Real Democracy -How to achieve it?

[GUNNER]

Why democracy ?

Which contract have we signed that says we MUST have full democracy ?

One reason is because it was chosen as the form of government for Pakistan by the founding father. And, it is the best of the worst form currently in vogue as sparklingway commented. Ofcourse, there can be different forms of democracy. Why it has failed in our part is another question altogether. But why wouldn't you have democracy?

 

[Solomon2]

In order to elect honest and capable politicians to govern and deal with the day to day matters of statecraft, the very first thing for the electorate is that it must itself be wise enough to elect the proper persons.

No, no, NO! Right now Pakistan doesn't really have elections, because so much of the process is directed from the center; it's more like plebicites instead. The first thing an electorate has to do is NOMINATE candidates for election. Select at the local level first. Argue it out in town hall meetings or the internet. Run your own elections, made verifiable and clean by the best help from Pakistan and international organizations. Once local nominations and elections work, you've got it made.

The secret? Don't worry about your process being granted legitimacy by the current lot of politicians. Your community is creating its own legitimate representatives. The local government will answer to them. Eventually the center faces the choice of either giving in or giving up on democracy. And if they try to suppress democracy then they must worry about what the national police and army will do when given such orders.

 

[Zee-Gen]

Whatever form of govt. we choose for ourselves is not a matter anymore…...….at the end it will be human beings who will have to have the responsibility to run it…..…it all depends upon the characters who are charing the highest seats………think for a second, what if our army (after takingover) perform even deleterious…..then what we will do……?????......why we think army should have to takeover….just because of our gut feelings that they are true-blue and will perform well…..????......what if army, judiciary, political establishment join hands and prevail the current system with more strength…..?????.......try to build characters in the midst of leaders…….and this is the lesson history has told us…...Ali Gurshap (Alauddin Khilji) was the man who introduced quality and price control culture in the society…….who most often even visited the streets in disguise to get firsthand information and to check the outcome of his laws……he was the ruler, no one dared ask him if he not did all this…….but he was a man of character.

Simply, you cannot force your leaders by system/laws to do the right things……they posses the authority, one way or other, they will find the escape routes…….we still have system, judiciary, law, but the only thing we lack is what if our seat holders not perform according to law and as per our appetences….????…..and that is the most important thing…….now what is the solution……very simple, there must be a democratic way of extrication from govt. if you feel not satisfied.…..hold them accountable not by the current accountability laws, but by the same way they got elected…..elections……like elections every year, if they perform well in one year give them chance to carry on otherwise….....etc. etc.......and this is nominal option.

 

[indushek]

Jana,

b4 the debate spills over, I want to ask a simple question

Why democracy ?

Which contract have we signed that says we MUST have full democracy ?

In sub continent democracy can be tricky for sure. Democracy is something which cannot be fruitful straight away. Its like a vine which gives taste as it grows older. After this cliche, if we get to brass tacks for Pakistan right now a authoritarian govt is the right according to me but with certain preconditions. With lot of uneducated populace and corrupt feudal overlords, to mover forward and develop will take a long time. A authoritarian govt can make decision swifter.

Now to the preconditions,
the authoritarian is interested in country's development in addition to his love of his authority then its OK. This is like a trade off.

He should give free hand to persons overlooking implementation.

He should keep favouritism out to the max extent possible.

Feel free to disagree.

 

[Meengla]

Patronage, patriarchy, dynastic politics and ethical/financial corruption breed from values that are rampant in our society. They aren't alien values.

All these may happen in Pakistan. All these may happen in India as well. In fact, in terms of 'dynastic politics', India is worse than Pakistan. Indian parliament is actually supposed to have 'convicts' inside.

And I don't see Indians asking for army rule. Same is with American Congress: Its approval ratings are very low.

But I would like to say that Pakistanis often get carried away in looking at Pakistan's problems. Barely a few years ago Pakistan and Pakistanis were confident in their march. Things started to go bad after the March 2007 sacking of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. There have been numerous disasters since then. I really think that ANY OTHER country facing those disasters would have chunk of population in despair.

I bet had those disasters not occured and had the global economic meltdown not occured then people would not have felt so gloomy in and about Pakistan. But they did happen.

Let's focus on the jobs at hand: Find a detente with India on Kashmir--Musharraf came very close to that. That will calm down Afghanistan. Root out the Talibans. Take advantage of the floods by doing better water management.

A focus on these tasks will go a long way in restoring the confidence Pakistanis had in themselves as late as 2006. Then, democracy even under Zardari or Nawaz Sharif may not look so bad.