The supporters for Brexit, for an exit of U.K. from the European Union, are finding themselves in an awkward position and unable to explain how they were misled by the ‘Leave’ campaign’s fake stat that ‘the United Kingdom could save 350 million pounds that it currently pays each week in membership dues to the European Union
| 10 Jul, 2016, 06:24AM IST
The supporters for Brexit, for an exit of U.K. from the European Union, are finding themselves in an awkward position and unable to explain how they were misled by the ‘Leave’ campaign’s fake stat that ‘the United Kingdom could save 350 million pounds that it currently pays each week in membership dues to the European Union, and instead spend that money on things like funding the National Health Service.’ This tactic of ‘ul’loo banoing’ the people appears similar to the ‘Jumlas’ adopted by Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha Polls of 2014 promising to bring back black money stacked in foreign banks within a year which would result in fifteen lakhs being deposited into every citizen’s bank account. Just recently, RJD MP Ram Jethmalani expressed his regrets for helping Modi to become PM and falling victim to this promise of bringing back the black money which in his assessment may never happen. Back in Goa, the ‘parivartanists’ and supporters for a one chance to Manohar Parrikar as CM in the 2012 Goa Assembly polls, with an assurance that mining and casinos would be stopped and all corrupt Congress politicians would be behind bars, are now left red-faced and diverting their embarrassment by promoting the Aam Admi Party (AAP). The common man one encounters on the street believes that politicians cannot be trusted for their word and that there are no friends and foes in politics. But what is it that drives voters to keep falling prey to the lies of politician’s and then living to repent their decision later? The feeling of helplessness and the guilt of having not done something to remedy one’s situation could well be a reason which drives people into irrational behavior. Making people vulnerable and bringing them into a compromising position is a very effective tool employed by politicians. To add to this, the BJP in the guise of cleansing politics, has actually left the people feeling helpless as they see no capable opposition leader who could deliver them out from the current political mess. In simple words, it appears that the BJP is actually in the process of destroying all political opponents to pave the way for an ‘Opposition Mukth Bharat and Goa’. It is for this reason that leading NGOs which have been standing up for human rights and against environmental devastation are being systematically hounded and defamed. In such a vacuum rises a mysterious political outfit which takes Delhi by storm overnight and now seeks to extend its frontiers to Punjab and Goa. What is even more alarming is that just a one year old political party in government is being projected as a political alternative for Goa. Hardly anyone can convincingly explain the genesis and ideological make-up of this party. All that people keep harping on is the face of Kejriwal, a tactic very similar to Parrikar’s face which was used in 2012 by BJP to mask its real appearance. A face that a political party makes visible to the public may not necessarily be the real face. Could this mysterious political outfit also be that nothing more than a temporary arrangement floated by the sectarian organisations for ensuring that the votes of disgruntled BJP voters and other opponents do not get consolidated for the Congress? No one disputes the fact that a political alternative for Goa is the need of the hour. There is also no disagreement with the argument that the voter needs to take certain amount of risk for change to be possible. But there is a difference between taking a calculated risk and acting rashly and imprudently. Taking a risk in any decision or choice does not exclude the need for ensuring that one is adequately informed, the various possible options get carefully weighed and being aware of the possible undesired outcomes one’s choice could generate. When it comes to political decisions, in this case voting, it is important to look at both the short-term and long-term consequences. The need for change does not mean clinging to any piece of straw like a desperate drowning man. With extensive hiring of branding and marketing experts and social media managers by crafty politicians for designing political strategy, the traditional decision making techniques of voters now stand out-dated. With the sophisticated strategies adopted and highly deceptive propaganda employed by the fundamentalist forces at work to demolish democratic institutions in this country, there is all the more a need for the voters to be even more informed, cautious and judicious in their political choices. A mere play with words like ‘development’ and ‘corruption’ can no more be taken for granted without subjecting such attractive manifestos and promises to a most simple SMART analysis. With fast evolving ‘ul’loo banaoing’ tactics of SMART POLITCIANS and deceptive development programs like SMART CITIES, which appear nothing more than vehicles for generating tenders and patronising contractors with high probabilities of kick-backs, it is high time to adopt the concept of SMART VOTERS in Goa.
http://www.heraldgoa.in/Review/Voice-Of-Opinion/Smart-voters-needed-for-smart-politicians/103846.html
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