Political Choices Debate: Challenges and Counter-challenges

Political Choices Debate: Challenges and Counter-challenges​

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 21st Jan 2019

There seems to be a high-decibel debate in the commercial news media (read tele-news media) around identity politics regards suitability of candidates, parties and coalitions to get people’s vote state or region-wise. While the commotion between people including generic discussions on these lines may be happening in the lunch-rooms or coffee/tea vends may be happening along these lines. However, important is to note that the challenges before the new government in line with people’s expectations is nowhere being discussed in the commercial news media. A chorus around lack of jobs or dismal state of education system/healthcare or government recruitment systems may be mentioned, however this would swing into a blame-game rather than any commentator even remotely coming close to a solutioning discussion. In fact many reps representing state-level chieftains would fail to point any solutioning towards these in their respective tenures. The situation about 5 years ago wasn’t much different, however the leadership then was plagued in several controversies as well other than just about tight situations. This gave the then opposition, a chance to rise on the back of popular resentment and a similar scenario is now sought to be re-created. Now the commercial news media cannot be blamed for maintaining a balance however it does have a job to flow with the trend around asking tough questions which should also include putting tough questions to the ‘opposition’ as well, where there seems to be some dithering.

In fact some of the more matured commentators have already summed the situation around this collective effort from opposition resurrection as a step that would help them in good stead, but still requiring the Netas in the government to shoot themselves in the foot. The good point it that the Netas/ party in the government have several ways to be able to do so from Mandir/Cow to allowing more defaulters to escape away, internal security situation besides others to name a few. The farm/rural sector is already animated over the tall claims with little to show as progress. There may have been some government social initiatives like installing toilets, free gas and electricity connections but with paid re-fills/user charges; however that doesn’t really give people a higher income that they are yearning for. The markets need to become more efficient and there has to be a push to improve productivity for the same. The Netas in government on the other hand have always found it very difficult on how government can engage with these numerous small farm tillers, through schemes drafted by center or the state and the result is disenchantment of farmers with whosoever is in power. These votes are now increasingly being targeted by parties and Netas in an organized manner so much so that now these parties are even forming a ‘possible unity’ for an election may be at center and having a different stance for another election at the state level. The commercial news media however would continue to brand such tuning as ideology based conglomeration of the parties and Netas.

That the parties and Netas would change colours like chameleon in the face of electoral battle fields is given, however the ‘issues’ that are being chased is much clearer now and cryptically stated as ‘development’, ‘jobs’, ‘agri-rural distress’, ‘pathetic state of education/healthcare system’, ‘distress in banking on account of large defaulters’ besides some others as brought out by the media itself. However these Netas and parties are almost always allowed to let go without stating the hard commitments over these issues, though they would go about making noise over things that are dysfunctional here. Now, even the Indian Bankruptcy law may not be working in the same manner as proposed, however this aspect would perhaps not even get discussed in the commercial news media. This is besides that India’s private sector is pathetically slow to harness latest technologies, say digital or mobility; to reach out to masses and for that would require a huge commitment from the government. This is to say, that rather than thinking about masses of consumers or service providers, the technology is and would continue to just serve the leaders. While the government does need to showcase some leadership here where reaching out to masses ‘changes the game’, however ultimately such an exercise needs to be profitable to be self-sustaining and all innovation cylinders need to be on fire including many within the private sector. Again we have neglected opportunities like water-based transport/near shore transportation development where some progress is seen lately but much needs to be done. Similarly, we have issues related to water both for drinking as well as irrigation and pollution/environ management issues, some of which are highlighted intermittently but seldom responded to by political leadership.

However all appurtenances go on to show that the commercial news media would like to keep these debates at identity-war level rather than issue based discussions. The reason may be from lack of preparation amongst leaders to be able find worthy material that can be seen as addressing some of these issues, complexity of these issues to be simplified over a few hours of public debate, challenges for journos’ themselves to handle these hot-potatoes effectively, lack of information on some of these were handled in other geos etc. These are besides the love of the commercial news media to service an idol-worshipping audiences being fed with identity caricatures which are seen as much easier to be communicated sans any details of course and this supported by Netas themselves who yearn for freedom to make decisions rather than basis commitments to public. This is in spite that many Netas are now taking on internet bandwagon by having dedicated sites to place their detailed views and also for fighting the tweet and social media wars. These wars are now designed to direct public towards getting more details from the website and ultimately to draw them to the Netas. It may however be noted that the actual conduct of these Netas may be absent from these sites which only puts the speeches and views for a visual display rather than actual impact/conduct of the Netas for which one will have to rely on the same (commercial) news media. Let the ‘Game’ evolve….

 

[Swaswati Borpuzari]

In the dynamic landscape of political choices, the debate is often characterized by a series of challenges and counter-challenges that shape public opinion and policy outcomes. At the heart of these debates lies the fundamental question of what direction a country or community should take, whether it be on issues of governance, economic policy, social welfare, or international relations. One of the primary challenges in these debates is the tendency for political discourse to become polarized, with each side often presenting their arguments in a way that emphasizes the extremes and downplays the middle ground. This can lead to a lack of constructive dialogue, as individuals and groups may feel more inclined to defend their positions rather than seek common ground. Critics argue that this polarization is often exacerbated by media coverage that prioritizes conflict and sensationalism over nuanced discussion, thereby fueling a cycle of acrimony and division.

However, the counter-challenges to this polarized environment are equally significant. Many political commentators and policymakers advocate for a more inclusive and deliberative approach to political debate, one that encourages a broader range of voices and perspectives. This can involve the use of town hall meetings, citizen assemblies, and online platforms that facilitate more direct and participatory forms of engagement. Such methods aim to bridge the gap between different political factions by fostering a sense of shared purpose and mutual understanding. Additionally, there is a growing emphasis on evidence-based policy making, where decisions are informed by empirical data and expert analysis rather than ideological rhetoric. This approach not only enhances the quality of the debate but also helps in building more robust and sustainable policy frameworks.

Despite these efforts, the process of political decision-making remains fraught with other challenges, such as the influence of special interest groups and the potential for misinformation to spread rapidly, especially in the digital age. These issues can distort the debate, making it difficult for the public to discern fact from fiction and for policymakers to make informed choices. Counter-challenges to these problems include the strengthening of regulatory frameworks to ensure transparency and accountability, as well as the promotion of media literacy and critical thinking skills among the populace. In this context, the role of educational institutions and civil society organizations becomes crucial, as they can play a vital part in equipping citizens with the tools needed to participate effectively in the political process.

Ultimately, the debate over political choices is a reflection of the diverse values, interests, and aspirations within a society. While challenges are inevitable, they also provide opportunities for growth and improvement. By addressing these challenges head-on and embracing a more inclusive, evidence-driven, and participatory approach, communities can better navigate the complexities of political decision-making and work towards outcomes that benefit the majority.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

Political Choices Debate: Challenges and Counter-challenges​

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 21st Jan 2019

There seems to be a high-decibel debate in the commercial news media (read tele-news media) around identity politics regards suitability of candidates, parties and coalitions to get people’s vote state or region-wise. While the commotion between people including generic discussions on these lines may be happening in the lunch-rooms or coffee/tea vends may be happening along these lines. However, important is to note that the challenges before the new government in line with people’s expectations is nowhere being discussed in the commercial news media. A chorus around lack of jobs or dismal state of education system/healthcare or government recruitment systems may be mentioned, however this would swing into a blame-game rather than any commentator even remotely coming close to a solutioning discussion. In fact many reps representing state-level chieftains would fail to point any solutioning towards these in their respective tenures. The situation about 5 years ago wasn’t much different, however the leadership then was plagued in several controversies as well other than just about tight situations. This gave the then opposition, a chance to rise on the back of popular resentment and a similar scenario is now sought to be re-created. Now the commercial news media cannot be blamed for maintaining a balance however it does have a job to flow with the trend around asking tough questions which should also include putting tough questions to the ‘opposition’ as well, where there seems to be some dithering.

In fact some of the more matured commentators have already summed the situation around this collective effort from opposition resurrection as a step that would help them in good stead, but still requiring the Netas in the government to shoot themselves in the foot. The good point it that the Netas/ party in the government have several ways to be able to do so from Mandir/Cow to allowing more defaulters to escape away, internal security situation besides others to name a few. The farm/rural sector is already animated over the tall claims with little to show as progress. There may have been some government social initiatives like installing toilets, free gas and electricity connections but with paid re-fills/user charges; however that doesn’t really give people a higher income that they are yearning for. The markets need to become more efficient and there has to be a push to improve productivity for the same. The Netas in government on the other hand have always found it very difficult on how government can engage with these numerous small farm tillers, through schemes drafted by center or the state and the result is disenchantment of farmers with whosoever is in power. These votes are now increasingly being targeted by parties and Netas in an organized manner so much so that now these parties are even forming a ‘possible unity’ for an election may be at center and having a different stance for another election at the state level. The commercial news media however would continue to brand such tuning as ideology based conglomeration of the parties and Netas.

That the parties and Netas would change colours like chameleon in the face of electoral battle fields is given, however the ‘issues’ that are being chased is much clearer now and cryptically stated as ‘development’, ‘jobs’, ‘agri-rural distress’, ‘pathetic state of education/healthcare system’, ‘distress in banking on account of large defaulters’ besides some others as brought out by the media itself. However these Netas and parties are almost always allowed to let go without stating the hard commitments over these issues, though they would go about making noise over things that are dysfunctional here. Now, even the Indian Bankruptcy law may not be working in the same manner as proposed, however this aspect would perhaps not even get discussed in the commercial news media. This is besides that India’s private sector is pathetically slow to harness latest technologies, say digital or mobility; to reach out to masses and for that would require a huge commitment from the government. This is to say, that rather than thinking about masses of consumers or service providers, the technology is and would continue to just serve the leaders. While the government does need to showcase some leadership here where reaching out to masses ‘changes the game’, however ultimately such an exercise needs to be profitable to be self-sustaining and all innovation cylinders need to be on fire including many within the private sector. Again we have neglected opportunities like water-based transport/near shore transportation development where some progress is seen lately but much needs to be done. Similarly, we have issues related to water both for drinking as well as irrigation and pollution/environ management issues, some of which are highlighted intermittently but seldom responded to by political leadership.

However all appurtenances go on to show that the commercial news media would like to keep these debates at identity-war level rather than issue based discussions. The reason may be from lack of preparation amongst leaders to be able find worthy material that can be seen as addressing some of these issues, complexity of these issues to be simplified over a few hours of public debate, challenges for journos’ themselves to handle these hot-potatoes effectively, lack of information on some of these were handled in other geos etc. These are besides the love of the commercial news media to service an idol-worshipping audiences being fed with identity caricatures which are seen as much easier to be communicated sans any details of course and this supported by Netas themselves who yearn for freedom to make decisions rather than basis commitments to public. This is in spite that many Netas are now taking on internet bandwagon by having dedicated sites to place their detailed views and also for fighting the tweet and social media wars. These wars are now designed to direct public towards getting more details from the website and ultimately to draw them to the Netas. It may however be noted that the actual conduct of these Netas may be absent from these sites which only puts the speeches and views for a visual display rather than actual impact/conduct of the Netas for which one will have to rely on the same (commercial) news media. Let the ‘Game’ evolve….