The Government We Deserve

Context: The problem of political malaise lies not with the parliamentary system but with the political culture of the country.

Faults of the Parliamentary System

• The propensity of lawmakers to defect policy-making in search of perks and offices.
• Lack of interest on the part of the executive and the legislature in policymaking and legislation.
• Lawmakers are focused more on politics of retaining or capturing power and personal aggrandisement (an act of increasing in size).

Counter-Argument against Presidential System: A deeper political malaise is present in the Indian Political culture and the Parliamentary System is not all at fault. 

• Lack of ideological commitment/ political principles paves the way for venal politics (open to corrupt influence) - making them vulnerable to defection and party-hopping.
• Flawed political culture: Misplaced and highly distorted public priorities are employed while exercising their voting rights by the citizens.
• For E.g. Voting choices based on communal, caste and other primordial considerations.
•  Voter’s response to emotional appeals at the cost of public needs and services.
• Executive-legislature deadlock can occur as a result of competitive buying will invalidate the basic principles of separation of powers and checks and balances.
• Communal and caste considerations paying a crucial role in Indian politics
• It is utopian to assume that the president will choose his cabinet based primarily on considerations of merit.
• Encourage even more irresponsible behaviour by elected legislators, especially those belonging to opposition parties, in an absence of viable party structure.
• Legislatures in the presidential system will become infinitely worse with the characteristics of rubber-stamping bodies.

Conclusion: Misplaced voter priorities and the ingrained venality of the political class are the root causes of the political malaise and not particular forms of government.