Similarities between great democracies
Published by Yazad Jal February 2nd, 2004 in Political TheatreAs both India and the US are in election mode, the theatrics have started. This para from a piece in the NYT caught my eye.
From Washington to Hollywood, the Dean campaign often provided valet parking at its events, spent heavily to bus outsiders in to speeches in Iowa and began pumping money into commercials seven months before the first vote was cast. [Emphasis mine]
So the nice practice of busing your supporters in to listen to your speeches is not just an Indian-politician-activity. They do it in the US too!
Hmmm…this is news! I thought such “rally strategies” were limited to poorer, developing countries. Wonder what goodies the people in the US are tempted with?
Here’s a list why India and US are similar via Jagadish’s rants
I was reading this piece on the Asian Age’s Op-ed page this weekend, an excerpt from the Spectator I think, which explored the roots of the word ‘Democracy’. Interesting spotlight, about the dynamics of semantics, though I think the author is being a bit Purist.
Here’s the link to ‘Democracy’ has no meaning by Peter Jones.