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From: rajeev@sftri.UUCP (S.Rajeev)
Newsgroups: net.nlang.india
Subject: Re: Political maturity of the masses
Message-ID: <383@sftri.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 20-Mar-85 20:26:27 EST
Article-I.D.: sftri.383
Posted: Wed Mar 20 20:26:27 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 21-Mar-85 04:53:08 EST
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Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Summit N.J.
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> Assume that in an election, the voter's choice is based on his perception
> of the effect, on his well-being, of the electoral victory of the various
> candidates.  Then, I take the phrase "political maturity" to be indicative
> of the extent to which this perception tallies with reality.
> 
I'm glad that you have clearly defined your postulate. However, it seems 
to me that accepting this definition leads to certain odd conclusions.
For instance, Kerala has an extremely communalized political climate:
there are parties that cater specifically to the various large communities
 -- Nairs and Ezhavas (large Hindu groups), Muslims and Syrian Christians.
(There are also plenty  of non-communal, 'regular' parties!)
People vote for Candidate X knowing quite well that if he/she is elected,
he/she is going to favor certain groups (they say so more or less openly).
And if elected, X usually does exactly as advertised: nepotism, support
for pork-barrels etc. run rife. 

In this case, "perception does tally with reality". But is it an example of
"political maturity"? I think, on the contrary, a cynical, self-serving and
dangerous breakdown of democracy is what this is.

-- 
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Sri Rajeev, SF 1-342, Bell Labs, Summit, NJ 07901. (201)-522-6330.