At best, democracy can be the least evil system. A benevolent dictator is far better than the best democracy.
Democracy with strong vigilant opposition is a brilliant hypothesis.
In reality, not recommend anywhere as it requires real political awareness and real power with the people. That simply doesn't exist and cannot as it's akin to giving power to the lollipop sucking toddlers.
Democratic power then is an excuse for both the rulers and the ruled to escape accountability.
Quid pro quo model is natural to governments - it's the nature of the beast.
In his speech in Canada to the diaspora, PM Modi openly hinted to it.
He said, as a CM he waz looking for huge investments in Gujarat from the Japanese firms.
A cultural study found that the Japanese executives are fond of golf.
Obviously, the government can't be seen building golf courses. The phones worked behind the scenes & the golf courses were built by private sector.
The opposition is dead in Gujarat. Japanese investors came in and Gujarat prospered.
Whatever floats your boat and Democracy certainly isn't it and so, in it, like any system - you do what you can do.
Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia made their greatest progress when same party kept winning again & again.
The progress of the oil rich Middle-East under monarchy is known and so is the poverty of the democratic Nigeria, notwithstanding the huge oil reserves.
China sans opposition has lifted a whopping 600 million people out of abject poverty.
Bad dictators are far & few.
Only in a dictatorship one can choose to be honest or corrupt.
In a system where there are constant obstructionists, one must do hyper marketing to stay in power.
That demands mega funding activity again and again - you have no choice but to take bribes (cash or kind) from some & give bribes to many i.e. do both : Seek "donations" & give out populist doles to the voters respectively.
The more the opposition from political parties, the press & the social media warriors who vent negatively without offering viable workable suggestions, the more the marketing expenditure by the ruling party to assert it's relevance.
And here we try to apply our hearts soaked in sensibilities and heads in morality to the business of politics that's marinated in the very opposite.
Power is important. For serving who, is even important - self or public?
If public, then :
Dharma ke liye adharma karna padta hai,
Lekin adharma me dharma rakhana padta hai.
A single party democracy is the way Indians must seek.
Politics is not a sin, politics without principles is - said Gandhi ... Mohandas.
