Democracy for Sale: When Votes Are Bought, Not Earned. (From Thirumangalam- Madurai to Pensylvania).

 #565

2009 it all started- cash for votes. (Thirumangalam formula- byelection in state of TamilNadu)

Is this really where democracy has landed? I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the news. Elon Musk—of all people—offering $100 each to people who support Trump, endorse free speech, and stand up for the 2nd Amendment. At first glance, it seemed like a joke, something too absurd to be true. But here we are, watching a billionaire hand out money to push a political agenda. And no, this isn’t some backward electoral system in a developing country. This is the United States—the so-called leader of the free world. (As my American friends now describe as a New Emerging World and soon potentialy becoming a latest entry in to III world ). 

The sheer brazenness of it left me speechless. It was like déjà vu, taking me straight back to an infamous election episode in my home state of Tamil Nadu, India. In 2009, we witnessed something that forever stained the political landscape—the Thirumangalam election scandal. Candidates literally paid voters in cash—Rs. 500 per vote, neatly slipped into milk pouches and delivered to people's doorsteps. It didn’t matter whether you were rich or poor, everyone grabbed that cash like it was a godsend. It was a sham, a disgrace to the very concept of democracy. And yet, here we are, years later, watching the same kind of blatant voter manipulation unfold on the global stage.

What strikes me most is the eerie similarity in tactics. Elon Musk’s $100 giveaway for endorsing free speech and supporting Trump might not be as crude as stuffing cash into milk pouches, but the intention is identical—buying influence. It’s infuriating to see such tactics being normalized in supposedly mature democracies. It makes you wonder: how far have we really come? And more importantly, where are we headed?

In India, where this kind of vote-buying was pioneered, it’s easy to see the decay it leads to. Politics becomes transactional—votes are cast not out of belief in a vision for the country but for who can fill your pocket the fastest. Politicians no longer need to win hearts or minds. Why bother with policies or principles when cash works just fine? The alarming part is how fast this system can spiral into normalcy. What starts as an aberration soon becomes the playbook, and before long, the voters expect handouts as a given.

The parallels are impossible to ignore. Whether it’s Rs. 500 for a vote in India or $100 in the U.S. to endorse an agenda, the outcome is the same. People are manipulated, democracy is cheapened, and the rich and powerful tighten their grip on the system. It’s no longer about governance or creating a better society; it’s about keeping the wheels of influence and power turning—at any cost.

Take Kamala Harris’s platform, for example. She and the Biden administration have made sweeping promises, particularly targeting minority groups. Here's a shortlist:

1. $20,000 home subsidies for Black first-time home buyers.
2. Support for marijuana legalization, particularly benefiting Black communities hit hardest by the war on drugs.
3. Expanding social welfare programs to cover healthcare for all, forgiving student loans, and providing more federal aid.
4. Increased wages for low-income workers, promising a $15 minimum wage nationwide.
5. Climate change initiatives that include government spending on green jobs and technology.
6. Illegal Migrants can enjoy everything that America provides free- American women can get Abortions, Men can screw themselves (Kidding!!?). 
   
   
   

Now, compare this to Donald Trump's promises, which, despite the populist tone, still cater to certain groups:

1. Tax cuts for businesses and wealthy individuals to spur economic growth.
2. Second Amendment protection, reinforcing the rights of gun owners.
3. Immigration crackdowns, including border wall construction and limiting asylum.(Seriously, 20 Million people cracking down?).... 
4. Expanding energy production, focusing on oil and natural gas while rolling back environmental regulations.
5. Bringing jobs back to America by renegotiating trade deals.

Both candidates speak to their voter bases with broad promises, but the question remains—how much of this can realistically be accomplished when billions are pumped into these campaigns by the rich and famous? Will the promises made to ordinary voters take a back seat to the agendas of the wealthy donors who helped them get elected?

It’s not difficult to see who truly benefits when the system operates like this. The rich donors who funded the campaigns are likely expecting certain favors or policies that benefit them. If you’re a billionaire throwing millions into a campaign, are you really doing it out of the goodness of your heart? No, you're doing it because you want a return on that investment. And that return likely won’t come in the form of a $20,000 housing subsidy or student loan forgiveness for the average voter. It’ll come in tax breaks, deregulation, or policies that favor the very industries these donors control.

This makes me think about what authoritarian leaders like Putin, Xi, and Kim might say to their people. They’d point to the chaos of these democratic systems and say, "Look at that mess. Is this what you want? Leaders making false promises, handing out freebies, and driving the economy into the ground?” For them, this is a perfect opportunity to say, “Our system may not be perfect, but at least we don’t need to buy votes with cash.” And honestly, who could argue with them when democracy itself has become a transactional affair?

It’s also worth noting that this manipulation doesn’t just come from one side. Both left and right seem to engage in a race to the bottom, offering everything from free healthcare and student loan forgiveness to tax cuts for the rich. And while these handouts might be dressed up in political ideals, they serve the same purpose—to win votes, often without thought to the long-term consequences.

Churchill once famously said that "democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried." His words ring truer now than ever. Democracy is showing cracks, and those cracks are being exploited, not just by foreign adversaries but by the very people who claim to uphold its values. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to defend a system where votes are bought, not earned, where handouts replace honest political debate, and where billionaires pull the strings while the middle class and common man are left out to dry.

The frustration I feel isn’t just about the corruption of elections—it’s about the disillusionment of the people. In Tamil Nadu, people once looked to politicians to uplift their lives; now, they expect a payment. Sadly this trend has now extended to many Indian states. In the U.S., the promises of making America great again seem to come with a price tag that includes cash payments and policy giveaways. In both cases, voters aren’t truly being served—they’re being used.

At this rate, democracy is becoming indistinguishable from an auction, with the highest bidder walking away with the spoils. Whether it’s $100 from Musk or Rs. 500 from a local politician, the message is clear: your vote is for sale. And that’s a tragedy for any nation that values its freedom.

The challenge now is to break this cycle. We have to wake up to the reality that democracy isn’t just a tool for politicians to secure power—it’s supposed to represent the will of the people, not their wallets. If we don’t stop this transactional trend in its tracks, we risk losing the very foundation upon which democracy stands. The road ahead won’t be easy, but the alternative is far worse—a system where votes are bought and sold, and the only people who win are those who can afford to play the game. Oh Yes! I know it is easily said, than done!!! 

Let me know your thoughts/ comments.

Karthik.

20th Oct 2024, 1015am.