The State

Some individuals tend to speak precisely what they mean. It is an art to communicate your thoughts clearly. An interview appeared in Times of India wherein author Ms Arundati Roy spoke about how on its own State can’t be Moral is worth reading.

Birth of a State has been ancient. Previously, they were called Kingdoms / Fiefdoms and ruled by Kings. Off late, the kingship is replaced by State and elected representatives collectively Govern it.

However, experience has taught power has the ability to unleash itself and cause serious problems. Power unknowingly conquers its carrier. The rider suddenly becomes the driven.

The reason for power causing problem, can be attributed to “The disappearance of a sense of responsibility ……………………..”

In this context I wish to reproduce a statement by Ms Roy from the interview about how to have a dialogue with the State continuously:

“I don’t think a State can be moral—it can be forced by its people to take moral actions. That’s why it’s important where you position yourself. It’s important to police the state, to challenge it continuously—not because you’re just a knee-jerk, rebellious character, but because power must be kept on a short leash. That’s the holding position. I believe that’s what many of the various resistance movements in India are about – that constant challenge to the state. That’s of course not counting those who wish to overthrow the state. The BJP may have won the elections – but there’s a constant challenge, a constant vigilance. In itself, the state cannot be moral because the state holds power. It will misuse that power. There can’t be a benevolent, moral state.”

Let’s realize that we form the State and we have to be more responsible and vigil.

On a different note i believe that today the actions are required more on the Corporate front as the CEO's have attained unbridled power. The staff are more of aggravating the power of CEO by supporting and not questioning. What is applicable to a State is applicable more to Corporations.

References:

The disappearance of a sense of responsibility…: http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/134222.Stanley_Milgram

Interview: http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/the-interviews-blog/i-know-why-youve-come-to-radicalise-me-snowden-said-arundhati-roy/