[Posted December 22, 2007]

Votes - even a great quantity - do not qualify a leader

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Fools elect fools

Hugh's List -

Bush Scandals List:

Hugh decided to make a list of the Bush administrations scandals...it is now 60ft. long, in 10pt. type.

What all this comes down to is that George Bush should never have become our President. He is not just a bad President but the worst one we could have had, the worst our country has ever seen. This is a judgment that many Americans have come to but which our political establishment and media, even after 6 years, have yet to acknowledge, accept, and act on. This is the tragedy and crime of our times.

[So far 292 scandals itemized, beginning with 1. Walter Reed, 2. Firing of US attorneys, 3. Plamegate, 4. Iraq, 5. Afghanistan, 6. Iran and saber rattling, 7. North Korea, axis of evil, 8. Osama bin Laden, 9. Civilian contractors; also no bid contracts, 10. The Military Commissions Act: torture, indefinite detention, the end of habeas corpus...] go to story

Sri Guru and Gauranga

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Electing Dogs, Pigs, Camels and Asses A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
So the whole population is like that—like dog, like camel, like ass and like pig—the whole population, at the present moment. So he must elect another big animal who is also in this category. Because he has no knowledge. If you take votes from the camel, for whom he will vote? Another big camel, that's all. If you take votes from the dog, then whom he will elect? Another big dog. Therefore, anyone who is not a devotee of God, Krishna, he is either of these animals. And if he is praised, it is to be understood that he is being praised by the similar type of animals. ... So how there can be good situation of the state? It is not possible. Therefore the public must be educated so that they may not elect another big dog or big camel or big ass to the exalted post. It is the public's fault. Nowadays it is democratic days. So why should you complain against such-and-such person or president? You have elected him, and now you find fault with him. So it was your fault that you selected such a rascal, shva-vid-varahoshtra. more

Rid of the lion; now comes tiger

excerpt from conversation with disciples, Bombay, April 19, 1977

PRABHUPADA: Again election, as if election will change their quality. They remain... Let them remain as rascal, and simply by election, in place of one rascal, another rascal will improve it. This is the... Let them remain rascal, but get vote. So that is... That is described in Bhagavatam, shva-vid-varahoshtra-kharaih samstutah purushah pashuh [Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.19]. The population is shva-vid-varahoshtra, and they are giving vote—another big pashu [animal]. That's all. This is going on. This is democracy. The voters are pashu, and he is selecting another big pashu. This is going on. The rascals, they do not know, "If instead of a tiger, we select one lion, then what is the difference? Simply name. The tiger was president. Now the lion is the president." And both of them—animals. Where is the man, human being? This is going on. And because they are pashu, shva-vid-varaha, they are happy: "Now there is lion. Now the tiger is driven away. Now there is lion." This is going on. Hm? Am I right?

SVARUP DAMODAR: Oh, yes.

PRABHUPADA: This is the... That's all. Bhagavata is siddhanta-karana(?), so correct, so accurate, and so nicely composed. In the beginning there is, kim anyaih shastraih: "There is no more use of any other shastra [scripture]." Srimad-bhagavate maha-muni-krite kim anyaih shastraih, nigama-kalpa-taror galitam phalam idam [SB 1.1.3]: It is meant for the highly qualified, thoughtful philosopher. They are not flowery language. It's fact. So we are trying to give to the world this nigama-kalpa-taror galitam phalam [SB 1.1.3: "O expert and thoughtful men, relish Srimad-Bhagavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures"]. Let them take it and take full advantage. Essence of all the Vedic knowledge. If they are intelligent...