Ramesh was not in class when this chapter was being taught. He came the next day and repeated what he had heard from his father. Can you tell Ramesh what is wrong with these statements? a) Women always vote the way men tell them to. So what is the point of giving them the right to vote? b) Party politics creates tension in society. Elections should be decided by consensus not by competition. c) Only graduates should be allowed to stand as candidates for elections.
Ramesh was not in class when this chapter was being taught. He came the next day and repeated what he had heard from his father. Can you tell Ramesh what is wrong with these statements? a) Women always vote the way men tell them to. So what is the point of giving them the right to vote? b) Party politics creates tension in society. Elections should be decided by consensus not by competition. c) Only graduates should be allowed to stand as candidates for elections.
a) Women always vote the way men tell them to. So what is the point of giving them the right to vote?
- Women are independent.
- Women are educated and successful in many walks of life. It is a misconception that women have to depend on men while making a decision to choose a candidate.
- As per the principle of Universal Adult Franchise, everyone should have one vote and equal value should be given to each and every vote.
- Without a strong reason no one can be denied their right to vote. It is important for democracy.
- People vary from each other, some may be unkind or kind, some may be illiterate or highly educated, some may be poor or rich; but all of them are human beings and they are entitled to their views and needs.
- As the result of elections will impact everyone, all the citizens deserve the right to vote.
- In India, regardless of the gender, religion, caste; all the citizens above the age of 18 years have the right to vote.
b) Party politics creates tension in society. Elections should be decided by consensus not by competition.
- Leaders and political parties get incentives while competing in elections on a regular basis.
- They are aware that their chances of victory will increase in the next elections if they raise the issues that are bothering the people.
- They will end up losing the elections if they are unable to satisfy the expectations of the people.
- Hence political parties will be compelled to serve people which is the only way to fulfill their desire to remain in power.
- This is similar to how a market works. A shopkeeper is forced to give good service to his customers although he is only interested in profits. If he fails to provide proper service he will end up losing the customer to his competitors.
- Hence although there are ugliness and divisions associated with political competition it will ultimately benefit the people as the political parties are forced to serve the people to remain in power.
c) Only graduates should be allowed to stand as candidates for elections.
- All kinds of jobs do not require educational qualifications.
- For example, to play in Indian cricket team or represent India at the Olympic games, different skill sets are required and they are not educational degrees.
- Similarly, a Member of Parliament (M.P.) or Member of Legislative Assembly (M.L.A) needs the skills of understanding the problems and issues faced by people and having the ability to solve those problems.
- To assess how good they are in their jobs, the examination is conducted through elections and the voters will decide on the work done by the candidates and whether they need to be given more opportunities to occupy the position of power.
- It is best left to the people to decide on how important or relevant the educational qualification of the contesting candidate should be.
- Moreover, if the educational qualification of degree or masters was applied for contesting elections, then it would deprive the majority of citizens from contesting elections in India.
- The elections would simply become the domain of the elite class and it would go against the foundations of democracy.
a) Women always vote the way men tell them to. So what is the point of giving them the right to vote?
- Women are independent.
- Women are educated and successful in many walks of life. It is a misconception that women have to depend on men while making a decision to choose a candidate.
- As per the principle of Universal Adult Franchise, everyone should have one vote and equal value should be given to each and every vote.
- Without a strong reason no one can be denied their right to vote. It is important for democracy.
- People vary from each other, some may be unkind or kind, some may be illiterate or highly educated, some may be poor or rich; but all of them are human beings and they are entitled to their views and needs.
- As the result of elections will impact everyone, all the citizens deserve the right to vote.
- In India, regardless of the gender, religion, caste; all the citizens above the age of 18 years have the right to vote.
b) Party politics creates tension in society. Elections should be decided by consensus not by competition.
- Leaders and political parties get incentives while competing in elections on a regular basis.
- They are aware that their chances of victory will increase in the next elections if they raise the issues that are bothering the people.
- They will end up losing the elections if they are unable to satisfy the expectations of the people.
- Hence political parties will be compelled to serve people which is the only way to fulfill their desire to remain in power.
- This is similar to how a market works. A shopkeeper is forced to give good service to his customers although he is only interested in profits. If he fails to provide proper service he will end up losing the customer to his competitors.
- Hence although there are ugliness and divisions associated with political competition it will ultimately benefit the people as the political parties are forced to serve the people to remain in power.
c) Only graduates should be allowed to stand as candidates for elections.
- All kinds of jobs do not require educational qualifications.
- For example, to play in Indian cricket team or represent India at the Olympic games, different skill sets are required and they are not educational degrees.
- Similarly, a Member of Parliament (M.P.) or Member of Legislative Assembly (M.L.A) needs the skills of understanding the problems and issues faced by people and having the ability to solve those problems.
- To assess how good they are in their jobs, the examination is conducted through elections and the voters will decide on the work done by the candidates and whether they need to be given more opportunities to occupy the position of power.
- It is best left to the people to decide on how important or relevant the educational qualification of the contesting candidate should be.
- Moreover, if the educational qualification of degree or masters was applied for contesting elections, then it would deprive the majority of citizens from contesting elections in India.
- The elections would simply become the domain of the elite class and it would go against the foundations of democracy.
