Mountain power structure: difficult to climb higher echelons

The world today runs on fight for power. Power has become an asset and people are going to do anything for want of power. In democracies power is held by elected government. In modern times nation has become the strongest power holder.

In a perfect democracy or in a perfect Communist state power is not concentrated but distributed. But it is not the practice followed by the power holders currently. Because the more it is distributed, more will be inequality and instability. Should the power be distributed or concentrated?

Historical perspective
When Humans use to live in groups as depicted in cave paintings around the world, the power is in the group. With time the size of the group increased and the power started to concentrate with cheifs of group or a tribe. With the rise of kingdoms, kings wielded power. Till that time the power power shifted away from individual. Lot of inequalities are developed at a result of stratification of society.

Magna carta is the first move in reversal of this power shift. Magna carta recognised the the equality for the first time since primitive times. Concentrated power started towards distribution from this instance.

Treaty of Westphilia locked the power with nation states with the emergence of sovereignty. The world is run by this concept of concentration of power by the nation state.

Power shifted to drift in two directions after the nodal point of Westphilian treaty. With the emergence of concept of rights, power shifted towards towards individuals. With the rise in domination of trade, concept of globalisation emerged, which led to shift of power towards supra nationality.

Pretty is like a 🗻 mountain. It is not evenly distributed between individual, local, regional, national, international holders. The nation state is welding the peak point of the mountain. With the existence of federal structure in some countries regional governments are holding similar power to that of national government. Rest all ( individual, local, and international ) institutions are on the slopes of the mountain.

Unless the distribution of power is flat, it is very difficult for common man to raise to the higher echelons of power. Unequal distribution of power is the main reason of inequality in the world. The distribution of power should start with decentralization. The local governments across the globe must be constitutionally recognised by their respective constitutions. The local governments must be provided with enough funds, functions and functionaries.
Let us make the world equal for everyone to live.

Let Democracy prevail

            In Indian democracy people elect government and so the governments have the legitimacy of people. The elected governments have the power to make laws and take administrative decisions which come under its ambit according to the constitution. From the very definition of democracy elected governments draw the authority to ‘administer the people’ from the people itself. So this concludes that the elected governments gain defacto (real or original) power in the subjects it is entitled to. The real power is attained from the feature “democracy” itself. So stripping a government of defacto powers of popularly elected government by higher government who enjoys dejure (nominal and legal) powers is against democracy.

           In Delhi people elected government so that they will be ruled by it. If the government of Delhi do not have the defacto powers in its sphere then what is the use of electing it by people. As it is elected by people Delhi government draws the authority from the people who have elected it and not by the debate whether it is union territory or state.

           Constitution i) allows minimal coordination in the whole nation, ii) specifies who has the power to make decision in a society, iii) limits the power of government, iv)fulfill the aspirations of society and v) expresses the fundamental identity of people(Indian). Constitution of India draws its legitimacy from people as they consensually accept it.

             Delhi High court has pronounced a verdict that Delhi being union territory the final authority rests with lieutenant governor. This interpretation is reflection of constitution specifying who has the power to make decisions but not reflecting the people’s legitimacy on it. This is an interpretation of constitution rather than the aspirations of people from whom the constitution draws it’s authority from. People of Delhi wanted to be ruled by a government of their choice(in the subjects it is entitled to do). People of delhi have elected a government to rule them for 5 years. Constitution says they are to be ruled by some other (LG) whom the people of Delhi have never endorsed. Here constitution is against the wishes of people. As lieutenant governor is taking over defacto power in every decision of government it reflects that he is against the wishes of the people. This results in decrease of legitimacy of constitution by the people. It is not good for the nation to take the authority on the people by saying constitution has granted me to rule over you. This is belittling constitution. Let democracy prevail.