Foolishness of Jan Lok Pal

This time I won't bore you with introductions about my laziness and will get straight to the point. But before that a disclaimer. I am a staunch believer in democracy and free markets. I think that the above two if combined together effectively will bring prosperity and raise living standards. So if you do not believe in democracy then I have nothing to say or argue against, than probably humbly suggest you should move to China, Singapore or Hong Kong. If you believe in democracy then read on.

India is a democratic republic with a constitution. And the only way to measure representation in a democracy is through elections. We can debate about what type it needs to be (a parliamentary or presidential), but free and fair elections are the only way someone can claim representation. Irrespective of virtue and deeds, nobody can claim representation unless he or she has won an election. So for Anna Hazare, who has not bothered to contest even a local election, to claim that he represents the people is both flawed and dangerous. History is littered with graveyard of revolutions that trusted a few good men. Now apparently many of his middle class/elitist followers and he himself has claimed that there is no use contesting an election because poor and illiterate people are bought during elections. This view displays ignorance at best and an utter contempt for the poor at worst. It ignores the aspirational value for a better job, better education , better health that the poor have repeatedly attached to their vote and kicked out governments (You need not look beyond Bihar). And corruption which has so enraged the urban middle class affect the poor more than anybody else. So irrespective of the cause or the solution (even if it is good) no one has a right in a democracy to impose a view or a bill through blackmail.

Let us look at the solution, the so called cure of all ills. Now I am not a lawyer so I will leave it to people who know the law to decipher and shred the details of flaws in Jan Lok Pal Bill (read this Link). Corruption is only a symptom, disease is lack of reforms/governance. However strong may be the Law unless you attack the disease you will not get far. I am amazed that the same left liberals who argue capital punishment will not deter people from murdering and raping, think that Jan Lok Pall bill (which is equal to capital punishment without parole) will end corruption. And the mere idea that by creating another institution with overarching powers (judge, jury and executioner all rolled into one. There is reason why our constitution mandates seperation of power between legislature, judiciary and executive) will solve problems in existing institutions is absurd. And why would you trust this new draconian institution? The answers seems to be, well it will contain Nobel prize winners and other assorted worthies. Again, history is littered with graveyards of societies that trusted a few good men over an established due process.

As I said the solution is not another law but hard economic and governance reforms. I have argued before that the limited economic reforms that we carried out in 1991 has greatly reduced corruption. In the 80's ordinary people had to bribe a politician to get a gas connection, today there are hundreds of choices for us for each and every basic need and even luxuries. The argument that corruption has increased since 80's because loss to exchequer has gone up is again flawed. Of course the absolute loss to exchequer has gone up, that is because Indian economy has grow around 7-8% since late 90s and instead of gas connections it is spectrum licenses that the politician has discretionary power over. The solution is take out the discretionary power out of politicians and bueracracy and empower people through second generation reforms. It is ironic that one class of people that benefited most from 91 reforms is marching and lighting candles to appoint a super cop ,who will, looking at the selection panel will definitely be from an ideological spectrum staunchly opposed to reforms (see analysis here on link between corruption and economic freedom)

So Dear Middle class, instead of marching and lighting candle form a voting block and push for economic reforms. Not only it will reduce corruption but make our country more prosperous.

P.S: Even if someone were to fast or use any other means to force/blackmail the government to implement economic reforms I would still oppose it because as I said it is undemocratic and dangerous.