Conservatism’s centre

An election financing regime which favours those who can raise large sums of money (none of which comes in without the prospect of a future quid pro quo!) can lead to the rise of a corrupt self-perpetuating oligarchic elite that is inimical to democracy. That McCain has stuck to the core principles of conservatism, even at the cost of alienating potential supporters, shows his abiding belief in preserving the larger system which guarantees the freedoms of citizens.

Indian politicians who in the days of the permit-licence raj thought they were ‘controlling’ businessmen discovered that in fact they became puppets of the very capitalists they railed against, who conveniently sold shoddy goods to Indian consumers while blocking the entry of competitors. More perniciously, this system allowed for a mutual back-scratching situation while the country was stuck with the Hindoo rate of growth. To this day, many of our ministers cling to discretionary powers which they generously use to help their friends in business. ‘Contribution to party funds’ is the euphemistic expression. And the returned favour is invariably against the interests of common citizens.

On immigration, McCain has a pragmatic position in keeping with conservative views of empirical realism being the acid test in politics. The fact of the matter is that there is no practical way in which the US can expel millions of illegal Mexican immigrants who are already inside the tent. Any attempt to do so would need a gargantuan and intrusive police state — a state that neither Hamilton nor Reagan would have approved of. The only realistic option is some kind of ‘guest worker’ programme. The details can be endlessly debated. The broad contours of this solution are a fall-out of the ground reality. It might make good political sense also. To drive the growing Hispanic voter group into the arms of the Democratic Party can hardly be smart politics.

And let’s not forget the fact that many of the immigrants (legal and illegal) are employed by small businesses owned by people who are the core constituency of the conservative cause. In India, we need to think along similar lines about illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. An orderly guest worker programme is far superior to endless rhetoric and hand-wringing on this subject. Just as nativist anti-Hispanic racism rises to the surface during this debate in America, we veer off into visceral discussions about Hindoo-Moslem demographics in India. The fact is that no amount of fencing or border patrolling is going to stop the flow of labour to where it is in demand. A well-designed guest worker programme can prevent worker abuse and help us manage the situation rather than let the situation manage us as has happened in Assam. India’s leaders would do well to build a consensus on this prickly subject.

McCain demonstrates courage with his position on Iraq. He holds that direct US military engagement in the Middle East is a strategically sound move. However, it cannot be done on the cheap. The Bush administration has sometimes pretended that the executional issues associated with this enormously risky undertaking are details that will take care of themselves. Wars are fought and won on the ground where we need messy operating management, not just bold doctrines. McCain understands this and has been an opponent of the languid Rumsfeld approach.

McCain understands that poor execution of US military operations can lead to America withdrawing into isolationist sulk, a dangerous possibility. Let us not forget that the cold-shouldering of the League of Nations by the US allowed Fascism to gain ground in the twenties and thirties. It is important for all of us, especially for India, that the US stay engaged with dealing head-on with Islamist extremism and that this engagement be operationally competent. McCain is a good bet for this option.

McCain gets his highest marks with his position on torture and prisoner rights. He opposes it on moral as well as on practical grounds. (The tortured person can as easily lie as tell the truth!) Having demonstrated incredible personal courage as a prisoner of war, McCain knows what he is talking about. Torture dehumanises the perpetrator more than the victim. The US was a leader of the coalition against Nazi savagery. To compromise today with torture would be to betray the best traditions of the past. If McCain is elected, luckily this pernicious practice which has severely risked loss of support for the US from its most avid supporters is likely to fade away. Here again, we in India have a lesson to learn. ‘Tough’ policing — which is a polite way of describing brutality — is leading to increased mob vigilantism corroding the fabric of our republic. We need to fight this for overwhelming moral and practical reasons.

The general elections in the US are some months away. Whatever the result, candidate McCain leaves an important and unforgettable imprint.

The writer is a student and observer of contemporary India jerry.rao@expressindia.com