Democracy is puzzling

Now that does not boggle the mind, does it.

Hear me out, my drunken brother, and ignore the vagaries of the EVM malfunction or the exercise of suffrage for a second. Lets talk about where we are truly taking ourselves in the exercise of that sacred right of universal adult franchise.

Given that democracy is about the rule of the majority, its true resiliency is measure by the rights of the minority. Its hallowed pillars are further strenghthened when the majority elect a minority to represent their best interests. You know a Benazir Bhutto, a woman who was elected prime minister in a country that was largely on the Islamic right. You know a Manmohan Singh, a Sikh prime minister, in a society that is seeing a rejuvenation of Hindu jingoism. In the recent past, you have read about Yuliya Tymoshenko in Ukraine too. All minorities in their respective rights, being chosen to lead a larger majority. Fairly, unequivocally and without a call to any of primitive human urges to go to war or annihilate a common enemy.

America, on the other hand, continues to amaze. It has made tall claims to be the best democracy, and rightly so in almost all cases. But what about minority representation in political leadership. Why have we been unsucessful in choosing a president from one of the minority segments of colour, sex or race? Even more intriguing is the relative sucess of minorities business life, with women leading many in the Fortune 500 list. The effect has simply not percolated to the fabric of political life and psyche. We have had an occasional Rice or a Powell, but they were not elected positions.

If corporate america can choose to have minority leaders at the helm, making decisions about their lives, the EPS and what products they consume - whats different in the political spectrum?
Why has the presidency been an exclusive domain of the white man in the United States, and third world nations with closed and impoverished demographies continue to elect minority leaders in a whim. The brits put a Thatcher in residence at Downing street, the point is conceded with the tenant list in the White house. It would be rather naive to argue that competent leaders have failed to emerge from the minority.

Will it be different this time? Will America make a point just to dispel any doubts on the fundamentals of its institutions. Are we mature enough as a people to let go and let the weaker individual show the way?

Obama or Clinton, that don't matter. The politics is unimportant.

Related Link
http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/whatsdem/whatdm8.htm