The Concept of Freedom and Democracy
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (27384)
Singapore
February 12, 2021 8:01am CST
Whether we like it or not, we are dragged into controversies relentlessly. We are bombarded with issues with our leaders at each other’s throats telling us not only how good they are but also how bad others are.
Ordinary folks are busy earning an honest living and securing their future but then our leaders are more at sparring with each other to an extent they are left with little time to manage a country and ensure a peaceful world. It is more of confusing than convincing us.
What we know as the basics for peaceful coexistence has not been the agenda for our world leaders. They create differences and sow seeds of distrust, divide us, look at issues from one side and thereby maintain a state of tension and brinkmanship.
What should be the agenda of our leaders? It should obviously be the welfare of common folks and not the interests of a very few.
Obviously, the freedom and democracy we are supposed to enjoy have been put on the back burner and the agenda has been self-interests at every level.
How to get back to the basics? The first step is to stop the endless blame games and then doing what is right.
The welfare of common folks is all that matters; others are secondary and negotiable.
Do you agree we have been led away from what matters to us?
Image: Freedom and Democracy from Pexels free images
12 people like this
13 responses
@arunima25 (91326)
• Bangalore, India
12 Feb 21
I very much agree with you. The world is actually going through a scarcity of leaders. We have plenty of politicians but not much of leaders. And those who can actually be a good leader and have all capacity to be one sadly get engulfed in the game of politics. And it's something like demand and supply. You need to be in power to bring changes and to be in power you need to have vote bank and that leads to dirty divisive political games. And the misuse of social media platforms has added to the problem. It's being abused for headline management suiting one's convenience and agenda and fake news peddling. And media too plays a dirty role there.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (27384)
• Singapore
12 Feb 21
I have seen senior government leaders/politicians coming to Singapore and admiring the system in place but they do nothing to change our system.
Politics is made a cesspool in most democratic countries including the much touted bastion of democracy with tainted leaders on a self-preservation mode, saving their own skins. And then the dynastic tendencies like in our film world.
Media also chips in to confuse and confound leaving reason and logic in tatters. Each has an agenda and rating and money is all that matter for them. The common folks are kicked around, left to pick from the worst and end up picking the tab! They vote and then have to face the music which is out of tune to make us sick in the pit of the stomach.
And our solders are in the most hostile of environs facing a ruthless regime in cahoots with eternal enemy!
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (27384)
• Singapore
12 Feb 21
@arunima25 I heard former Singapore PM, Lee Kuan Yew, talking about India.
" India has survived for five thousand years in utter confusion and can survive another five thousand years with even more confusion but Singapore with that type of confusion will not survive for even a week".
I do hope we are able to put up a better show than scoring self goals all the time.
Indians, especially those from Kerala, work best outside our shores - something to think about.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (91326)
• Bangalore, India
12 Feb 21
@Shiva49 I echo your thoughts.
We can admire the other countries. But there is no country in this world that can be compared to India. We are a totally different country and its like so many mini countries staying together. Such is the diversity here and also our internal problems have a different flavour. So I feel that we need visionary leadership that works on India model keeping our ecosystem in mind and not trying to ape another country. We can take ideas but things would work totally different in our country with such diverse fabric. I guess nothing would be a fullproof solution but now it's high time to take tough decisions and make reforms.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (102071)
• India
12 Feb 21
I agree with this so much. I will cite an example. Yesteryear actress Saira Banu complained that some big builder with plenty of money and muscle power bought land adjacent to theirs, and built a house such that the compound wall became inseparable part of their house. Legally, there should be margin for fire fighting engine to go around. This battle has been going on for real long. Some girl said you all deserve it, you Muslims hurt Hindus so much in the past. I mean from where to where. Not standing up for right? Everything has to be Hindu Muslim thing? Can it not hurt us back in future? Unconfirmed hatred. Do we know who broke down Ayodhya temple? 500 years down the lane, somebody will say Kedarnath thing was Muslims damaging and continue the hatred. Brits and Germans are friends. Russians and Germans are friends. Americans and Germans are friends. Even Japanese and Americans are no longer enemies despite Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But we Indians have this easy way out of every problem. DIVERT THE TOPIC.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (27384)
• Singapore
12 Feb 21
I have lived for long in a few countries and I know how they work.
Those that are able to stay united do not want religion to divide them because then it is only emotions at play.
In India, most want to coexist but a few do take advantage through an entitlement mentality. Outside India, Indians are all treated the same, a minority, and behave as one. We keep our heads low and accept what is given. I had to prove my worth everyday to stay relevant.
We have an irrational exuberance when it comes to freedom and democracy - that anything goes.
My take is simple - treat everyone equal and help only the economically weaker irrespective of religion.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (102071)
• India
12 Feb 21
@Shiva49 I agree. But I do not understand how a person from younger generation can be so deafened by political noise that rational thinking takes leave. The issue was complying with building regulation. How did it let the person travel beyond 15th August 1947 to dig up old prejudices? Even Muslims do it. Same with caste. Politicians support one policy at a time. Then they oppose the same thing when in opposition. Opposition means studying the flaws of the bill and highlighting them so that the bill can be suitably amended. Not preventing the passing of bills. So far no logical reason has been given against the farm bills. Only 1 farmer mentioned that the corporates are rich. They can stock the grains they buy cheaply and release it in the market to bring down the prices when the next crop comes up. This means they may not get right price. Rest ...they were just like petulant children throwing tantrums.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (27384)
• Singapore
12 Feb 21
@vandana7 Religion pits one against another.
I have seen how others tackle religion - keep it private.
They make it clear a minority cannot play a victim card - the door is open.
I can also justify any point of view and politicians change overnight for self-interest.
I worked for forty five years - thirty five outside India. I have seen some come up with a crutch mentality and then feel lost when they have to compete on merit.
I got no government handouts anywhere. I never expected it. I worked everyday as if it was the last day. One mistake is all what it takes.
In India, most have no support from government - then why only a minority? Who will foot the bill? Obviously, those with nothing!
The world will leave the laggard behind. China gives no guarantee for anything and all the business go there - enough said.
Many others like Vietnam, Indonesia and why even Bangladesh are forging ahead and one neighbor has one agenda and pay the price. None from India will ever go there and if that is not proof enough, I do not know what else is needed.
Yes, treat all same - no one is privileged - but help the poor without discrimination.
I was amused when our minorities objected to that!!!
2 people like this
@allknowing (148767)
• India
13 Feb 21
It is amazing how we survive in this corrupt world. Atleast I am (lol)
2 people like this
@allknowing (148767)
• India
13 Feb 21
@Shiva49 Independence is the name of the game surely. And just going for needs is the way to go, forgetting our wants. - it is easy that way.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (27384)
• Singapore
13 Feb 21
@allknowing I have seen close at hand how the supposed assets become liabilities overnight.
If I over insure my life, can I blame others if they feel they will be better off if I die?
We reap what we sow, the world in general is also doing that, so let us think and ponder beforehand the consequences of our actions. Now it is more of emotions, one-upmanship, before reason and logic.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (27384)
• Singapore
15 Feb 21
Thanks, I write on those that interest me and also comment likewise.
Maybe, mine is not that relevant especially for those from USA.
In fact, I did not notice that!
I have been on online writing sites for eleven years and had good camaraderie with all especially those from USA. Unfortunately none are here from those sites, Associated Content, Yahoo Contributor Network Wikinut, where we had to post longer content.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (27384)
• Singapore
12 Feb 21
We should tell the politicians to look ahead than justify their inability to deliver on their agenda by blaming the past. China progresses because it does not harp on their past in communism and the whole world wants to be there first.
We have technology to digitize government approvals online and laws should be clear. The verbal diarrhea should give place to action so that we become an inclusive society.
All are equal and the poor are more equal than the rich!
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44987)
• Preston, England
14 Feb 21
totally agree - too few own too much while many risk starvation
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (95312)
• Arvada, Colorado
12 Feb 21
I agree that much is wrong.
And I also feel that there is no changing the leadership. They are single minded only for themselves with no concern for the people.
2 people like this
@innertalks (22956)
• Australia
13 Feb 21
Nicely elucidated article, siva.
The most basic thing is to simply love our neighbour, as we love ourselves.
If we get back to this great way of living, all will then fall into its rightful place, naturally so.
To be fair to all, all must be loved equally, as God loves.
As soon as minorities or majorities separate out from any mix, all becomes a cesspool of cauldroned hotspots, on fire for themselves, not for God.
Let the love loose in society, coming from each individual, and the collective force of that love will sway everything else, like a giant wave coming towards the shore, all will be swamped under love's power, for good, not for bad.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (22956)
• Australia
13 Feb 21
@Shiva49 Yes. most everything that the leaders do are for businesses, and for themselves, and to make money and profits, to make themselves look good.
It is all about expanding the economy, and making sure that parameters look good, like unemployment stats, etc etc. They do this at any cost, never realising these stats mean nothing to the common folk, who just want to love peaceably.
Very little is ever done for the common folks, as you call them.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (27384)
• Singapore
13 Feb 21
@innertalks I wonder why some basics are never in the agenda like arms exports.
We should nip it in the bud by shutting down the facilities.
Yes, the common folks from everywhere do not want wars, but they are thrust on them and they pay the price with their lives.
The big power leaders should sit across a table and accept the present borders and also resolve pending issues. If they cannot let them fight it one-to-one and leave others out of their created mess.
Then we should all step up - the pent up emotions and energy thus released should be channeled towards our peace and coexistence. It is like a an about turn but needed for our survival and as Einstein ruminated "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones".
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (27384)
• Singapore
13 Feb 21
Thanks Steve.
I thought our leaders are misled that we want them to go hammer and tong against each other but we have to look ahead.
I have lived among different cultures and I found the common folks are just the same - want to be left alone for their peace of mind.
Our leaders create wars for self-interests, at least some do. Our creator gave us one big real estate without borders but soon, due to our avariciousness, we built borders of every hue with a take we are going to be here forever but the reality is we do not even know who is going to enjoy them down the generations.
We are also at fault as we are easily manipulated and play along with our supposed leaders machinations and end up as tools in their hands.
Yes, the basics are love and fulfillment through true service to god and the realization that there is just one creator. The rest are superfluous. We should not become pawns in others hands surrendering our innate love in the process.
1 person likes this
@jovy63 (19)
•
19 Mar 21
The bane of democracy is this character called the "Professional politician". Most of them have no other skills to earn a living. They only know how to manipulate people and the system to keep getting elected and that is why politics is such a mess. All elected representatives should not be allowed to spend more than 10 years in politics in the same role - Which will ensure that there is constant churn among politicians and hopefully it will eliminate the poor quality ones and only the better ones will keep rising to the top.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (27384)
• Singapore
19 Mar 21
For dyed in the wool politicians, politics is the best rewarding life pursuit. Win or lose they find ways to remain in the limelight but for the wrong reasons. It is always how good I am and how good others are but each is worse than the other.
And its also dynastic with their wives and children in the fray. They have created a vicious cesspool where only they can survive! And others dread to tread and if they do it is - you too Brutus!
Democracy and freedom has not worked for the benefit of common folks.
