Given the mess that our political system is in, I wonder why professionals have not seriously looked at creating a political startup. Present service providers have been providing low quality services for decades in what really should be a buyers’ market given that we are a democratic country. People have been crying for a better deal but those who can make a difference seem to be indifferent.
The present political parties are beset with the following problems which in turn have resulted in a loss making entity called India.
1. Corruption at the highest levels of governement and the bureaucracy
2. Short sighted decisions based on electoral concerns
3. Putting self (i.e. power) before national interest
4. Nexus with criminals and businessmen
5. Low level of education
These are all surmountable if the political party consists of highly motivated professionals who run the show (and the country) like any well managed company which treats the shareholders (citizens in this case) with respect.
The founders will require a transformational mindset.
The opportunity is huge and so is the required investment. Are there any VCs/Angels willing to invest in a political party startup which will function like any professionally managed company and provide a clean and effective government?
I would love to be part of such a startup. We owe to ourselves if not to the country. If anyone in this community of entrepreneurs is interested do let me know.
- Why Not A Political Startup - December 3, 2008
- Is Manufacturing the future of Banking? - June 25, 2007
- eLearning for all - June 12, 2007
Rohit, If you are really serious about this idea and not just passing your time by writing this article then drop me a mail.
Because its really the very appropriate time to do this and the big thing which supports it (what I have always wondered) is the question Why those people who always suggest the best solutions to the problems related to the country, society and people are out of politics and don’t take any initiative except
discussing/suggessting the best solutions.
I am very eager to contribute back to the society. We surely deserve better as citizens. This subject is very close to my heart. You can count me in as a very eager volunteer.
I beleive that this can be only achieved with the active support of a couple of large business houses who provide the initial seed capital. the rest of the capital can be raised through Obama style individual contributions accross the country. A start can be made by hosting candidates in the 4 metros + 6 other cities. If you can start by winning 15-20 seats which I beleive can happen, you will already become a strong voice. In the way that markets are segmented, so are voters. There is nothing wrong being a party that primarily represents urban india. in the next 20-30 years half of india will be urban anyway. I will be willing to volunteer for this party and stand for elections if given the chance.
The challenge is that we are not aware of grassroot issues, but with the help of a large volunteer force and local NGO’, educated corporate types can attack the problem with the same efficiency as corporate issues. Essentially running a country is no different from running a business. Its about making sensible choices and allocating the best use of capital, labour and technology. In our case security, health, education, business/agriculture and cultural (in that order) are straightforward choices. stay alive, become healthy, learn new things, get good jobs or start businesses and enjoy the wealth. Its not that difficult to figure it out. The current politicians will not make it happen. When you take over a company, you need new management. In India we need new leaders.
@srinivasa: moveon type of portal is something that we urgently need. But our moveon needs to be geared for the kind of democracy we have in India. We need citizens to participate and we need to be able to review / rate decisions made by our political system. The portal is what the community should create and not political parties. Because politics is a different ball game. Successful business men need not be successful politicians. You need to be firstly charismatic and you need to have politicking in your blood. How many of you think Bill Gates will make a good president? After all he is one of the finest business men of our times at least in terms of the wealth he amassed. Finally, political parties need votes and to get votes you need to identify with the pulse of the people. Mainly the pulse of the rural people. I doubt if the corporate world can manage to do that just yet.
The fundamental assumption in a lot of these comments seems to be that educated people will run politics better, OR, one should take a business-like approach to politics. IMHO, both of those are short-sighted.
In a democracy, education by no means is a qualifier for representation. In fact, I do not think the very well educated, and very well off to do, will be able to represent the vast majority of this country. Of course, this does not take away the right of the educated to have a representation of their own. But prescribing this as a uniform solution to the malaise that affects the political system is equivalent to not having enough faith in a democratic system (nothing wrong with that either!)
Lets look at the current politicians – the people who are being criticized the most today in context of our inability to control terrorism are perhaps the most educated of the politicians. Education does not equal having a spine.
On the other hand, look at what Lalu has done to railways in past few years. I am not in the queue for his autographs, but the performance numbers on railways are all looking up despite an “uneducated” leader.
Is it possible that what we really need to question here is the role that education has started (or stopped) playing in the society? Has it just become a tool to be able to earn more – which is useful, but doesn’t imply any deeper capability than a stronger horse? I, as an “educated person” have never lived or related to the environment in which more than 95% of India’s population lives – is that what “education” is supposed to achieve? I think our education system has to strive to be more inclusive and empathetic, if it is to fulfill its social promise in addition to the economic one.
The other point of taking business-like approach to politics should be more obvious, and I will not belabor it here.