Maybe I’m in a mood where I can’t see any good in politicans, but this is another thing about them that pisses me off. When the mess gets bad, quit and leave it for the person following to clean up the crap.
One big change I think the Indian Govt needs is permanent tenures for some posts at least, where people can’t simply walk away from the consequences of their actions when the going gets bad or at the end of five years, the last part of which is obviously spent in farewell mode. That’s too much time wasted and too little ownership. A good business wouldn’t run like that. Why a country?
My opinion is that ok, he has screwed up. So what can he do to make it better, how can we support him, and how can we use this remorse for something better than admitting failure?
Is it possible that all this strong sentiment of not having lived up to the mark can now be the driving force for getting things up to the mark?
That would help the country more. It would also help the self-image of the poor guy. It is immensely satisfying to set things to rights, certainly more so than walking away defeated amid criticism.
In his place, I’d start moving toward changes for the better and NOT leave until kicked out. Even then I’d probably be willing to beg for a chance. My ego is not as important as well being and good old hardwork toward it.
So yes, in a way, I’m supporting the poor guy, saying that mistakes happen however horrific, and rather than admit that a mistake is the best we can do, perhaps we can show our capacity to learn from them see what these guys say. The next guy to walk in will be as complacent as the others, unless they live through the consequences of their complacency and stay in there and fight on when things go wrong.
I agree with you on principle. It’s better to keep the guy who has learnt from defeat than waste the experience on symbolic gestures. But in this particular case, I don’t think Shivraj has or will ever learn anything.
Do you know who he met on his way home…
Shivraj Patil debates with Sardar Vallabhai Patel on who was the better home minister. Check http://www.rameshsrivats.net/2008/12/shivraj-patil-versus-sardar-patel.html