Political Reality

Political Reality 

Padmini Arhant

Politics marred with apprehensions from within and outside evolving into great deal of insecurity regarding threats to the seat of power and position is no secret. 

From Julius Caesar days and even earlier in any religion inception and until now politics is eclipsed in betrayal, treason, malfeasance and abuse of power…among myriad common political abnormality.

What is the worst fear in contemporary politics?

Truth, facts and real democracy.

The prevalent fake political era premised on falsehood, fabrication and fraudulence is a convenient setting to camouflage fiduciary feudalist system i.e. proxy representing oligarchy, monarchy, domestic and foreign agenda, religious ideology and lofty personal aspirations beyond reality.

The politics founded and rooted in the process of elimination for rise to power and dominance resigned to impropriety and unaccountability proliferate in crimes and criminal legacy.

As for corruption, politics is the host and the ghost with the most corrupt dealings in quid pro quo and illegal practice held above law while the latter applicable to law abiding citizenry in society to the fullest extent and opponent subject to political witch hunt at taxpayers’ expense.

The corruption in lucrative government contracts with economic sector and foreign governments along with politics as appointees of campaign financiers and lobbyists enable and facilitate wealth amassment for political members and the apparatus during the term in office.

Not surprisingly, politics is cash cow for political members from rank and file to rookie and others presenting themselves on campaign trails as people from humble modest economic background with student loans and credit card debts to the hilt transformed into millionaire, multi-millionaire and billionaire status almost overnight.

Not to mention them securing own retirement and long term future for them and their next generations including reservations in elite educational institutions for their children based on political class family rather than merit is part and parcel of political career. 

These facilities are extended over a long period of time with lifetime perks and privileges as the norm with little or no concern over the financial burden on the ordinary serving the presumptuous extraordinary extravagance.

Juxtaposed the same members have no problems in passing laws stripping retirement savings and medical aid to defense force foot soldiers and front line men and women witnessed recently in the so-called world’s largest democracy or for that matter the western so-called democracy having health, finance and energy industry…to name a few in the economic sector – the primary political campaign donors exploit average consumers with company policy designed to benefit oligarchs’ mega profitability extracting maximum from mainstream work force and consumers at the bottom.

Politics essentially in service to safeguard elitism enhancing and empowering personal and vested interests at the vast majority misery and generational suffering.

The political power trepidation is mainly related to losing authority and control.

Accordingly, adopting various tactics mostly unlawful methods from bribes to intimidation or incentives are deployed to lure opposition, judiciary and the rest to kowtow politics.

The political preparedness to remain in power as life long authority otherwise authoritarian rule begins with wiping opposition having organized media chorus not excluding the disguised so-called investigative journalism – the worst kind hired by authority for mass deception on press freedom.

The authority represented so-called non-mainstream media pleading public monetary support is actually engaged by politics to discredit authentic investigative and independent publications revealing information, incidents and events seeking explanations and openness from politics and incognito power declared a forbidden act.

Politics having little or no opposition in the political front with press and assortment media combined silenced by buying them outright, similar strategy on judiciary and prominent political affiliates in government and private sector guaranteed mutual conciliatory offers – the stage is set for politics to execute devious agenda.

Any exposure in this context is conveniently referred to as conspiracy theory despite knowing well there is no smoke without fire.

The general public left on their own to fight against politics’ complicity on all issues hurting citizens economically, financially and socially are usually handled with brute force and laws in reserve to curb genuine peaceful dissent.

Again politics rejecting the factor on law enforcement and courts paid for and provided by tax payers as consumers and labor community in return turned against them.

Who is left to challenge corrupt power?

The military in many countries toppling governments and assuming power as military junta is not uncommon. These activities are also promoted by foreign powers to destabilize nations that are contrarily used by despotic governance to justify undemocratic rule as well. 

Nonetheless, the military indirect involvement via surrogate government is yet another form in the diverse pattern of governance.

In pseudo democracy, the political authority desirous of tenure position conforming to dictatorial regime address the potential military resistance to authoritarianism with tacit duplicity.

The manner in which politics address any possible scenario from military against the totalitarian political style especially in a waning democracy is by restructuring military institution.

For example, the tradition in a Parliamentarian democracy with Prime Minister on limited terms as the head of the executive branch in charge of government administration is accountable to people, the electorate represented Parliament and constitutional rule of law governing democracy.

On the other hand, the President in the same government dispensation though misconceived as mere ceremonial figure expected to preside over Parliamentary proceedings at the national level and state union affairs in the provincial political issues besides serving as the military commander-in-chief in the original concept.

However, this format and Presidential functionality superseded is noteworthy. 

How this is subverted by the government executive branch in the present so-called democratic environment merit attention?

The Presidential election is an electoral college exercise. The political parties and members at the national and regional forum are easily swayed with rewards in cash and kind to vote for the ruling party Presidential nominee. The ruling power sponsored candidate prevailing over the name-sake contender from the opposition parties for Presidential post in Parliamentary set up is the regular outcome.

The President rather than being the stabilizing power and the authority to maintain checks and balances is typically appointed to the office as the ruling political party envoy carrying out the executive branch orders.

Lately, in Indian system the Presidential function as the military commander-in-chief is disposed with the creation of the chief of defense staff (CDS) post manning entire defense force with army, naval and air force brought under the CDS ambit reporting to the Prime Minister and not the President.

The Prime Minister is now the head of the military through the installation of Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) in the overt transfer of power.

What does this mean in a democracy?

The notion of separation of power for legitimate reasons to avert concentration of power in government body is systematically rendered obsolete.

The Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) appointee is expected to meet the criteria i.e. falling in line by voicing support or echoing sentiments in agreement with Prime Minister’s controversial and contentious policy on national issues regardless of adverse consequences with the probability affecting unity and uniformity in defense force.

The picture is clear having brought military under executive branch viz. Prime Minister oversight through CDS authorizing attractive defense ventures like the explosive Indo-French Rafale defense scandal to arbitrary military decisions not barring military strikes and interventions embedded in the supreme command title. 

The Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) directly reporting to the Prime Minister office fortify the executive branch with absolute power leaving no opportunity or possibility of endangerment to politics’ transition from democracy to autocracy. 

The political authority absorbing power in every aspect with democracy displaced in the systemic omission of constitutional rights paralyzing democratic values is a serious devolution of fragile pluralist society led into majoritarian fundamentalist mobocracy. 

When oligarchy and various sources (?) funded politics is hopelessly relying on massive propaganda and indoctrination for survival, that kind of politics is indicative of precipitous decline and dissipation. The desperate times prompting desperate actions. The monetized accolades contradictory to actuality is nothing more than megalomania frenzy.

Poignantly, where will politics be without cronyism and sycophancy ad nauseam?

In the dumpster for sure gutter and goon politics in particular living up to its reputation in anything and everything.

As such, transparency and ethics oxymoron to politics, plutocracy reining supremacy is paradoxical political factuality.

Anything destructive and counterproductive is unsustainable and politics is experienced and seasoned in imminent fall due to misguided misinterpretation of power. 

Padmini Arhant 

Author & Presenter 

PadminiArhant.com

Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com 

History Lessons on Warfare

History Lessons on Warfare 

Padmini Arhant

Since world creation, humanity has been subject to numerous trials and tribulations. The wars, health calamity in epidemic and pandemic, natural disasters, food crisis and different kinds until now.

The lessons from war in particular is poignant defining the battle fought for interests other than defending sovereignty, territorial integrity, individual freedom and civil liberty as invariably fait accompli.

Despite military prowess, nuclear might, superior defense systems and technology compared to their targets, the military engagement yield major setbacks for the aggressors often leading to economic drain and massive human casualties ending in quagmire.

The ravaging war with serious economic costs including the irreversible ones in loss of civilian and military personnel lives are proved counterproductive.

The reasons being misplaced aspirations and miscalculated strategy for the militarily advantaged unwilling and unrelenting in the face of ground reality.

History is testament to this effect – Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen…to name a few among several war zones and lately the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

It is hard to comprehend the lack of recognition and acknowledgment in the leadership, strategists and think tanks behind protracted warfare to ceasefire and mitigate further catastrophe. Instead the extended war is pursued more for prestige against practicality.

Again the war waged for territorial annexation and dominance is a lost cause designed to be a failure with permanent damage proven time and time again.

The nation led towards military confrontation for strategic goals, economic gains and individual legacy at the expense of own citizens’ lives and future are self-explanatory experiencing inevitable defeat.

The world war 2 with global conquest in mind and similar ones before or in the present to establish superpower status produced negative outcome for aspirants exposing their vulnerability and inadequacy in specific contexts.

The confrontational military means with more weapons and ground forces by no measure guaranteed to reverse events in the battle ground for the invader considering the will of the attacked to defend national independence from any foreign occupation near and far outweigh the former abnormal wishes to rein control.

Accordingly, heeding lessons from global events in history with respect to warfare, the ceasefire accompanied by solemn commitment translated into action ending bloodshed, violence, deaths and destruction is the only saving grace and pragmatic approach to conclusion of hostility and enmity.

When decisions are made ignoring consequences, it is also incumbent upon decision makers to realize the aftermath and reverse course to the path of peaceful negotiations and dispute settlement.

The real leadership power rest in saving not claiming lives and avert situations heading towards the point of no return.

War is not the choice in exerting authority and superiority. They are ultimately tried and exhausted bringing the conflict to conclusion as nothing is meant to go on forever.

Russian war in Ukraine is no different and would rather benefit in renouncing the current policy of shelling and decimation exacerbating resources besides testing citizens’ patience and trust reflected in street protests against war and mobilization.

Padmini Arhant 

Author & Presenter

PadminiArhant.com

Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com 

Journalism Jeopardy

Israel – War and Aggression over Peace

Western Democracy – Paradoxical Paradigm

Western Democracy

                                          –

Paradoxical Paradigm 

Padmini Arhant

Western so-called democracy is the world’s biggest irony ever. The monarchy and imperialism fleecing on the so-called commoners, the parasitic tradition continues with pompous pageantry in coronation of the so-called King having contributed nothing positive and productive in substance, values or otherwise is the comedy and tragedy for democracy.

Notwithstanding the self-proclaimed Royalty proved a major liability as colonial power is incontrovertible.

Not surprisingly there is no tolerance to real functioning democracy in any non-western world. They are toppled through western intervention reviving imperialistic dominance either directly or via proxy until today.

Is western democracy even democratic as constitutional monarchy reining authority and prominence in government?

The western democracy head of the executive branch is subject to monarch’s approval despite election to the public office.

“Today constitutional monarchies are mostly associated with Western European countries such as the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Luxembourg, Monaco, Liechtenstein and Sweden.”

In other regions like Asia –  the two most populous constitutional monarchies are Japan and Thailand.

The western status quo imposing western democracy on other nations as the perfect model is the contrarian dynamic.

The monarchy, crown and throne in western or any democracy is a declaration of the dominion and not free republic i.e. allegiance to the crown unlike the flag of the nation representing the country and citizens nationwide.

The Royal governance undermine democracy and republic with election legitimizing illegitimacy.

The Western European democracy with Royal influence besides a parallel government European Union in Brussels prevalent in government affairs further pose questions on western democracy.

Yet another western state and the most favored western ally Israel touted the only democracy in the middle east never shy away from  lewd crude espionage through controversial spyware viz. Pegasus and variety sold arbitrarily to governments regardless of the system ranging from authoritarianism to rogue regimes disguised as democracy violating individual and human rights, life and space without any care or concern for ethics and democratic principles or values they claim to champion  in the world stage.

Any valid comments against Israel and western position including these violations is persona non grata (unwelcome) and slated the forbidden TRUTH  even though the other way around plethora of nuanced false narratives, fabrications and insinuations using proxies, pawns and puppets from own inventory against their specific target i.e. myself  – the SHE – bashing, caricature, the supposedly artificial intelligence as opposed to their self-proclaimed organic ones, character defamation, the so-called gang rape victim and endless eulogizing since my emergence is deemed the prerogative.

Of course the ones initiating and perpetuating misogyny, hatred and hostility conveniently forget their own actions necessitating reaction.

Personally my message to them and their operatives is when you engage in relentless self-destructive strategy aimed at destruction of me or anyone, expect the boomerang heading your way in adherence to the adage;

What goes around comes around. 

Under these settings, western democracy is a paradoxical paradigm for the rest worldwide.

Padmini Arhant

Author & Presenter

PadminiArhant.com

Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com

Good Riddance

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