--------------------------------------------------------------------------- **** Annual Goanetters Meet **** ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Goanetters Meet - January 3, 2012 - 12:30 - 2pm Tourist Hostel, near the Old Secretariat, Panaji (Panjim) Planning to attend? Send an email to eve...@goanet.org with contact details --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clamour and glamour for power Just about the time for the elections, every aspirant feels he is eligible .The old and reigning MLA`s seem to have not done enough and they deserve to be changed, replaced and dumped .What exactly was the desired and expected change, one is not able to be exact and specify ?.Why did we vote in the first place, those people against whom, we are now spitting poison and gall. We voted them with full knowledge,hesitation about the credentials and our our faculties fully intact. We did not weigh their educational qualifications, their social commitment, character or prior contribution to the society. We were helpless as our votes did not make any difference or blinded by personal reasons to see their merits or worthiness It is very true true, that in a Democracy the majority has their way, ignoring the minorities right to say .During their tenure, we are despondent , at best to secure for ourselves our personal agenda. Once that is obtained , then are no complains about the larger good. If we are rubbed in the wrong way, then we nurse a grudge , waiting for the opportune moment to strike and only time is the election perhaps.It is only during the election time, we seem to see everything red with tinted glasses. There are hardly any loud protests during the period of the MLA`s in office. Any personal attacks can be met with fierce and calculated offensive. With the Govt arms,police administration doing at their bidding, such attempts are conveniently neutralised .People rarely in a group or individually are able to take on the might of those in power and hence the stoic silence about their promises and nonperformance Every one feels himself or herself to be a better alternative and to be thousands time better to the candidates in comparison , who are presently in the office The official memorandums are more than often filed in political parties archives, once the election are over and are not binding. The best thing the aspirants often do is to release, mostly surrogate adds to project their popularity. Nobody is against constant change in the system, as that alone will assure desired results. Have we not seen even new entrants feathering their own nests right from day one? UGDP and Save Goa.MGP representatives have ignored the party affiliations and even deserted the party, once elected. The propaganda generated against the opponents during elections is no holes barred, down right mean and all this will be forgotten soon,, when it comes to number game to be in power. The simplest rule that those changing parties must face reelection and resign will never be enforced .There is always a better chance of winning on party tickets and hence the mad rush The party considers the win ability as the sole criteria and those who can fill their coffers.All threats will be ignored and overruled. The financial help extended by the parties is negligible, in fact the aspirants have to contribute to the so called party funds, Hence win ability is totally depended upon muscle power and financial clout. Independents, who were elected have either merged with the party in power or extended outside support , sharing the spoils of the office. Elected representatives main concern is how to get reelected as many times as possible until death and how to generate illegal resources at every inch Some one has aptly called it pinch by inch. Any development is geared to that effect, to keep the opposition at bay and win enemies by sops and friendliness What exactly are the hidden motives of those aspiring to enter the politics? Is it not power, fame, position and accumulation of illegal wealth that attracts our attention , the standards set by the predecessors ? Is the ability to legislate, dissect and take part in debates the priority ?.When we look at the many of the elected representatives to day, it is but natural to feel, we are definitely a better alternative. But the road to that success is paved with money, chicanery,muscle power. No honest , intellectual, citizen can hope for the ascent to the seat of power, without these requisites and with the .electorate politically ignorant. In Goa we should be better placed to exercise our franchise weighing pros and cons .It is not happening and and will not happen, if even that is negative or pessimistic, myopic view There is no harm in trying in vain against the system that is entrenched and is becoming worst with each passing election. Round the year the representatives are busy ensuring their victory at all costs and decimating any sign of resistance and opposition to their survival ,lucrative goal. When out of office many a past legislator is left licking wounds of being ignored and cast in the dust bin of oblivion For all the loud noises and protests ,the parties are still going to nominate the old faces and ensure their win What is the remedy against the obstacle of this nature. Will we surmount it hopefully this time around. ? Let us wait and watch,as to how many of so called unworthy representatives will be reelected or rejected and how many new entrants will make the grade Our calculations may go awry, hope not, we must decide and act Nelson Lopes Chinchinim --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------