For Politicians – through proper electoral policies, fair and effective elections held regularly and incorporating ways to disqualify or recall those unfit. Minimum education standards at least for State and National politicians must be laid down so as to allow for meaningful understanding of laws and policies and participation in the debates on them.

For Others – vide laid down procedures implemented promptly in a strict and transparent manner. Prima facie instances of moral turpitude and corruption should automatically lead to dismissal as public officials and politicians need to be held to a higher standard than ordinary citizens to engender ‘Trust’ in the system.

First – an immediate and automatic suspension with a 50 percent pay cut (re-credited if found innocent) and loss of all perks with compulsory community service, till the accusation is proved or otherwise, must be imposed. Such community service can never be claimed to be a punishment for a public servant. The standard of proof required can only be ‘beyond reasonable doubt’, and not absolute certainty or ‘beyond all doubt’,(See- The Indian Judicial System – Comments on,). Since this only denies the person an opportunity to continue in a specific public service position for the duration of the enquiry and yet continue to serve the Community in a different way and since service only in any such specified public position can in any case never be claimed to be a fundamental right, while still allowing him/her to exercise his/her vote (a fundamental right) he/she can have no valid complaint against such action.

Second – If found culpable in the enquiry, by dismissal and applicable fine or punishment.

The conduct of politicians and bureaucrats, like that of Caesars wife, has to be beyond reproach.

Political philosophy is traditionally centered on a collection of issues that Karl Popper called the ‘Who should rule?’ question. A question that calls for violent, authoritarian answers and has often received them, as they will always be people who will disagree. The question that is really important in political philosophy is therefore a different question -“how can we detect and eliminate errors” or “how can we rid ourselves of bad Governments or Policies, without violence?”

• “The opinion of 10, 000 men is of no value if none of them know anything about the subject.” – Marcus Aurelius.
• “Who forms the majority in any Country? Is it the Wise or the Ignorant? (As) the Ignorant generally outnumber the Wise. If you go by sheer numbers, then the Ignorant shall always rule the Wise. What a paradox?” – Shiv Khera.

But history demonstrates that such ignorance does not come in the way of a very large number of people choosing effectively when it comes to social issues and to their own subjective welfare. This is proved by the vote against Smt. Indira Gandhi’s Congress Party in the post Emergency election in 1977.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7