If there is one thing I like about the Americans, it is their presidential system of government.
Just to help you revisit your civics, in a parliamentary system, the legislature (the Parliament) chooses the head of the government and all the ministers have to be a part of the legislature. So, the executive is a subset of the legislature. In a presidential system, the head of government is elected directly by the people. Thereafter he chooses the rest of the executive who, while being accountable to the Congress, need not be part of it.
India's constitution makers chose the British model most likely because all of them were infatuated by the working of the British Parliament. What they forgot was the fact that Britain had a two-party system which led to proper checks and balances as well as to a high level of stability.
Along with the concept of multi-party democracy, the parliamentary system of government has created the political mess we are in. We are a huge democracy, both in size and numbers, and we have huge regional variations. Each region has its unique issues and there cannot be any truly national agenda.
As a result, last few elections have thrown up a fractured mandate which leaves no alternative to a coalition. Now, a coalition may appear to be an innocuous concept but it further dilutes the agendas of all constituent parties. So, what you got promised and what you voted on may not even figure in the (laughable term) Common Minimum Program.
One would be hard put to point out key identifying differences in the policies of specific political parties.
In the US, once they vote in Dubya, even though he is a moron, they know that he is accountable to the people. He has a free hand (alas!) and so he deserves all the kudos as well as all the brickbats. In India, even though the elected reps choose a Vajpayee or a Sonia (God forbid!), he or she will not have any power to effect desired change.
What we need is a Presidential system. We should elect lawmakers whose job it is to legislate and we should elect the Prime Minister whose job it is to govern. We should leave it to the PM to handpick the experts from various fields to run the various departments, with full accountability to the Parliament.
This is the only way India can move on the path of change we so need to tread.
Posted at 4/19/2004 9:29:09 pm by Ranjan
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MD
April 28, 2004 03:24 AM PDT
Actually, some of us (dreaded desi) Americans like it when the president is of one party and the congress another - the idea being that most things work well enough on there own in the states and don't need meddling from the government.
I agree about the good governance post - government officials just need to do what is expected of them :) |
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Ajay
April 27, 2004 12:51 PM PDT
What we need is lesser criminals in the garb of politicians! |
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Deepan
April 25, 2004 02:10 PM PDT
Ranjan: India is not the US and never shall be one. and thank God for that!
We are such a diverse nation with so many cultures intermingling together to form one country. I don't think a 2 party system would satisfy the needs and aspirations of the whole country. Which is why they have local regional parties who are more in touch with the ground realities and are able to campaign more effectively for them.
It is not my case that the multi-party system is without its negatives, but then as Simon said we have this system and lets work with it. |
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Alka
April 22, 2004 02:12 AM PDT
Presidential system of government has its own shortcomings. After the 1st WW, the President could not make America a member of 'League of Nations' which was its own baby. Because the public elected president from one party and in senate the majority was enjoyed by another party. If this happens in India, you can imagine the nightmare.... |
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dp
April 21, 2004 10:45 AM PDT
WHat we need is less people...this country has too many people! I think we're better off than the US... |
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S Simon
April 21, 2004 02:14 AM PDT
Ranjan, frankly what we need is good governance, as I was discussing with deepan only just now...
at the end of the day any system is as good as its application... |
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