Waiting For A Free Kick
All the while, it is busy getting other players. In its manifesto, the party seems to have created one new executive post -- G.O.D. It presumably stands for The Greatest Orderly Dispenser, as this is what the manifesto suggests. It all stems out of the laudable desire to help the unincorporated businesses in the economy partnerships and sole proprietors who, according to the BJP, account for 80 per cent of total gross domestic savings and probably three-quarters of its supporters. The BJP wants this section, ignored by everybody else, to become part of the formal economy and be able to borrow at rates at which the Ambanis and Bajajs pay, be able to secure tax deductions for joint family expenditures and money donated to religious places that feed people. The fear of G.O.D is more than the fear of the tax authorities and the government, the manifesto says to justify the tax deduction.
The BJP hopes for this new office of the Greatest Orderly Dispenser cabinet rank, at least stems from the belief that unlike rent and petrol receipts, the people, out of fear of God, wont forge and produce fake temple or mosque receipts.
Even if honesty from G.O.Ds new taxpayers is assumed, can we assume that the new collectors of these taxes will actually put this money to good use apart from free lunches another concept that the BJP seems to believe in? The party rationalises this by saying that this would reduce leakage from anti-poverty schemes since this would deal directly with target groups. This may sound laudable to its supporters looking to enrich themselves without carrying much of a guilty conscience, but just from a developmental point of view, it does little to encourage sustainable development and provide skills by which people can grow or pay for their own food. This religious approach to the welfare state seems to be an excuse to institutionalise beggars and make the poorest people more dependent on religion.
What is remarkable about the BJP policy is its sharp focus left of centre. Apart from the new revenue secretary, it wants a bank for unincorporated concerns one can almost imagine, the think-tank arguing that all the areas have been already earmarked except for the Lakshadweep Development Bank and thus it was better to target a class of people. How convenient it should be to the people who support the party! While the bank is a good idea, the management of such an enterprise is likely to be an administrative nightmare and subsequent party statements may contain a Unincorporated Asset Reconstruction Bank if it is not careful in how it implements such a proposal.
And while nationalism is big in the industrial policy Rahul Bajaj and his Bombay Club posse must be pleased with their influence the models of Japan and Korea which the BJP wants to follow may not be the ideal ones. No doubt these countries, with their nationalist tendencies, are the perfect role model for the BJPs policies, but it must know that this process of in-breeding and cross-ownership of companies and the close links with the financial system can and has spelt disasters for these countries. Both may have world-class companies with huge balance sheets and brands but these have become big despite the handicaps. Perhaps, because of the kereitsu and chaebol cultures, the industrial structure is too inter-dependent and the financial system often put in distress when one big group flounders. As for the business culture and corruption that goes with it, it is surprising that the BJP should even consider such a system. Where the BJP again veers to the right is in labour policies ports, the manifesto says,
can shed labour; its disinvestment policies have also put RSS-affiliated unions on alert to watch for attacks down the right wing.
What it really wants to be is Brazils Ronaldo, who as one of his sponsor Nike says, is the footballer God would create. Ronaldo personifies power, style and leadership and is a centre forward. Despite tugs here and there, thats where it wants to go and score a goal. Left foot or right foot isnt important. Even a header would do.