Nerve Endings Firing Away

Commies in India now realize that they will be ‘left’ behind if they do not adopt reforms. Or at least it seems so from Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, West Bengal CM’s lecture organised by the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Institute of South Asian Studies. It certainly seems strange to hear a Left leader say that "globalization is a must."

He clearly is influenced by China’s rise as an economic superpower. But
he fails to understand that China is a communist country at heart and
although has largely granted economic freedom, it still retains
political control. No such luxury exists for the Left parties in India.
They are simply lucky to be elected come election. All they have to
define themselves as a Left Front are their economic policies that have
always been primarily against globalization and privatization. If the Left
starts acting like any other party and all parties say the same thing,
how are we supposed to vote objectively? Or should we just go by past
reputation?

Amit Varma rightly describes the responsibility that being in power instills in you regardless of your ideology. Armchair leftists in New Delhi are not part of the government and merely support it from outside. This power without responsibility is dangerous.