Let the honest win

Legend has it that Nero fiddled while Rome burned. In India today, fires of hatred, corruption and incompetency are burning and there is a fiddler on every street and rooftop, playing his tune and blaming others and forgetting to see that his fiddle is pointing to himself too.
In June 2012, The Economic Times enumerated 10 problems ailing the Indian economy, and solutions to revive it with a leadership crisis figuring as the No. 1 problem. It suggested change of guard in key roles.
In the sixth place, it named stalled reforms because of politics, saying: “A few bold reforms can turn sentiments quickly, the government must appear to be in charge.”
The problems that India faces are numerous — poverty, unemployment, corruption, crime, terrorism, and fundamentalism of all hues, shades and colors. The system is corrupt and rotten to the core and rotting away with every passing day.
It is said that politics is the last refuge of a scoundrel. These days, it seems to be the last refuge of a soldier. From the high ground of planning victories in the face of calamities and terror, he descends into a world of intrigue, bargaining and blackmailing.
The fault cannot be found solely with the politician. Those who elect them are also to be blamed, and more so. They are frittering away their ‘vote power’ at those who are power hungry and masters of exploitation.
The Indian voter also needs to see beyond a handful of dynastic politicians who have remained in power since India became free.
Greatness lies in knowing one’s limitations and position. Today India is a victim of short cuts being employed to create vote banks.
The 64 thousand dollar question is who will bell the proverbial cat that is causing such havoc in Bharat? Of course, the man on the street with his vote. And his cup of woes is full and he cannot take it anymore.
With every challenge there is a choice. The choice is to weed out the old, rusted guard, because they have failed to deliver.
There is a glimmer of hope: There is a small minority that is honest, principled, and able to shoulder the responsibility of governance.
The choice again is with the voter. Let them vote with an open and clear conscience, rising above petty politics.