Overwhelmingly, politicians in popular opinion are evil/corrupt. A job meant for the noblest is apparently taken over by the scum. Ambitious film makers/intelligentsia propose solutions like stringent actions against corrupt politicians and encouraging educated youth or noble men to step forward to serve the country. Before answering the why (anybody should do it?), with an “it is our duty for the country” that apparently inspires but translates to nothing in practice, let’s attempt to answer the “how?”
The pre-requisite for a party to function is money; Ideologies come later. Discussing money is almost taboo when talking about public service. One immediately brushes aside the question saying “they are not there for money, but for public service”. However, even to serve, money is needed to survive, run families, and organizations. Politicking requires mad money. Donations don’t suffice. To make the money, and sustain the flow, legally, under the existing rules, is impossible. If there is one, it better is suggested to educated youngsters who think they qualified to run a country just because they are from IITs or IIMs.
People act as if they have done a great favor to politicians by voting them to power and whine later that they have done nothing in return. Frankly, it is no favor, as the intention is to make them work day and night for the people. Besides, nobody loses anything by voting, except time. It is the politician who risks, spending time and money madly on election campaigns. Besides, politicians have virtually no salary out of office and their salaries while in office are ridiculously low. Of course, one can say if he is dissatisfied with the money/life of an uncorrupt politician, he can find something else to do, and not cheat the public. That is true, and that is what any reasonable man does. That is why only rascals become politicians and why, the few good men who try “clean” politicking, fail.
Political corruption, thus, is the effect of the expensiveness of politicking and the lack of legal ways to earn this money. Besides, there is no point being partially corrupt; if one decides to be corrupt it better be to the extreme, as that is the safest way. At least they can buy their way out of a tight spot. There is a spontaneous uproar, from the media and public alike, if elected members attempt even nominal increases to their salaries. If the people and the media don’t care about them, why should they care about anybody else? Besides, the world view of a “good politician” is horribly misplaced. Expecting progress led by a bicycle riding, dhoti clad, self sacrificing servant of people is like expecting Mother Theresa to run Microsoft. Noble intentions aside, she is just not competent.
The public should stop confusing good intentions with competence. The self-sacrificing altruist, who the electorate look for, may have good intentions. But intentions don’t imply competence. A person with great ideals isn’t always an efficient administrator or planner of developmental activities. The public should look for qualified people with an understanding of local problems, and pay them big for this extremely taxing job. If this is done, qualified professionals will be willing to work “for the country”. The public must not look for public "servants" in politicians, but qualified professionals to manage their taxes. Simply, if you pay peanuts, you only get monkeys. More clearly, for the existing salary structure, only crooks will come forward to serve the public, exactly as it deserves.
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