Who can seize moral high ground in K’taka?

A certain amount of intensionalism (also spelt intentionalism) is inevitable, of course, in news reporting. Certain events have aroutine quality about them, in that the routine expectations on thebasis of which a reporter makes his enquiries are fulfilled byunstartling and routine facts.

Nevertheless, to be constantly on guardagainst intensionalism, to be aware of the nature of the abstractingprocess, to be aware of the endless variety and complexity of humanevents, are necessary for the reporter.

In the first place, thesesemantic cautions make a reporter or commentator less 'authoritative.'Furthermore, they give him the means whereby his news reports becomefar more interesting. The interest is in the difference between oneaccident and the other, one boat tragedy and the other and one murder(of democracy) and the other. The extensional attitude alerts one tothese crucial differences. This is fairly common in journalism i.e.,
if one pursues it truthfully enough.

The terms “functionalist” and “intentionalist” describe one of themost enduring examples of historikerstreit (historian’s debate) withinHolocaust history. Within the framework of an historical narrative,there is always a debate between the significance of the willpower andactions of the individual in shaping historical developments –intentionalism – versus the constraints created by objective, whatKershaw calls, “structural determinants” – functionalism. In thiscase, one school argues that the Holocaust should primarily beexplained through the decision-making and willpower of Hitler. Theother suggests that the entangled structure of the Reich, Hitler’spitting of departments and agents against one another, and the
advocacy of individual, Nazi ideological enterprises (the processKershaw termed “working to the Fuhrer”) were the dominant factors.

Applying similar yardsticks, how is one supposed to judge the'Kar-Nataka'. Media is clearly ranged on either side of the facttrying to impress upon the world what it perceives as truth. Inattempting to stitch Narendra Modi/Amit Shah combine with aconspiratorial thread, the anti-BJP media with a fair bit of help fromthe powers-that-be from several corners, has opted to look at theintentionalism whereas the pro-BJP media is exploring the avenues ofstructural determinants or the aspects of functionalism.

Several parties have jumped into the fray. BSP, TMC, CPI(M), CPI,Congress, SP, TDP and TRS have all preferred to take on BJP by callinga spade a spade, but with a shade of a difference. Composite numbers
count for these parties in extending support to JD(S). Now what is theJD(S) arguing about and against. horse trading?

What is the problem with horse trading? It is difficult. One could nottruthfully sell a horse and yet make money. The buyer is the loserwhen profitability matters for the seller. The drama in the SouthernState did not start with the BJP falling short of the majority numberand staking claim to form the government on the strength of its singlelargest party status. It began with the Congress initiating the horse-trading offering JD(S) the Chief Ministership along with a dozen andmore Cabinet positions. In turn, the Congress is to secure about ascore or so Cabinet berths.

Now comes the charge that the BJP is ready to poach. Now it is noteasy to talk sense always. Let us return to the essentials of theworld of Sherlock Holmes. But where the morality of Holmes was a
morality shared with all right-thinking men, the morality of Sam Spadeand Philip Marlow is private, unshared and unspeakable (both aredetectives by the by). Nevertheless, the morality of Sam Spade exists
– or at least, we are so led to believe.

It is all a matter of choice that one's mind makes. Is not it so? Asfor the people, the choice is perhaps too limited. They tried theirbest to elect their rulers so that they could be ruled for the nextfive years. Having burdened those elected with such a tonne is not itfair on our part to wait and see how they plan to do so?

TheAdministration of the East India Company began thus: "We traded, weconquered, we governed. It was long before this matter of governmentcame very palpably before us.

At first, all that we had to do was to
govern ourselves, and this we did in a very loose manner-ratheraccording to laws of power and impulses of passion than to principlesof justice and reason.But, these leaders all, whose path conducts them through a regionstrewn with temptations and the debased spirit of this generation makethem fall easy victims of impulse and ambition.

These are all trulyself-made men and women who have thrown their hats into the Karnatakaring. It is anyway futile to expect them to be of such mental andmoral equipment for honest administrative work as might be looked forfrom one whose intellect is chastened by refinement.Hence, there are bargains galore everywhere. Everyone involved in'Kar-Nataka' today is wheeler-dealer.

Either they are resorting tohorse trading now or have already done in in the past. Don't seek tofind the purest and the cleanest among this rot. It is leastdesirable. After all, a butterfly at best is a caterpillar drest.

A bribe is described by the lexicographer as 'a price, reward, gift orfavour bestowed or promised with a view to pervert the judgment orconduct of a voter or other person in a position of trust' andcorruption signifies the inducting a violation of duty by means ofpecuniary considerations.

From the period of establishment of British Rule on this island up tothe present times, many a high pedestal occupant has been moved by therhetoric of a golden fee and has parted with honour and wisdom at thesight of filthy lucre.

Why name these in the list when even Adam and Eve have fallen for theforbidden fruit! Just watch the high jinks. What else can we do?