The Three Questions

Published: Daily Outlook Afghanistan 20.01.2014
http://outlookafghanistan.net/topics.php?post_id=9160

One day it occurred to a King that if he only knew the answers to three questions, he would never fail in any matter. The questions were: What is the best time to do something? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at any given time?

The Emperor issued a decree throughout his kingdom announcing that whoever could answer these questions would receive a great reward. Many made their way to the palace at once, each person with a different answer. The Emperor however, was not pleased with any of the answers, and no reward was given.

After several nights, the Emperor decided to visit a hermit who lived up on the mountain and was said to be an enlightened man. Once before him he pleaded for answer to three questions that none could give a satisfying reply. With folded hands he begged to know: the best time to do something, the most important people to work with and the most important job at any times?

The present moment is the only time over which any one has control. The most important person is always the person with whom you are, who is right before you. The most important pursuit is making that person, the one standing by your side, happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life. That was Leo Tolstoy telling us eternal wisdom in most simple words.

Let us ask three similar questions a nation or a country faces?

What do citizens expect from the Government? What does the Government expect from the citizens? Between these expectations how can one marry the possibility where each side comes out a winner?

A very simple answer from the view of citizens is good governance. From the government’s perspective it is continuous support from the citizens so that the government of the day remains in power almost for indefinite period. Both sides are demanding something which is rational and possibly definitely achievable. None of the side seemingly is asking for the moon. The product being demanded is good governance and the price is patronage. Where is the problem then?

Seen from the “Government of the day” perspective, simple as it may appear the idea of “good governance” in itself throws immense challenges. It has different meanings for different segments of the society. While the rural areas crave for basic infrastructure, on the urban areas wish list is up gradation of existing infrastructure that can shoulder the increasing pressure of continuous invasion of migrating population that strain its infrastructure. Rural areas would be probably contended with decent employment opportunities, basic health, sanitation and access to primary education and controlled inflation on the whole. The urban centres on the other hand are more concerned about law and order, access to economic opportunities through expanding industries, trade, commerce and a quality of life that would enable them to become national assets and engines of economic growth. They are also concerned about environmental degradation, clean water and air, social security and the likes.

The challenges before the Government are numerous. For instances they come in the hues of integration of the poor and marginalized, equitable distribution of National wealth, transparency and civic engagement, and capacity building to say the least. On the social and political fronts Governments face groups who are proponents of transfer of certain powers and responsibilities and decision-making close to the scene of action and their devolution, arguing merits of larger and more meaningful participation by citizens in the development process.

There is something about the human personality that craves freedom, creativity, autonomy and human dignity. Governments are tempted to have everything controlled and dictated and to have a system where people do not challenge their leaders and express their minds at the drop of hat. Here lies the contradiction between those who govern and those who are governed. Sometimes even if the Governments wish to be inclusive, interest groups blind their ways. This leads to dissent often culminating into different shades of violence. Somewhere down the line the Government’s communication fails. Further, Governments rarely have sufficient resources and technology to collect desegregated local level data and maintain a database. Hence, data on various aspects and performance parameters is difficult to collect. In the absence of such dynamic data they lose the feel of the changing ground realities.

The challenge of the “Government of the day” therefore, is to respond to sentiments in the markets, in living rooms, near tea stalls, on the roads, in the restaurants and all the places where people converse. Challenge is to create space and voice to all its stakeholders through inclusive decision-making, since such decision-making is at the heart of good governance and brings governments close to its innate wish of remaining in power. The policy making in a country committed to the rule of law and democratic principles therefore faces the challenge of involving a large number of people who represent the entire population, and hence, making all of the voices heard and assimilated.

Democracy in some way helps solve this dilemma. However, the tendency is to equate democracy with one day affair of elections - this is not so. Voters go to the polls to express their preferences towards parties and make their favoured parties and individual candidates win once in five years or whatever period of time for term of office a Government follows. This should not end here. Citizens should make this more meaningful by participating in day today affairs. Public engagement can begin with staying informed about what is going around in our neighbourhoods and the policies that are important at household level. In the information age, not being aware has consequences.

The politicians on the other hand being intelligent learners should keep their ears tuned. In doing so, they can shape the agenda with their immense power of galvanising masses. Once this is done a two-way communication system is established. The strength of this two way communication system is the secret behind staying in power by the governments of the day and ensuring “good governance” for the good of citizens.

Sadly, everybody wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die. But this has to change because if we continue waiting for some magical power to end our miseries, that will never happen -in any case magic gives temporary elation. We ourselves must change, and see the sense in doing so. Voting wholeheartedly in elections is one such beginning towards owning a system that shapes our present as well as the future. Next in line is the internalization of the virtue of tolerance to divergent views among groups that appreciate the trade-offs towards a goal of common good. This applies to both the Politicians as well as Citizens. In nutshell, making Politics as representative as possible is the job of the Politician while making governance as participative as possible is the duty of the citizens.

Here lie the answers to our questions that promise a perfect happy marriage between citizens and the government.