The mighty always end up bowing to the will of the people. Whether in the breaking up of communist USSR or in the selection of the 2016 Olympics.
The mighty rise to be mighty when, in the begining, they were one-of-the-people who cried out for changing the things that were wrong and that which wronged the people. Today, Gandhi Jayanthi is so appropriate to repeat this.
They were given the strength of the people and became leaders. Soon they thought that they were the wise. After that, they start thinking the others had no wisdom and that only they were wise – a sort of monopoly on wisdom.
Then the are reminded by the people. Sooner or later. Like today at the IOC. If they don’t heed, their destruction will happen. Like the break up of the USSR.
By any rating on “classic parameters”, Chicago was the most “qualified”. Infrastructure, Money and even local teams of high international standing in many sports. Pitched for by (US only) celebrities like Oprah and Michelle Obama and even by the most “Powerful Man on the planet” the US President Barak Obama, Chicago was odds-on favourite with the bookies we are told.
Guess what? Chicago was sent out in the very first round!
Was it a surprise? Yes, to Americans, the Moneybags and the Bookies.
Did you watch CNN in the minutes that followed the votes? Pathetic. Their “Expert” of 20 years in IOC matters called the IOC a “bunch of old people who cant stay awake during the four hours it takes to vote“ and “mercurial, unreliable and outdated“. Coming from Americans, long known to be obsessed with listening only to their own voice, this was deja vu for us. Predictably, they didn’t have the grace to accept defeat. After all, only they know whats best for the world, right?
Wrong! Humiliatingly defeated they were at the IOC today.
But it was no surprise to me or the millions of people outside the US. The point is, when truly “International” voices are heard, the US will stand no chance in almost anything for some time to come. The world isn’t going to forget in a hurry that they brought down Global economies purely out of unbriddled greed and run the UN as if it must be the venue for loud clapping and cheering every time a US President condesends to visit, but they wont pay their UN bills and expect the cheering crowd to cough up the money! And dont forget the wars they have fought (always) outside their land. How many friends can you make if you behave like this?
Like the British Empire upon which the sun never set in bygone times, US history will write about their now becoming history. The Dollar is becoming defunct.
Vox Populi will always prevail in the end. In this global age, that means all the people.
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This piece, believe it or not, is meant to make the point that follows.
What is the lesson for the powers that be in India?
For far too long we have have had non-governance. Politicians have thought that getting elected was the ticket to line their personal pockets and that they need pay no heed to their duties to the communities that elected them.
True, we the people are not without culpability. We voted on the basis of religion, caste, creed and even (rarely) ideology instead of the merits of the candidate.
With the advent of TV, the Internet and Cell Phones, change is now more rapid. It’s good the Government has encouraged their (TV etc) prolification to rural India. That means the rural population (65%) will change it’s outlook far more rapidly than the politicians of today imagine.
If criminals and scamsters have got elected till now, we can be sure it will become increasingly difficult. Political parties will find it hard to justify giving such people tickets for even municipal elections. Decisions will be scrutinised. Policy will be questioned. And so on. Accountability is where this is all headed to, try as the Government might to avoid it.
Are you listening, Mr. Indian Politician? This is the nature of the future.
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I’m on Twitter @jsvasan tweeting mainly on the Nifty50 but also about this-and-that.