Dear Sir,
Your Editorial on the subject ‘Financial Hara-kiri through Freebies’ in November 2022 BCAJ is indeed thought-provoking.
The Apex Court has rightly observed that these freebies are extended utilising taxpayers’ money only to increase the popularity of the various political parties and their electoral prospects. Giving away largesse to the gullible voters is nothing short of offering a bribe/ a graft. It corrupts – no two ways about it, leaving the state bleeding and over time haemorrhaging.
I came across these two very interesting quotes by Thomas Sowell, an American author, economist, political commentator and social theorist,
“Welfare states on both sides of the Atlantic have discovered that largesse to losers does not reduce their hostility to society, but only increases it. Far from producing gratitude, generosity is seen as an admission of guilt, and the reparations as inadequate compensation for injustices – leading to worsening behaviour by the recipients”.
“If you have been voting for politicians who promise to give you goodies at someone else’s expense, then you have no right to complain when they take away your money and give it to someone else, including themselves.”
Just as evil practices such as child marriages and dowry have been banned, the judiciary should ban the gifting of largesse and freebies by political parties.
CA Narayan Pasari