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Blondes and "Crossovers"

The document summarizes political crossovers between parties in Sri Lanka prior to presidential elections, comparing it to a meeting of blondes at a river. It describes the common pattern of politicians denouncing their party before being welcomed into another party. It argues that there is little real difference between the two main parties and that politicians primarily act in their own self-interest rather than out of ideology. It critiques Sri Lankan politics and economics, arguing the country has not achieved growth like Asian tiger economies and seems to emulate their past weaknesses rather than strengths.

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Thavam Ratna
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272 views

Blondes and "Crossovers"

The document summarizes political crossovers between parties in Sri Lanka prior to presidential elections, comparing it to a meeting of blondes at a river. It describes the common pattern of politicians denouncing their party before being welcomed into another party. It argues that there is little real difference between the two main parties and that politicians primarily act in their own self-interest rather than out of ideology. It critiques Sri Lankan politics and economics, arguing the country has not achieved growth like Asian tiger economies and seems to emulate their past weaknesses rather than strengths.

Uploaded by

Thavam Ratna
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as ODT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Blondes and crossovers

December 18, 2014

There is this blonde out for a walk. She comes to a river


and sees another blonde on the opposite bank. Yoo-hoo she calls out,
How can I get to the other side? The second blonde looks up the river and
then down the river and shouts back You ARE on the other side

To the confused public observing the endless cross-overs and cross-backs


occurring in the political arena in the run-up to the presidential elections, it
must be like chancing on a conference of blondes, in this very tropical
country!
Choreography of the drama perfected
Whether they stand on this or the other side of the river seems to matter
little to our politicians merrily changing parties. The choreography of the
drama has been now perfected down to the auspicious minute for the jump.
In the opening scene, a few days before the main event, there are wild
rumours of a cross over which is then strongly denied by the politician.
Then suddenly the politician summons a media conference where he
vehemently condemns the deviation from the accepted party line by his
bosses and even alleges corruption among his former colleagues.
He is then warmly welcomed by the recipient party, the ceremony often

concluding with religious rites. This is soon followed by a counter


conference of the other side (or is it this side?) alleging betrayal.

And of course, they all have file

s on

each other. Where we would normally have information on another


person, a politician would claim to have a file, somewhat in the manner
that an illiterate would refer to a document. But to the politician it befits
men of public affairs to seem more formal, to refer only to information
reduced to writing and preserved in neat files.
Besides, the image of a thick file, carefully maintained and safely hidden
away, titillates the imagination of the public, long nurtured on a steady diet
of thrills and spills of local tele-dramas.
Our politicians do not do things for selfish reasons. It is only us mere
mortals who look for bargains; discounts and card holder dine free type
deals that go to make ends meet. Going by the talk, their actions are
motivated by higher motives, selfless lives dedicated to freedom, human
rights and honesty in public affairs.
No real difference between the two sides
It is now becoming increasingly obvious that there is no real difference
between the two sides. Where Sri Lankan politicians are concerned
history ended long before the Berlin Wall came down. The Rajapaksa
regime may have vulgarised the meaning of public life with motorcades,
bodyguards, all kinds of benefits (which are generally extended to the
family too) used freely to keep them in.
But from long before the Rajapaksa phenomenon, a particular homogeneity
has been evolving among those in politics in this country. When elected, a
person becomes a kind of commodity whose loyalty is available, if offered
the right price. There is no ideology, it is all personal. This is still more so
among the top leaders who have only personal interests and motives; the
party, the philosophy, the finer refinements and traditions of politics, only
secondary considerations.
The theory of evolution and natural selection seem to have now asserted its
immutability among our politicians too. Even in their appearance,
demeanour and posture there is a remarkable sameness. A noticeable
plumpness and a healthy glow of the skin distinguish them from the milling
crowd. But most of all, it is the god of good fortune who smiles on our
politicians most benevolently. More they serve the public, the richer they
become.
Politics in Sri Lanka

Francis Fukuyama argued that with the coming down of the Berlin Wall,
which symbolised the end of the Soviet era, Western Liberal Democracy
would become the overarching universal ideology for the foreseeable
future. All political activity would take place within that larger framework.
That may be true for societies that Fukuyama looked at closely. But here in
Sri Lanka history has been dead long before all that! In our political culture
there are no ideologies, policies or even ideas. No loyalty to a person, party
or even the truth is called for. Whoever is on top will call the shots and the
rest will adhere as long as benefits follow from that arrangement. There is
no difference whether you are on this side or the other.
It is now nearly 70 years since we gained independence. A good 30 years of
that were wasted on a civil war, which was a creation of an earlier
generation of politicians. At no time in this long period, whether before or
after the war , have we reached the kind of growth rate that Asian Tiger
economies sustained in their rise to prosperity.
On any economic statistic we are in the lower middle order, on an unclear
path, towards an uncertain future. In the policies we follow, there are only
superficial similarities with those adopted by the Asian Tiger economies
during their impressive rise.
In a warped and confused appreciation of the conditions that enabled those
nations to achieve success, our leaders seem to applaud their weaknesses,
the authoritarianism of Singapore, the clannishness of Malaysia, and the
corruptions of South Korea.
While these nations are speedily addressing these weaknesses, we are
adopting them! Having no clear idea, we only talk in terms of some basic
symbols of development; two lane highways, harbours and budget airlines,
features which became standard facilities quarter of a century back.
Our politicians smarter than they appear?
Perhaps our politicians are smarter than it appears. They certainly think so.
It is therefore not inappropriate to end our essay with another example of
blonde thinking.
A Russian, an American and a blonde were talking one day.
The Russian said: We were the first in space.
The American said: We were the first on the moon.
The blonde said: So what? We are going to be the first on the sun!
The Russian and the American looked at each other and shook their heads.

You cannot land on the sun, you idiot! You will burn up!
To this, the blonde coolly answered: We are not stupid, you know. We are
going in the night!
(The writer is an Attorney-at-Law and a freelance writer.)
Posted by Thavam

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