Vicious circle

The first time that I had come across the words 'Vicious Circle' was when I had read the Ogden Nash poem in my 8th or 9th standard. This is how it goes...

"And this, O Fate, is I think the most vicious circle that thou ever sentest,
That Man has to go continually to the dentist to keep his teeth in good condition
when the chief reason he wants his teeth in good condition
is so that he won’t have to go to the dentist."

Several years later, the best place that I think this word fits is in the politics of politics. I will explain what I mean with the example of the state which I stay in - Karnataka. Half a decade back, Bangalore was seen as the fastest growing IT city in the country. People were talking about it as the next big metro and the place to be in if you want to make it big. 

However, in the last five years, the state has been in the news for mostly wrong reasons. The infrastructure has crumbled, there have been fancier taxes introduced, crime has increased and overall the city and the state have lost the initial sheen. The primary reason for this I feel is the state government. 

The state was already going downhill when HD Kumaraswamy took over as the CM. However, he and his ministers just accelerated the whole process. They had a clear agenda, fleece the state with whatever money it has made and get out. Illegal contracts were signed, big deals were struck, dubious companies were given out contracts and in the process the state of the state and the city were completely ignored. Put together every problem in any of the state across the country and you will witness the unison of all of them in Karnataka. So how is it a vicious circle you may ask. This is how. 

Politics these days is one of the best professions to be in. It offers instant riches (if you win the elections that is). However, like most businesses it demands initial investment also. So you have the parties pumping several thousand crores, the seasoned politicians putting in several hundred crores and the new ones putting in a couple of crores (that figure has started sounding alarmingly small!!). Where does this money go? In canvassing, buying illicit liquor/gifts, transporting man power and muscle power, offering huge bribes and so on. So this is about investment, where is the income I hear you ask!

The income is when you have won the election. Then you have the state at your mercy. You slowly start taking the money out of the system. Every deal gets you the share, every big project sanctioned fills up the coffer. Development of the state as promised takes a back seat, development of the personal fund account becomes priority. We ask why do you do this? You say, can't help it, we invested so much, somewhere we have to make the money, right. 

Imagine the money floating around when you have 50 crores and a ministerial berth being offered to some independent MLA so that he can give the required numbers to make it to the state government. Imagine the state of affairs when the election commission has to declare dry day a day before the voting, hoping the parties don't promise liquor and get bogus votes! 

This is not just happening here. Its what happening everywhere. The politicians are thinking of innovative things to sell and make money. And I fear, the day is not far when they will run out of things to sell. Only to then sell even the houses that we stay in! Ya ok, that was too cynical. But believe me, its coming. 

The vicious circe of going back to the dentist could be stopped. May be by being careful about your dentures. But the vicious circle of politics, I am afraid my friend, will probably never stop. Unless there is another Gandhi sitting out there!