It is a puzzlement

Often I read the articles by people from the United States here on Medium and I find myself puzzled.

These people are sensitive, intelligent, don’t seem to be racist, have an enlightened view of the world and write clearly and beautifully. They seem all universally against Trump and his Trumpettes in the Republican Party as well the muppets in the Democratic party, Kirsten Synema and Joe Manchin.

Yet, they don’t get into politics.

Now I also write about politics, although in the recent past, I’ve stopped after a friend of mine got a call from the Enforcement Directorate of the Indian Government. Scary stuff.

I haven’t ever tried to get into politics because of one reason.

English.

I speak, write and think in English. And in Indian politics that’s pretty useless. There are 121 languages in India. Yes. You read that correctly. One hundred and twenty-one languages.

You have to speak the local language or at least speak Hindi well enough that you can deliver speeches and run for office.

I don’t.

My Hindi is rudimentary at best. So is my Tamil and Konkani. I speak French better than any Indian language in fact. The language of the state in which I live, Kannada, is a foreign language to me.

So politics is not an option.

On the other hand, the smart people from the US have a distinct advantage.

English.

Most people in the US speak English. And you can communicate with them.

I do understand that the number of Spanish speakers is increasing in the US (another reason for Trump and his Trumpettes’ fury as many of you have written). And some of the English spoken is less than ideal.

However, at this time, you can make your speeches in English. You can make promises in English. You can persuade in English. And that is enough to win an election.

That’s why I don’t understand why all you smart people don’t enter politics.

Of course, I understand that there are issues. I understand that you need to collect money. I understand that politics — barring AOC and exceptions like her — is the domain of the rich.

However, given the fact that you have madmen at the helm, Mitch O’Connell for example, you need to get involved. Otherwise, as Niall Fergusson has written in ‘Doom’ your civilization is going to collapse. I refuse to quote Umair Haque who fulminates about the collapse of the United States in every column.

I really think you need a revival of what the US was. And the best people to lead it are educated, smart and properly oriented people like you.

I really think you need to get out there and help the US get back to being the ‘shining beacon on the hill,’ which it was for so many years.