Who Do We Vote For?
This is a burning question for many these days as we have a Presidential election looming on the 21st of September. While many are looking for saviours and miracle workers, I would like to take stock of what we know.
We have 39 candidates for this time’s election. One has already died – an independent one. In the political workings, being an independent candidate is just a red herring to deter and break up votes. They are nice to see. That’s it. What really counts, unfortunately, are the main political parties.
This is also because Sri Lankans – still – vote on the basis of caste, ethnicity and religion and political party. We are still very much a feudal hole. And although Colombo has over 2 million people, a majority of the voting populace is not from Colombo.
What do we need to do right now? Sri Lanka needs to bolster her economy – we are following an IMF programme and we are given milestones to achieve in this in order to get our debt relief. We also have obscene poverty, cost of living and taxes. Despite all this there is a burgeoning group of people investing in businesses, opening up new ventures and existing businesses making massive local profits. So how is this possible? Coz there is an insane level of corruption in the country. Is this corruption only by the politicians? Nope. There is a huge network of people in the public and private sector that enable and encourage this system because they benefit from it.
To solve these problems people have suggested we recover stolen money from politicians and eradicate poverty and empower our local industries to prosper. While all these are great to aspire to – realistically, have people forgotten what Yahapalanaya promised to do just 9 years ago? A very similar list of promises. And though there was some good done, why couldn’t they do the rest they promised? Coz it’s the same bunch of demons dancing in the same circus. Coz there are wheels within wheels. There are agendas and strategies.
You and I are not privy to them because we are not part of that system. But we cannot be blinded fools when we vote coz we inadvertently hand the knife to the monkey when we do that. We need to remember that in this game, it is a game of strategic thinking and moving – like chess. It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon test cricket match full of googlies and LBWs. And you need trump cards, tricks and a bagful of sharp needles. Which is why the current opposition needs to stop expecting utopia to get their asses off the ground and moving. You cannot do politics in this current atmosphere and expect to keep your slate 100% clean. If you want to do that, go start a charity. Even churches these days are mercenary holes.
So who are we to vote for? It’s not like we have great choices but we need to work with what there is. I honestly am still debating – I am a person who votes in a way to ensure good opposition and balance in the workings because you cannot allow an insane majority. That has been the root of all our political woes since dear Junius Richard Jayewardena decided to create an executive presidency from hell requiring a two thirds majority to change anything. Our current parliament has one political party – SLPP -commanding two thirds majority – and it’s a disaster of epic proportions. Laws are being made, amended and all kinds of nonsense is passing because “they are all friends machan”.
In this light, how we vote for this upcoming Presidential election is crucial. Because to win outright, a candidate needs 50% + 1 of the votes. This time with so many fractured elements, it is doubtful that anyone will get 50%. So this is where your preferential votes matter. When voting for the presidential election, you can pick 3 preferences and mark them as 1, 2 and 3. When you do this, the preferential votes get added on if there is no 50% outright winner. So your second preference person should be someone who is likely to get a majority. This way you help decide on a candidate.
Now I know most will be moaning and taking some high horse stand of how you will never vote for rogues and you want to clean up this mess blah blah. Yea, you can continue preaching while you bribe the cop, the municipality and pay off whoever to get your kunu work done. Shut up and sit down for a moment and think. Because we need to think without jumping like jellyfish.
First, ask yourself how realistic it is for one president to clean up a network of corruption in one go – remember the ‘ape ranaviruwa’ who tried and failed abysmally. Coz it’s not a bot military to crack a whip like that. Then ask yourself short term what you want for the betterment of the country and long term what do you want. Not for yourself and your shady business deals but a proper systemic change. You need money for everyone – not just your pocket. At this point in time – who will be most able to deliver that required economic change through whatever means they propose. Again, be realistic – no one has a magic wand. System changes take decades if not centuries. We need to address needs now.
You will find that we have very poor choices coz everyone has a past, an axe to grind and a huge task ahead. No one is anywhere as good as we would like them to be. Again, we need to work with who we have. And we need to work within the existing election system because that is what we have. Wish for utopia and write a book series like Lord of the Rings if you want alternate realities but don’t want to put in the work to achieve it.
Read the election manifestos – quite a few are fantasy fiction. But read them objectively and ask yourself how practical the implementation is going to be. Because promises are merely words if they cannot be realistically implemented. Think of it like this – if you were to drastically change your family life at home – could you do it fast? For example, say from tomorrow everyone eats only soya and kekiri. Will they agree willingly? Even if they do, will they stick to it? These grand plans are no different. There is no quick fix.
Now think carefully, and choose who your preferences are going to be. Select 3 – and mark 1, 2 and 3. And FFS don’t spoil your vote or abscond from voting. It’s a privileged person’s petulant marker to do something so juvenile and fruitless. Use your vote – someone fought for the right to vote – don’t forget it’s part of your civic responsibility as a citizen of this country. If you don’t like it, you can go elsewhere and live on a remote island with some unregistered tribe. No one is stopping you. If you live in the present Lankan society, you are accountable to it. Half of you preach about nature’s ecosystems but don’t understand social ones. Nuts.
Anyhow that is my pennyworth of advice because it is vital that we vote well.
