Comments on: India’s Parliamentary Form of Government Rocks

By: Shailesh Ghimire

Shailesh Ghimire — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:50:13 +0000

Very interesting comparison. I have watched with amusement at how even a 60 vote majority has prevented the Democrats from passing anything significant. The US government is truly in a deadly stalemate. Your comparison actually helped me understand why. Thanks.

By: Siddharth

Siddharth — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:07:33 +0000

Hi Basab, I am a returning visitor and delighted on 2 counts. First. you have a very good line up of blogs (which i am about to begin reading). Second, this picture of North (or may South) Block is a good pick. I notice the new-age chopper flying above our almost century-old house of democracy. I some how see strength in that pic.

By: basab_prad13041

basab_prad13041 — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:14:44 +0000

Krishna – no I didn't miss that. 5 trips a year to India keep me pretty current. Although I haven't met anyone who would seriously wish that India had a China type government. More like a Singapore type of system, which is a weak form of democracy. Or a diluted form of authoritarianism.

By: basab_prad13041

basab_prad13041 — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:22:06 +0000

@Mohan,

I did think about lobbying but the post was getting too long. I suspect if India had US style lobbying instead of outright bribery, I think it would be focused more on Mantralaya rather than legislators. I mean, you have to follow the money. Even today, the real money is made by becoming a minister. An MP or MLA has very little worth, that way.

BTW I am not saying that Indian politics is in anyway less distasteful than American politics. But the form of government – Westiminster style democracy – works well.

By: Mohan

Mohan — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:54:19 +0000

Interesting oversimplification of comparison of governments if there was one!
Don’t ALL of us, anywhere in the world like to crib-and-compare politics and politicians.

Just for fun, add lobbying (as practiced in west) or pure simple bribery – and horse trading, stuffing suitecases with currency, caste, regionalism, Parochialism and the desi bureaucracy – into the Indian political mix and let us see if the argument still holds true.

By: Krishna

Krishna — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:11:28 +0000

Basab,

Just in case if you missed out. In India, we have now moved on. Now we wonder (envy, really ! ) at China (than the US) in learning a thing or two about swift infrastructure buildout. After the recent Olympics, that is !

By: ayyappa

ayyappa — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:05:47 +0000

I also used to think that Presidential system is good, but seeing how the first year of Obama has gone with almost 60 votes and how difficult it could become with even less than that, I also thought our system is good.
One thing that I thought could be better though:- who gets to stand in elections is still determined by parties. There could be more capable candidates if a primary system comes to place where people can even choose who should be the candidate for parties.