Mayor of New York is an elected office, reserved for a politician. Michael Bloomberg is the current occupier of this seat. Logic then dictates that Bloomberg is a politician, uncharacteristically, a billionaire before he became a politician. I wonder whether, in the aftermath of Irene, he is ruing the day he decided to run for this office. His problem? He may have done his job too well.
Alas, all of this preparation came to naught. Irene came into New York, sure, but not as a hurricane but as a mere tropical storm – a severe demotion. The damage the storm wreaked in the city has been assessed as much less than what was anticipated (anticipation = expectation + action plan).
Now, the mayor, the politician, is under fire for “over reacting”. Bloomberg was preparing himself to avoid a Katrina, but women being fickle and foxy, Irene handled him deftly, leaving him gasping for political breath.
Now, you tell me, had you been the mayor of New York, how would you have reacted? Would you have remembered Katrina? Would you have risked the lives of the citizens by not being prepared? That is, what would you have settled for, false positives or false negatives?
If this is so for a relatively predictable natural event like a hurricane, how would you respond to an earthquake prediction? Would you, as a politician, then wish that earthquake prediction is an eternal stillborn?
Being a politician is not easy but the position is an easy target.
Given the above, will you still want to be a politician?
Raghuram Ekambaram
8 comments:
We Indians are used to catos- trophies.We never overreact;as we can not afford to.We learn to keep a stiff upper lip and bear it out.They have invested so much on safety measures that they have to try them out some time.Any way I pity the mayor- damned if they do and damned if they don't.In India it is the other way round .The people are any way damned if politicians act and damned if they don't.Any way they have a collective neurosis when it comes to safety.
I do not want to be a politician anyway,Raghuram...the role takes away one's independence of thought and freedom of inquiry...but to politics and society: the democratic system leaves many politicians open to unfair criticism...the democratic world does become a system where many sit in smug and unfair judgement of politicians but will not themselves be politicians, or even be involved in public life - and yet would have politicians and others solve their problems...so many politicians play it safe - be a do-nothing politician and often you can't go wrong...
DS sir, that is one the bet comments you have made on any post of mine. It has elements of cynicism, sarcasm and most of all, unvarnished truth. The way you out it, visitng the fate of the American politician on Indian people - that is really, really true. It is bound to find its way into one of my subsequent posts. I am taking your permission.
Raghuram Ekambaram
Now Raj, I understand how Democracy moves at snail's pace - blame the politican and also the people, both justifiable.
Criticism for not doing is almost always milder than for doing something, anything. This is absolutely true.
Raghuram Ekambaram
But how many politicians (especially in India) act like Bloomberg? Most of our politicians would let nature work her way out, though a few easy steps would, of course, be taken - just to show people!
Matheikal,
That is true, but not with Indian politicians exclsuively. Look at European, Australians, US politicians, on matters like global warming, helping those affected by the financial meltdown (except the financiers and bankers), khap panchayats, Chinese and Russian oligarchy. It is the same everywhere.
By the way, did you know that Russia divorecd BP and embraced Exxon Mobile for Rosnfet gas deal, at the flick of a switch? Politicians know which side of their bread is buttered. But, if they dared to lick the other side of the bread like what Bloomberg tried, he will be brought down immediately and mercilessly.
Raghuram Ekambaram
I experienced Irene and Kattina, first hand. I live in the DC metro area and was in Jackson, Mississippi when Katrina hit. Add a 5.9 shaker a few weeks ago. Lucked all times. All of that still does not make me want to be a politician :)
Check out your horoscope Amrit! Must be worth its weight in Gold! No wonder you do not want to be a politicain. But then, what do you say for those who do dare that space?
Not eternal yet knee-jerk condemnantion, surely?
Raghuram Ekambaram
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