Today's Politicians & Today's Devotees

The media is abuzz with news of the upcoming USA presidential election.

Thankfully, I am not an American citizen and I don't really need to consider if I should vote for Obama or for McCain. Yet, it's a time that inspires to meditate on general issues of left and right, of liberality or conservatism, and how it all applies to those who endeavor to align with Lord Krishna in every matter, including participating in choosing their country's commander in chief.

I assume that many devotees won't bother to vote.

Some devotees will vote for Obama, some for McCain (just as some in the last election, I hear, voted for Bush).

Some will consider Obama closer to ISKCON's values and perspectives because he grew up in a home in which the book shelf hosted, among other books, the Bible, the Koran and the Bhagavad-gita (don't ask me what edition...).

Some will consider McCain closer to an ideal enlightened monarch because he officially poses as an anti-abortionist (despite his ambiguous stance on the subject, his choice of the determinedly pro-life Sarah Palin as running mate tends to reinforce his appearance as protector of the fetuses).

Some devotees will identify more with Obama because his vague but insistent peddling of CHANGE reverberates with the profound change they expressed by joining the Hare Krishna movement.

Other Vaisnavas will support McCain because his (largely passive) heroism during the Vietnam years reminds them of the ksatriyas of yesteryear.

It's difficult to get voted into power by a politically, culturally, economically, religiously and racially fragmented constituency. The candidates know that and I find almost endearing (almost) to witness their theatrics, their frantic gyrating and cautious tiptoeing on and around hot subjects, their vertiginous, straight-faced shifts on issues and emphases, and the merciless scrutiny they endure in the pursuit of their dream of reaching a four-year stint at the White House.

In any case, as Srila Prabhupada warily notes in the First Canto:

"The modern elected executive head of a state is just like a puppet because he has no kingly power. Even if he is enlightened like Maharaja Yudhisthira, he cannot do anything out of his own good will due to his constitutional position" (SB 1.10.3p).

Democracy is the government of the vaisyas (the kali-yuga brand of ruthless vaisyas, a far cry from the Vrajavasis led by Nanda Maharaja). No candidate has any choice of success without securing the approval of Big Money, without convincing the big capitalists who control the media and other empires that he will be a loyal servant of their interests.

Whoever wins will have to toll the line. Or get unceremoniously removed from their present position (or present body).