"YOU are the Government"

"YOU are the Government" ... What an empowering statement … think about it ....

So stop complaining ... GET UP ... and RUN your country ... Run your State ... RUN your City !!

Say it aloud to yourself .. “I AM THE GOVERNMENT” … the rest of the people who sit in the Govt Offices ... and the Parliament ... are just our Representatives … “Govt Reps”. (I prefer to use the phrase “Govt Reps” ... as opposed to “Govt Servant” ... which I believe is very derogatory).

I was recently in New Delhi (for the REL hearing, as you know) and I met an enlightened soul who, in the middle of an intense discussion turned around and said ... but “YOU are the Government … if there are people in the Govt Offices who are not protecting your interests and rights ... change them … !!”

A simple, powerful, positive thought ... from a simply great soul ! Thank you, PSS ... and God bless you, for reminding me …

Thursday, February 1 is Voting day in Mumbai.

If YOU don’t take responsibility for electing YOUR own Rep ... those who DO go and VOTE ... will get the Rep of THEIR choice … and YOU can sit back and keep complaining … for the next five years …

And the next time a candidate comes to your house asking for your vote - if seeking re-election, first ask him/her what he/she has done during their tenure and how much of YOUR money have they spent ... and WHERE …

If seeking to be elected for the first time, ask for their agenda … and firm plan of action … for improving YOUR area … and note down all their contact numbers and addresses… to keep a check on them later …

Choose you OWN Rep ... keep them accountable … get them to make their functioning transparent ... be vigilant about their transgressions … at the same time, empower them to protect your interests … sure you can’t do that alone ... but then 10-20-50 people getting together can make all the difference !

See the Local Area Citizen’s Group Charter by Karmayog on http://www.karmayog.com/lacg/lacgindex.htm

See what’s being done by the Juhu Citizens Group at http://www.juhucitizen.org/aboutus.htm ... and by Loksatta, on http://www.votemumbai.org/aboutus.asp

PLEASE GO VOTE ... and take responsibility of running your own city ... or else STOP complaining about what's happening around you.

... if YOU abdicate YOUR responsibility ... you have NO right to complain ...!!

Well ... and that's how I feel ...