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© 2012 Sanjeev Sabhlok's revolutionary blog
Team Anna and IAC. I always thought they were the same, but apparently there is a difference. Anna Hazare has disbanded Team Anna but has the IAC been disbanded? Apparently not. I don't see any reference to that on its website. So now I'm confused.
But that's alright. This street movement and fasting is over, and has rightly moved into the political territory. That's a huge challenge but worth undertaking.
The key point to address now is Anna's comment: "How to look for good people? To give an alternative, a party has to be formed. How to select members of the party?"
EVERYTHING, IN MY VIEW, DEPENDS ON THIS.
Also what does it mean to be "good"?
Remember what Hayek said? "[I]s there a greater tragedy imaginable than that, in our endeavor consciously to shape our future in accordance with high ideals, we should in fact unwittingly produce the very opposite of what we have been striving for?"
High ideals, good intentions alone DO NOT MAKE GOOD PEOPLE.
Being honest, etc. are the basics. Then comes the policy challenge. The good man is he who understands how to maximise the energy generated by self interest, and minimise its potential harmful consequences. The good man is he who NEVER takes people for granted, and ALWAYS examines the strategic games they might play. The good man is he who understands incentives and human nature. It is all about understanding checks and balances, even as we maximise everyone's self-interest.
Finding SUCH good people is PRECISELY what FTI has been doing for the past few years. We have a very comprehensive process, and rigorous Code of Conduct. No member becomes a full FTI member without five other full members voting for him.
FTI members are CERTIFIED 100 per cent "good" (else they will be smashed into the dustbin like we smash rotten eggs). And they are committed to liberty.
There are NO BETTER leaders in India today (and indeed in the world) than full members of FTI. And these members are preparing exactly for the task that the dissolved Team Anna is aiming to undertake: to contest parliamentary elections.
But we have a process. And we have a method. And that is an important point to note.
I've been in this business (of starting a new political movement) for over 14 years and I can assure you that it is not a trivial exercise, particularly when my standards are FAR HIGHER than Anna's. He is talking about raising (or at least competing with) Rs. 10-15 crores per constituency. That's ILLEGAL. I hope he knows that!
Anna Hazare apparently does not for it is reported: "The activist also wondered how will they get funds for providing an alternative when Rs 10-15 crore is spent for each constituency."
To FTI the question of competing on political expenditure DOES NOT ARISE. FTI members will not spend ONE PAISA more than the official limit. I'm very, very fussy about every paisa spent for political purposes. That's why I have even questioned Arvind Kejriwal's and Kiran Bedi's expenses.
We are classical liberals. We do not disobey laws even though we know the law is bad. We are committed to changing bad laws through the parliament. Yes, there might be the need to break a particular law but that will be done with full advance notice and publicity (e.g. Gandhi's breaking the salt law). FTI has no intention at the moment to break any law. (Although I supported and continue to support JP's effort to break laws that prevent agricultural trade between states.)
In brief, FTI's standards are FAR HIGHER than any group in India. There can be no higher standard than ours. And we don't intend to rush into politics till all main preconditions are met.
Gadkari mentioned "the case of agriculturist and peasant leader Sharad Joshi, and said he had agitated well but flopped when he tried to run a political party."
Well, I am entitled to say that I helped Sharad Joshi get into national politics (here are links to the workshop I had organised) and raised funds for him. He finally managed to enter Rajya Sabha, primarily as a result of this work (but of course, he deserved his seat regardless of those who may have helped).
Sharaj Joshi is a GENIUS. A man of such outstanding calibre that NO ONE on the political stage in India comes even close. Joshi is a dedicated classical liberal, and his farmers movement was a movement for LIBERTY. The largest farmers movement in the world.
However, Sharad Joshi IS NOT CAPABLE of leading a national political party. For reasons I won't go into here, I quit my life membership of the party (Swatantra Bharat Party) which I had helped form and of which I was National Executive member. He is a genius, but has his limitations.
I have learnt not just from this (SBP) failure but from my other experiences over the past 14 years, and can confidently say that the FTI is the way to go. It is the model to ensure GOOD people, GOOD policy and GOOD strategy. It is the gold standard of politics.
And note, 2014 is DEFINITELY not the last chance to change India. Anna is getting old. He thinks everything is going to come to an end. But no. There will be MANY other chances. Yes, it is best to focus on 2014, but if that is not done properly, THEN even future chances (2019) will dissipate. FTI does not intend to lose its mind in a mad rush to contest (and fail). FTI's integrity of process and goals is not going to be thrown away unless there is clear due process of equal or higher standard.
So, welcome to the real world, Arvind and others of the dissolved Team Anna. Now you must at least establish standards equal to FTI's (or higher – but that is not possible) in order for there to be a discussion on policy.
YOUR KEY PROBLEM NOW IS HOW TO FIND GOOD PEOPLE. Well, FTI has a full fledged working model. Use it. And on policy there is NO better document than FTI's basic principles, and a policy framework that we are currently finalising (expected to be released next week).
I would encourage ex-Team Anna to check out FTI, and if satisfied, consider joining it. Then the policy debates can be expedited with the goal of generating a manifesto within one year.
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Related posts:
- Team Anna should keep Anna under check – good advice on Facebook
- Anna, please teach good parenting instead of beating people with a belt
- Glad to hear, finally, that IAC will enter politics. Let’s do a reality check of policies now.
- Finally Anna Hazare is talking some sense – the need for a new clean party
- Please do shut up, BJP. Regardless of its errors, Team Anna is 1000 times superior to you
- Please be clear: getting good people to contest elections in India is not enough
- OK, Anna, so you won’t start a party. Then support Lok Satta (and the Freedom Team)
- Some good people have woken up, but still a lot of them are making lame excuses
- Anna, your goals are good, and I’m glad you agree that a people’s party is needed. So let’s do it, but properly.
- How good people become bad: a visual demonstration
To spread the message of liberty and critical thinking, please share this post
Finally the harsh reality: Team Anna doesn’t know how to find good people http://t.co/ViXxdA7X #freedomteam
Finally the harsh reality: Team Anna doesn’t know how to find good people http://t.co/gK4nwU97
Rothbard: (writing about the political theories first penned by James Mill in the 1820 and 1830s, wrote:)
“All government, Mill pointed out, was run by the ruling class, the few who dominated and exploited the ruled, the many. Since all groups tend to act for their selfish interests, he noted, it is absurd to expect the ruling clique to act altruistically for the “public good.” Like everyone else, they will use their opportunities for their own gain, which means to loot the many, and to favor their own or allied special interests as against those of the public.”
Sardi: But surely Mr. Rothbard, there must be some collective, some way of pooling public money for the common good, let’s say to deliver health care. Such an effort cannot be characterized as selfish, can it?
Rothbard: Government, in its wisdom, perceives a problem (and Lord knows, there are always problems!). The government then intervenes to “solve” that problem. But lo and behold! instead of solving the initial problem, the intervention creates two or three further problems, which the government feels it must intervene to heal, and so on toward socialism…. We stand at the seemingly inexorable brink of fully socialized medicine, or what is euphemistically called “national health insurance.”….
http://lewrockwell.com/sardi/sardi229.html
How can anyone honestly accept the fact that people who rules us will be trustworthy and honest? No amount of checks and balances will ever lead to honest govt. It is in the very nature of govt to be corrupt.
Anna Hazare and co are clueless which is not surprising and finally have fallen for the temptation of political power.
2014 Elections in India has the potential to bring on the Real Change from the stagnation.
I am of the opinion that the Election Commissioner allocate a fund for the Political Parties and candidates.Any excess spending becomes accountable as it is common mans fund.
Yes Annaji and his truth crusaders have fallen prey to the power itself.Of not being able to align mutli faceted approach towards building base.
Keep up the good work you are doing.
Cheers
Sauman
Thanks. Note that EC does NOT have any funds for political parties, etc. There is no possibility of state funding of elections at the moment since no major group is advocating it (it will harm them since good people will start contesting elections).
The preparatory work needs leaders, who are very insufficient. Indians like to criticise from outside. Don’t like to actively change things. Hence don’t expect any miracles in 2014.
I am still of the opinion that by merely enabling more urban middle class citizens to vote a big dent can be made into existing parties prospects. You dont need some big social revolution. Just get the middle class to vote. Not easy, but if done, can cause a big change by itself. Getting a voters ID and then finding the right booth and take day off to come and vote are all proving to be hassles. The powers -in-be wont even consider e-voting as it would ruin their chances.
Iam lamenting about this again and again because, I see a ready “market” for FTI/Loksatta already in the urban middle class. They dont have to be sold on all these anti-corruption, liberal policies etc.They already know it. So you need to first find a way to consolidate this customer base first before you make the extra effort to reach out to villages.If instead of 50% polling, you get say, 80% polling in all major cities/towns because of the middle class, that by itself would ensure attention for FTI, even if they dont win seats.
Can the FTI/Loksatta volunteers organize a movement to get voters ID easily and get voter’s roll for urban middle class voters in all major cities where they are planning to contest?Club it with your campaigning.
Enroll interested college students as well.Spreading awareness at the collegiate level will also pay dividends down the line.
Vijay, you are talking as if FTI is flooded with membership requests and volunteers. FTI has around 150 members with less than 40 who are active in some way. And less than 10 are truly active. So instead of preaching to an empty “crowd”, try joining in and DOING what you are suggesting.
And FTI has NO FUNDS. Its members keep contributing but NO ONE ELSE IN INDIA is interested.
So much for the great middle class who are apparently FTI’s “market”.
s
“And FTI has NO FUNDS. Its members keep contributing but NO ONE ELSE IN INDIA is interested.
”
I can do something about this rightaway and so will a lot of netizens like me if they knew you had a financial need. Please publicize this or see if you can have a secure online site with paypal or other type of donation modes(like netbanking NEFT). If you can rope in some NRIs interestedi n FTI they can set that up for you. If NRIs can resign their jobs in US and come support Team Anna, they should be able to do atleast this for you.
At the moment I cannot jump into FTI fulltime, but I maybe an “outside supporter”. I am sure you can find a lot of outside supporters like me with the right publicity. If you can find some legit NGOs to do this fund mobilization for you., even better.
Dont think Iam just throwing ideas out there or preaching. My intention is to help, but have my own limitations as do all of us. But fund donation is something I can help in my own small way.And it is something that will pick up even further if FTI starts getting into elections and need funds for campaigning etc.As a contributor I wont even demand to see full account summary of funds in your website or how you spent those funds.
You should also start thinking of asking for non-monetary help from volunteers. Maybe someone with a good web development background can freely use his/her expertise to setup a website that publicizes your agenda and also acts as a donation point. That would be a big help, better than just donating money even.
There could be many other non-monetary things like these too which culd help your cause more. Donating money is actually the easiest thing to do.
Also, now that you are tied up with Loksatta, use their cadres as well to further your cause. You can also recruit IAC volunteers, especially those dislllusioned by recent Team Anna’s developments
Actually what stops you from doing a regular job-ad type posting in all the usual sites and newspapers to enlist volunteers for FTI?
Dear Vijay
FTI has a bank account which lay dormant for a while and our Treasurer had to reapply to activate it. Please wait for the annual statement to be published. I’ll send out a request for donation once I’m satisfied that all financial processes are functioning properly.
And yes, we do have a “support us” page on FTI. Do check it out. You can become a Feeedom Partner (i.e. supporter). Our main goal at this stage is to find members. So anything you can do in that regard would be appreciated.
Regards
Sanjeev
Vijay, please help spread the msg about FTI. Everyone who agrees to FTI’s joining conditions can join.
s
Ads would need significant funds. Let’s wait for that to first happen (funds). I’m not pushing for funds till we can get our annual statement/s published. I’m more fussy about such things than anyone else. So currently we are simply seeking members through outreach events/internet.
Hi Sanjeev, me becoming a member would be far fetched now. But who knows what the future holds? I will try to help FTI in any other way I can.
Also, anyone with just good intentions should not (or should not be allowed) join FTI. I maybe supporting your cause, I might have good intentions forthe country, I may be a liberalist, but still I may not qualify to be a FTI member. I believe future FTI leaders should be recruited using some criteria. If they want to be leaders they need to be able to inspire others, have clear views, assert themselves when needed, dont hesitate about taking up responsibility for something etc. etc. If I view FTI as sme sort of political IIT, grooming leaders for the future, then the selection process has to be exquisite. I may/may not have the required skillsets/traits to qualify. Just saying.
FTI has very stringent criteria, and no one can become a full FTI member without being thoroughly checked. Pl. check FTI’s website for joining criteria. Having said that, there has to be a process of self-selection. Only once someone applies can the journey begin.