A NICE column by CHETAN BHAGAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. A politician’s job | We are still confused about what we really expect from a politician. A politician’s job is to be a leader and take policy decisions in the best interest of the nation. It is not to be a saint. Politicians need to make decisions of immense consequence, and there is no doubt we need world-class people for the job. If we don’t reward political positions the way top talent is rewarded in other sectors, we will a) not get the best people as they’d have less incentive to take up a political career and b) the tendency to be corrupt will be higher. Let’s face it — good, sensitive and honest people also want a good life for themselves and their families.

              And as long as they do a stellar job, there is no reason to comment on their personal consumption patterns or point a finger at perks that are equivalent to those for similar positions in other sectors. Yes, it may add to a politician’s greatness in some people’s eyes if he/she lives a simple life. But it is a personal choice and frankly not the reason to give him the job. Offer him sainthood, maybe.

2. Real Austerity| This is not even being discussed. In the past few days, we have seen some of our politicians indulge in gimmickry as if they were on an extreme-austerity reality show (not a bad concept actually!). What worries me is: Do they really feel they are making a difference by not taking that travel upgrade? Even if all our Lok Sabha MPs stay permanently in a five-star hotel, the cost will be around Rs 160 crore/year ( Rs 8,000/night; 550 multiplied by 365). By no means am I suggesting they do this, but this amount is only 0.01% of government spending (Rs 1,000,000 crore) every year. And since the current perks are not nearly as lavish, to scale them down is going to make no material difference. Yes, it will be symbolic.

                   However, I think the younger generation is quite sick of symbolic gestures (that includes erecting statues that cost more than universities, by the way). Real austerity (and real cash generation) can come from three main items: a) cutting down government debt – our interest burden is close to a thousand crores a day and is the real reason for crippling inflation; b) cutting down defence expenditure — a mere 1% cut in defence budget means Rs 1,400 crore; and c) the government shifting base, at least partially, from the superprime real estate areas it occupies around the country to the suburbs, selling that land and using the money to improve its finances. In fact, the rental equivalent of government accommodation for many bungalows is far in excess of what it will cost for the resident to stay in a fivestar hotel for the year. Of course, these are real austerity measures. They improve the actual numbers of our debt-ridden economy but have less emotional value. They don’t quite match exciting visuals of an MP sitting in economy class and drinking lemonade just like you do. But get real, we are going to enter a debt trap very soon if we don’t fix our finances. And that will mean no money left for the next generation.

3. Sense of humour| We just don’t have it. I know some may see it as a trivial point, but a poor sense of humour is endemic to our older generation. Get a grip, guys! All over the world, economy class is referred as cattle class. It doesn’t refer to the people, it refers to how airlines pack people in like sardines. And I think comparing people who are travelling economy only for holier-than-thou reasons as holy cows was pretty funny. That’s it. Why slam Tharoor for it? A sense of humour is vital for a country like India, where there are so many differences between people. A good laugh over some minor issues today is better than daggers drawn in the future. Don’t be serious. Be sincere. There is a difference.
    

                 Fact is, people like Tharoor are rare in Indian politics. Which other politician has the courage to give updates on his daily activities to people? If we slam him for a witty one-liner, and judge him on it, we as Indians are only harming ourselves. If we lose Tharoor — and let some fake, Mahatma Gandhi-wannabe who doesn’t understand progress in the modern world take precedence because he likes to live cheap — we will be pushing India backwards a little. And that is something we simply cannot afford to do, right?
   

 Chetan Bhagat is a best-selling author. His newest book is ‘2 States: The Story of My Marriage’