Essence of Politics – the theory and its practice

Essence of Politics – the theory and its practice

Politics is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations between individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status – Wikipedia

Politics or politika^–   as derived from Greek, meaning the affairs of the city, is a study of the sharing of responsibility and power in running a state and settling of differences without blood let or violence, as was the norm of those times, through public opinion. Politics is a science that prescribers to the methods of opinion generation and getting  public support in those matters that pertains to use of public property, facilities, finances and upkeep of law. The rule of the majority, by numbers was  born and was aptly named democracy.

Politics has come a long way from the administration of the city states of those Grecian times. Though the norms of politics still have the same roots of public like and dislike, the methodology and the ethics have changed. This science of providing the best of public safety, service and facilities, has of late become more an art of power mongering groupism, trickery and impersonation. It has evolved into the  art of stealing from them that are wide awake and making them feel good about it. Politics has grown from the stringent science of maintaining public welfare to the art of fooling them into feeling so.

Political parties were born based on conflicting theories regarding the way to welfare. The pros joined hands as did the cons. These then became norms. Here, In the world largest democracy we see as many parties as there are people, based not on theories in pursuit of public welfare but in the welfare of a few who have joined hands. Parties born from religions, walks of life, areas of birth and living and what not. These parties seek not the wellbeing of the citizenry at large but the demands of small groups wielding the clout of vote banks. The warmth that exuded from political parties of yesteryears and welfare groups have evaporated into the steamy, and red hot power pursuits of today. We choose not what is best for our nation, but against those who we perceive to have harmed us the most or those we dislike.

Politics was about a group of likeminded people, rendering selfless service to the society, with no regard for returns. It was about teams that worked towards great social goals of immense impact. It was and we w9ish it may one day return to be. Right now we only have one vote to mark our displeasure against they that have been cheating us with smiling faces.