Concepts like 'freedom', 'choice' are
(i) very individualistic AND hence relative,
(ii) with shifting priorities and competing choices they alter over time
(iii) they cannot be absolute, for forces of governance, civil-society, market and media act and react at an individual and collective level for sub-sets of populations to experience 'freedom'/'choices'.
Thus the dividing line between corruption and anti-corruption is not just thin and sensitive, but mostly marked with a lens of convenience. It’s also philosophized and justified as "a bit of lie for a bigger good is fair enough" and taking it even further stretching to tickle our mortal and moral quotient by saying "beyond these there is an after-world, wherein the mathematics of good and bad, right and wrong are seemingly clearer, so better be-ware'.
Well, public-good vs private benefit, if that is the indicator to draw that line, with corruption being endemic one wonders where to begin from, and whom to end with.... Weeding it out bit by bit or ensuring mechanisms to wean the system, too domesticated to the 'itna to chalta hai ji' strategy, or insulating our selves apathetically from large-scale scams, while continuing with the small scale ones?
Moral-policing of self might be the first step to CONTROL greed and desirous expectations), ALTER(the ways/means to reach/achieve)the goals and finally DELETE malices and malpractices- corruption in thoughts and practice...WHAT SAY ???
"Moral-policing of self" is precisely what Hazare and his cohorts are not talking about. As Manu Joseph pointed out, the entire focus is on the bribe-taker, not the bribe-giver.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/18/world/asia/18iht-letter18.html
Surely the latter is also morally culpable, especially when he secures through bribes some extraordinary benefits such as mining leases or 2G licences? Why are the custodians of civil society not talking about this?
Thanks Abhik- Well, the endemic and vicious cycle of corruption, leaves us with ample scope (it seems) to use the lenses of our choice and define the corruption scale. Read the NYT article too, which you had shared...Apt and precise.Objectivity is needed, rather than being emotive on such issues, if we really intend to integrate and institutionalize non- corruption
ReplyDeletewhat strikes me is that well... its just like saying that we remove all the traffic lights because all of us are so developed in our road sense ... the car drivers know their speed limits and the pedestrians know the walking areas ... wish it were like that !!
ReplyDeleteAtul Bahl
agree to you and the concluding para is ultimate..I resolve to live my life from now on that mantra only.. Promila Sharma
ReplyDeleteBest part would be to make an interview survey of the people joining anna on his fast, or rally , etc. on two points-1. what is Lokapal bill and what is in the bill? 2. have they ever used any "indirect" means to access something personal in last three months :D. Working on SELF most challenging...... Kuntalika Choudhury
ReplyDeletefor achievement of public goals, it seems we need to have another way to make laws- a public referendum. as i was told by somebody at India Gate yesterday, a referendum can be initiated by the prime minister, then only the election commission can prepare the process, the voting - aspects- two sides/ many sides of the story will then be published in news dailies. and then referendum voting happens. so we need to have this process initiated by not just the prime minister but may be the leader of the opposition or the President or the Chief Justice of India. so that if any law, which has clear 'conflict of interest' to be passed by the parliament- (like the lokpal- in which the corrupt politicians are supposed to vote for instituting a body that monitors their corruption), then public can mount pressure on any of the amenable/ non-conflict-of-interest-initiator (president/ chief justice of India - as in Jan lokpal's case the leader of the opposition has also never pro,ised to introduce it/ support it) of referendum to get the voting of people on all version's of a law- not just lokpal and Jan Lokpal, but also NAC'S lokpal - Harsh Mander/ Aruna Roy's version/ other group's versions etc. Snehal M.Shah
ReplyDeleteThe whole movement on Fight Against Corruption lead by Anna Hazare focuses on cleansing the entire political system in our country. But one has to keep in mind that the first step to corrution is greed which is practiced not only by the Politicians. We, civilians also engage in such acts taken in by the ususal practise of the entire system. It is very important that we help change the system by changing our mindsets, following the right path in achieving our goals.
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