to be honest.
November 8, 2008 at 6:48 am
Martijn and Phil are right. Obama is no socialist and he’s obviously one of the smartest presidents in recent history. And he’s an intellectual!
@Boris, why the cynicism? I’ve never lived in the US. So, I can’t claim to know the politics firsthand. But from everything I hear and read, your democracy is, in fact, pretty democratic.
@Jigar, the US has been involved in many wars. Some of them unjustified but also some that have helped the rest of the world like WWII. On the other hand, when has India or China or any other country cared about something that is not completely beneficial to itself?
@Gary, Totally *get* what you mean. But is there really nothing we can do to change the situation?