Improving the Democratic Government to Smart Gov.By T.S. Khanna, July 4, .2015

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Foundation for Better Government

July 4, 2015

Improving the Democratic Government to Smart Government.

( By T.S. Khanna, July 4, 2015)

All through the human history, humanity, like other living species, has lived under autocratic rule, either by the religious leaders, kings, or autocratic governments.

Although, democracy claims its origin in Magna Charta of 1215, the idea of self-rule to switch the power base of government from a few rulers to the support from the many ruled, took a stronghold in the minds of the American revolutionaries in the 18^th century.  They demanded and declared independence from King George III.

Human mind, under a perceived or real oppression, carries some illusions about the character and potential of the oppressed people. 

Subjectivity of the American revolutionaries in the time of crisis overpowered realism bearing a considerable influence on the formulation of self-rule ideology in the U.S. Constitution.  In designing democratic government, they made some positive assumptions about the character and the potential of the common man.

The assumptions made at the time were believed to be true with such confidence that they did not appear to bear the character of assumptions, i.e., re the individual (a) integrity, (b) ability and interest to comprehend and analyze political issues, (c) willingness to make an independent judgment for voting, (d) willingness to compromise self-interest for the protection and promotion of the public interest.  Political realities seem to frequently trump such assumptions.

The U.S. constitution also laid emphasis on individual liberty, equality, and freedom of religion without mentioning the attendant obligations.  No provisions were incorporated in the constitution to test the assumptions or the abuse of liberties from time to time and amend the constitution accordingly.

During the last century many countries attained independence and adopted democratic constitutions similar to the U.S. constitution.  The revolutionaries in those countries, probably, had a mind-set similar to those of the American revolutionaries.  For example, Gandhi and Nehru believed in moral superiority of the ancient Indian social order which would revive after the independence.

To gain the power of popularity, democratic leaders, quite often, verbalize certain thoughts their constituents like to hear, and avoid saying what they need to know.  Most of the revolutionaries truly but wrongly believed in their illusionary visions to be factual.  In each case, democratic leaders tend to formulate and cling to policies that have long term destructive effects.  Take, for instance, dominance of political economy in the developing democratic countries.

When we are free to go anywhere and do not know where to go then every road goes there and we reach nowhere.  In the absence of any chartered destination or defined goal, there is no measure of progress.  Most democracies are in a similar predicament.  Political issues are discussed at length, not to pursue a common goal but in pursuit of every ones liberty and equality leading to no decision.  Look at the American immigration and border security issue.

Under rep democracy, parochial support for leaders, does not allow the growth of national leadership or statesmanship.  The growth of partisanship distorts and obscures the vision of common good.  Diversities, without common political loyalty, generate echoes of political confusions.  Goals reflecting public aspirations can neither be identified nor pursued in policies and programs.  There are no adopted standards or measures to evaluate government performance.  Democratic “due process”, procedural laws, and rules of evidence offer easy escapes for public officials from accountability.

That is why, democracy sounds far better in theory compared to its performance.  If Jefferson-Madison or Gandhi-Nehru could see what is going on in their respective countries, they would be spinning in their graves.  Yet, democracy is justified as “the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”----Churchill.

There seems to be a prevalence of implicit common belief that the present form of democracy is already the best form of government with no room for improvement.

Democracy was designed as a firewall against despotism.  We must protect that wall.  At the same time, we cannot neglect to improve its design to meet the new challenges of the changing times.  Some countries are fast moving towards disaster without being aware of it.  Their populations, poverty, and health problems are far outstripping their efforts or priorities to combat them, even when their statistics may show a rosy picture.

To maintain legitimacy and stability, democratic governments will have to be improved to the level of "Good Government" or "Smart Government" bound by the ideology of doing good to its people in accordance with their aspirations, with minimum interference in their private lives.  Good Government (Smart Government) must be free of corruption, much more efficient and economical with full accountability of public officials, as compared to the present democratic governments.  All this is achievable by establishing the right set-up in government, adopting the right laws and using the modern technology.

Good Government must establish goals reflecting public aspirations and adopt policies programs and budgets to pursue those goals in a timely fashion, make periodic evaluation of the and make the warranted changes.  Democracy can no longer be an end in itself.  Now it must turn into Smart Government and perform to meet the needs of the people. 

Discussion to improve various aspects democracy to turn into Good Government (Smart Government) will follow in occasional articles to be posted on this blog.