180. Indian politicians are prime examples
Samuel Johnson famously stated in 1775 that "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel," criticizing how self-serving individuals exploit patriotism, not true love of country, often linked to political hypocrisy.
Johnson criticized individuals who conceal their selfish motives behind patriotism, exploiting it as a convenient excuse or refuge to dodge accountability or justify questionable actions, instead of demonstrating genuine, selfless love for their country.
And a real patriot has no need to announce it, but scoundrels have to because their patriotism is limited to becoming a politician and looting the country.
George Bernard Shaw took the phrase to the next level when he declared, "Politics is the last resort of the scoundrel." It suggests that corrupt or incompetent individuals enter politics to hide their failings, secure power, or escape accountability.
Shaw’s variation specifically focuses on the political arena as a refuge for dishonest, incompetent individuals.
In the modern world, politicians are clever and manipulate emotions. However, in a democracy like India, the quality of politicians reflects the quality of the electorate.
Anyway, to get to the point, Indian politicians are recognized worldwide for their distinctive qualities and clever conduct, where morality has no place. Let me tell you a recent example.
Azruddin Mohamed, a 38-year-old Guyanese businessman facing extradition to the US on charges of gold smuggling and money laundering, has been elected as the country's opposition leader.
This happened six months after he founded a political party that quickly became the second-largest in the country.
He became Guyana’s opposition leader after 16 members of the We Invest in Nationhood party (WIN) and one from a single-seat group voted for him, even while a magistrate’s court considers the state’s case for his extradition to the US.
The US Treasury Department has sanctioned Mohamed and his father for allegedly smuggling more than 10,000 kilograms of gold from Guyana to the US and evading more than $50 million in taxes.
The family was among Guyana’s largest gold buyers and exporters. They also operated a highly successful foreign exchange outlet and owned substantial real estate.
Authorities have closed all their businesses and commercial bank accounts following the announcement of sanctions.
And Mohamed has taken a cue from Indian politicians, where a politician is never found guilty because judges take years to ultimately declare them guilty.
He stated that a person is innocent until proven guilty when discussing the potential extradition of himself and his father.
He argued that the attempts to exile him are largely because WIN is effectively opposing the ruling People’s Progressive Party, which is why they are targeting him.
The second clue Mohamed has taken from Indian politicians is more interesting.
In India, all politicians say they are in politics because people want them to be. They never admit the fact that they are useless and unfit for any other profession, yet still want to be rich and powerful, so they are in politics.
Mohamed says, “I announced my candidacy because of the people of this country. The people asked me. I would not have had any court issues if I had not contested this election. I am ready to serve the people of this country.”
House Speaker Manzoor Nadir is in a fix.
He publicly voiced his discomfort regarding Mohamed’s election, stating he felt conflicted about overseeing the appointment of a fugitive as the opposition leader. Despite this, he still congratulated Mohamed on winning.
Now, politics has shifted from being a last resort to the first refuge for such individuals, serving as a shield against legal, financial, or moral accountability.