The Trouble Is The People Stupid!, Adjusting To Democracy’s Deficits
Prof. Kumar David
That quip attributed to Churchill about democracy being the worst system except for all the others is usually greeted as humorous witticism; but we live in times when there is more at stake than the muddle and mess the old rascal had in mind. The economic success of the Chinese one-party model is gaining currency in the developing world while ‘democratic’ majoritarian racism is driving societies to rebellion, mayhem and civil war The challenge to democracy is developmental inefficacy and failure to ensure democracy (sic). While democracy is the least-worst option, indisputably so in Lanka and India, it is also wise to temper expectations with a dose of sober and sombre realism.
Last Sunday a lunatic walked into a Sikh temple in Milwaukeeand shot dead six people, seven died including the assassin. It was only a few weeks ago that another madman burst into a cinema in Denverand blasted twelve people. Still, America will not abandon its gun laws which allow any adult dolt to buy shotguns, rifles, automatic assault weapons and cartloads of ammunition, even by internet order and courier delivery. An insane cockeyed society manipulated by the National Rifle Association (NRA) which has big bucks to swing elections you would think.
Well think again, you are quite wrong. True the NRA has big bucks and can swing votes, but the real nigger in the woodpile is not the NRA but the people, the American people themselves. The majority of Americans are opposed to gun control (many surveys have proved this) and in fact some 100 million guns are held by a public which vehemently opposes any restrictions on gun ownership. And NRA money does not come from Wall Street or big corporations; no sir, it comes from ordinary Americans like that nice family you had dinner with when last you visited god’s own country. US gun laws are an antiquated and incomprehensible manifestation of collective madness, but untouchable by virtue of a Kafkaesque nightmare called American democracy.
