I'm back, Jack!
Why is it that people who couldn't care less about voting in a country where they can make a difference, are so politically involved in one where they can't?
That's the thought that came to my mind when I saw a lot of people around me encouraging people to vote for the US election today. Now, let me clarify that I am not saying that these people didn't vote in their native countries. I, personally have not voted in my native country. It was just a greater question in my mind.
Why is it that people who may not vote in India, will be politically involved in the US? I don't know if I have the answers, but I do have some thoughts on it.
Every politician is a scoundrel. (Yes, I am a cynic)It is a lot easier, however, to be swayed by a scoundrel wearing a business suit & talking in a language you understand about issues which you are familiar with, rather than a candidate who wears a "loincloth" and screams in an uncouth manner in a language you may not be familiar with about issues you don't care about. Sure, charisma palys a huge part, but it stems from what I said above.
There is, however, a bigger question at hand. The question pertains to the participation in the political process of a country where one does not have the right to vote. Is this correct?
Let us consider this - if a large enough immigrant community comes into a country (legally) to seek a living (e.g. - on a work visa) & then participates and influences the political process in that country. Potentially, this has an impact on the fundamental right to choose, of the bonafide citizens of that country. The question is a simple one - act towards others the way you would want them to act towards you. If you are legally in a nation where you do not have a right to vote, you are essentially a guest there. If you attempt to influence the political process there, aren't you essentially overstepping your limits? That is why I disagree with the right of people who cannot vote in a country to attempt to influence the political process there.
Edited to add :
Never finished this blog in the first shot (that's what I get for blogging while watching TV). I just wanted to add - By the same token that a non-citizen should never attempt to influence the political process of a country, once you are a citizen of any country, you should have all the rights, unquestioned, of a "natural" citizen. This includes the right to being Prime Minister/President, whether or not you were born in that country.
Secondly, if you work and pay taxes in any country, but are not a citizen, you should not have the right to directly influence the political process (e.g. - by taking out protest marches/delegations to meet government executives). You should only be able to indirectly make your stand felt. (Through your employer if you are working somewhere, or through your embassy etc. in other cases)
That's the thought that came to my mind when I saw a lot of people around me encouraging people to vote for the US election today. Now, let me clarify that I am not saying that these people didn't vote in their native countries. I, personally have not voted in my native country. It was just a greater question in my mind.
Why is it that people who may not vote in India, will be politically involved in the US? I don't know if I have the answers, but I do have some thoughts on it.
Every politician is a scoundrel. (Yes, I am a cynic)It is a lot easier, however, to be swayed by a scoundrel wearing a business suit & talking in a language you understand about issues which you are familiar with, rather than a candidate who wears a "loincloth" and screams in an uncouth manner in a language you may not be familiar with about issues you don't care about. Sure, charisma palys a huge part, but it stems from what I said above.
There is, however, a bigger question at hand. The question pertains to the participation in the political process of a country where one does not have the right to vote. Is this correct?
Let us consider this - if a large enough immigrant community comes into a country (legally) to seek a living (e.g. - on a work visa) & then participates and influences the political process in that country. Potentially, this has an impact on the fundamental right to choose, of the bonafide citizens of that country. The question is a simple one - act towards others the way you would want them to act towards you. If you are legally in a nation where you do not have a right to vote, you are essentially a guest there. If you attempt to influence the political process there, aren't you essentially overstepping your limits? That is why I disagree with the right of people who cannot vote in a country to attempt to influence the political process there.
Edited to add :
Never finished this blog in the first shot (that's what I get for blogging while watching TV). I just wanted to add - By the same token that a non-citizen should never attempt to influence the political process of a country, once you are a citizen of any country, you should have all the rights, unquestioned, of a "natural" citizen. This includes the right to being Prime Minister/President, whether or not you were born in that country.
Secondly, if you work and pay taxes in any country, but are not a citizen, you should not have the right to directly influence the political process (e.g. - by taking out protest marches/delegations to meet government executives). You should only be able to indirectly make your stand felt. (Through your employer if you are working somewhere, or through your embassy etc. in other cases)
posted by Firebringer at 10:30 PM
6 Comments:
I do not think it is even legal to influence a political process in a country that you are not a citizen of. And I am not sure anyone I know is even doing that. It is just the excitement (movie) created by the media that the so-called "guests" are watching it. And all they are doing is that they are encouraging people to vote, not necessarily to vote for a particular party.
I have to take exception to a couple of things -
1. Your assumption and generatlization that people who are not native of this great country have been indiffeent to the electoral process of their own native country. I am sure there are isolated cases, but a generalization is extreme.
2. If I live in this country legally and work in this country legally, then all the laws of the land apply to me. When I become a citizen of this country and exercise my right to vote, I am in no way stepping on the right of the bonafide citizens of this country. I am becoming one of them.
While by and large I get what you're saying, I will take exception at two points:
"If you attempt to influence the political process there, aren't you essentially overstepping your limits?"
Who set these limits and what are they?
The first line of our civics text books should have been: "Man is a selfish animal" not social.
Secondly, if I have come to country X to work, then I am not a guest of that country. I do not pay guests to come to my house; I do not demand they pay a fee for what food I give them (taxes). As such, if I am being paid by someone belonging to that country AND being charged taxes, I have every right to use any legal recourse I have to improve conditions for me.
It is like the bai coaxing someone in the family to get everyone to switch from eating on the sofa to eating at the table so that it makes it easier for her to clean up... It may not happen and the owners are not obliged to listen to her but you can't blame her for suggesting it...
That said, enough of the Obama mania as g-talk tags, people!
Brat see what the election did to you - made you blog again, express opinions, receive comments from 'guests' and you all almost entered into a debate.
Whether you admit it it or not - the US elections did exert its influence on your (otherwise dormant :P:P) grey cells.
well said yank!!!
guess what i just happened to do before i read your blog entry? i started my voter registration process in a country where i can vote :D
Should have read this a little earlier. Where was your blog update reminder?!?
I can't agree with you more! It's so weird how much some of my friends have been going bonkers with the election. Sure, it was interesting, I tuned in to most of the coverage and the debates. But with distance and the notion that its "their" country, "they" have to decide.
I wouldn't fault the guys here as much as some people I know who are sitting in India and going bonkers about the whole thing! Orkut and Facebook status updates, changing nicknames... it's crazy! I am surprised how no Indian media house has managed to find some 8th degree connection to Obama and India! :D
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