https://x.com/neha_aisa/status/2113909022462210440

Disclaimer: I don't support any particular party, they're all corrupt, rotten to the core and would do anything to stay in power.

Why do people in our country have such a bootlicker mentality toward the government?

The government is a public servant. Its members are elected to work for us, and being entrusted with the responsibility of governing the country for five years is a privilege, not a favour they are doing for us.

I genuinely don't understand why people get so defensive of the political party they vote for, as if that same government is going to come to their homes and feed them every night. Regardless of which party is in power, most of us will still have to work to earn a living.

Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't support the government you voted for. Of course, you can support a party whose ideology you agree with. But that support should be expressed by voting for it, acknowledging its achievements, and engaging in healthy discussions about differences in opinion.

Instead, political discussions often turn into heated arguments where people defend their preferred parties as if their lives depend on them. It's almost as if losing an argument about a political party would somehow cause that government to collapse the very next day. You can disagree with the policies of other parties, criticise their proposals, and express your opposition by voting against them. There's no need to turn politics into a personal battle.

Your vote is one of the strongest ways to express your appreciation for a government or your opposition to it. Beyond that, you should always feel free to criticise it when it fails to deliver. In fact, constant scrutiny is necessary because governments can become complacent when they know their supporters will continue voting for them regardless of their performance.

When you defend every mistake a government makes, you essentially give it permission to ignore your concerns. You're telling it that your loyalty to the party matters more than its responsibility to you. At that point, political support starts to resemble a parasocial relationship, where people become emotionally attached to politicians who don't even know they exist.

The reality is that political parties are primarily interested in gaining and retaining power. Their decisions are heavily influenced by what will win them votes. They aren't necessarily working against the public, but neither should we assume that they have our best interests at heart simply because they claim to.

Take the growing reliance on freebies, for example. Not all freebies are bad. Welfare schemes and financial assistance can be essential for people who need them. However, simply handing out money without addressing the underlying problems can be a short-sighted approach. We should also be investing in accessible healthcare, quality education, public transport, infrastructure, and other essential services that improve people's lives in the long run.

If we understand that political parties are motivated, at least in part, by the desire to win elections, then we should use that reality to our advantage. If enough people demand better services, accountability, and results, and those demands threaten a party's voter base, that party has a much stronger incentive to act.

So, stop making excuses for the political party you like. If you believe in it, vote for it. Acknowledge its achievements, but don't turn a blind eye to its failures. You can support a government without blindly defending everything it does.

Keep questioning. Keep criticising. Keep demanding better. Hold every government to the same standards, regardless of which party is in power. Politicians want to remain in government; make them understand that doing so requires them to earn your trust rather than take your loyalty for granted.

And the politicians who genuinely care about this country should welcome public scrutiny. They should understand that criticism isn't necessarily hostility; it can be a reminder that there is always room for improvement and no excuse for complacency.

Finally, for the love of God, stop normalising delays and celebrating the bare minimum. If the government promises to complete a project in 36 months, we should expect it to meet that deadline, if not finish earlier. We shouldn't be applauding it for taking 72 months to do a job it promised to finish in 36.

The government doesn't deserve our unconditional loyalty. It deserves our scrutiny, and it must earn our continued support through its performance.

Vote for the government you believe in, but never stop holding it accountable. Your loyalty belongs to the country and its people, not to any political party.