tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post114867829427603385..comments2023-11-19T00:42:48.156-08:00Comments on balancing life: Participatory democracySunilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07776658071546232685noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post-1149042262988913342006-05-30T19:24:00.000-07:002006-05-30T19:24:00.000-07:00Raj.....yes, good points.....even the finance bill...Raj.....yes, good points.....even the finance bill is passed without much discussion. And what you point out about assembly sessions in TN is very unfortunate. I though was talking of democracy at a local level, where really the local citizen can be involved in projects that will affect him/her visibly and directly, in his/her own locality. Too bad that even that is missing.<BR/><BR/>Ashok....welcome, and visit often.Sunilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07776658071546232685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post-1148805759867365842006-05-28T01:42:00.000-07:002006-05-28T01:42:00.000-07:00hi sunil, first time here...interesting writeups.....hi sunil, first time here...interesting writeups...cheers!ashokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07151604896442505084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212356.post-1148718956733716492006-05-27T01:35:00.000-07:002006-05-27T01:35:00.000-07:00I agree with you. We seem to believe that exercisi...I agree with you. We seem to believe that exercising our franchise at the polls, once in 5 years, is all there is to democracy. We place our blind faith on the elected representatives, and expect them to engage in parliamentary debates to weigh the pros and cons of any proposal and take informed decisions. This never happens. Even the Finance Bill can be passed through without so much as a discussion. In states such as TN, oppostion leaders do not even attend the assembly sessions. The concept of participatory or consultative democracy simply does not exist.Rajhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09367344161081393779noreply@blogger.com