For A New Moral Consensus

New Delhi: May 25, 2008
The ongoing violent agitation by Gujjars in Rajasthan for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes only illustrates the perverse nature of such "preferential policies".

The classic book on the subject is by Thomas Sowell, the great African-American scholar. Read a review here. I quote one para:

“By preferential policies, Sowell means “government-mandated policies toward government-designated groups,” policies “which legally mandate that individuals not all be judged by the same criteria or subjected to the same procedures when they originate in groups differentiated by government into preferred and non- preferred groups.”

Such policies invariably divide society – and, what is worse, increase the economic stake that people have in government.

It is another instance of economic outcomes being determined by politics: the ugly politicization of economic life.

What should be the stand of India’s liberals on this issue?

Liberals must establish a new moral consensus in India – one that considers gains through markets highly moral (shubh laabh) while labeling gains through government action and politics as immoral.

Our idea of good government is one that upholds general rules that are applicable to all: an “equal justice"; not “social justice”.

We must convince the poor that they are poor because of the repressive, socialist and isolationist policies of the government, and that they will gain much more in a liberal order.

We must convince them that a regime of khulla dhanda will lead to a better life for all – and, further, that a life spent in government service (as a servant of the minister) is a wasted life, wasted in ‘misproductive’ activities like corruption. Such employment destroys the very character of the individual. We must convince all the hordes of Class IV and Class III government employees that they should abandon government service for khulla dhanda.

We must convince them that khulla dhanda and mukt vyapaar with save their souls. This should be the basis of a new moral consensus.

It may sound like a tall order, but it isn’t. After all, reservations will not benefit all Gujjars: only a small fraction will gain. The fact that the politicians gain more than the targeted beneficiaries is amply proved by Sowell in his little book, which is a must read for all Dalits and Gujjars.

Note that the NREGA and reservations both increase the stake poor people have in this inept and corrupt government.

This socialist government rests on three chakkars:

Note ka chakkar
Vote ka chakkar
Aur naukri ka chakkar

Lekin inka note jaali, inka vote bhi jaali, and inka naukri hai chori-chamari.

Onwards to a new moral consensus!

Also read my “The Purpose of Politics”.

And some sher-shayari of recent vintage.