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We are in the midst of another election season in India, and each time a poll rolls around, I get depressed at the thought that we are about to elect criminals, corrupt populists, and members of political dynasties rather than upright, independent, reform-minded liberals.

On this occasion, laffaire Sasikala and Donald Trumps shocking win in America also weigh on the mind. As a solution, I have earlier advocated setting up a classical liberal political party in India. A young, aspiring India in the 21st century deserves a secular party that trusts markets rather than officials for economic outcomes and focuses on the reform of governance institutions. It may not win votes quickly but it would bring governance reform to centrestage and gradually prove to voters that open markets and rule-based government are the only sensible way to lift living standards and achieve shared prosperity.

Based on this reasoning, Sanjeev Sabhlok formed Swarna Bharat, a genuine liberal political party in 2013. But it has not gained widespread support. I feel guilty that I have not done enough for it; nor have my liberal friends joined it. As I think about our failure, I have come to a startling conclusion. I have realized that a party based on classical liberal principles has almost no chance of winning at the polls unless it ties itself to an identity party.

Dancing heads: Both Thatcher and Reagan were free market proponents

A populist candidate who promises subsidised electricity and food will always defeat a liberal who advocates private initiative and competition. It is hard to sell the free market at the polls because the invisible hand of the market is not visible to the voter whereas the states visible hand is only too visible. A left liberal, however, is likely to be more successful as he advocates an extensive welfare state via state intervention.

For this reason, classical liberals everywhere have chosen to join parties with cultural or social identities. In America, they went on to become liberal Republicans or conservative Democrats. In both cases, they helped to change the economic agenda of their parties.

But as a price, they had to put up with the anti-abortion Christian agenda and the gun lobby of the Republicans and the rigid, inept unions of the Democratic Party. In the UK, Margaret Thatcher tolerated Torys social ideals of traditional Englishness as a price for converting her party (and the nation) in favour of the market.

Similarly, Tony Blair taught the Labour Party to trust market outcomes rather than state intervention. Adenauer and Erhard, both classical liberals in Germany, tolerated the Protestantism of the Christian Democrats while creating the great post-war economic miracle. In a recent volume of essays, Liberalism in India, Jaithirth Rao has argued that even the most successful liberal party in history, the Whigs, who were a force in British politics for over two centuries, had a Low Church identity in contrast to High Church Tories.

In India too, many liberals support Modis vikas agenda but do not subscribe to BJPs cultural baggage of Hindutva. Modis miraculous success at the polls in 2014 was the result of a liberal appeal of maximum governance, minimum government to the aspiring young. As a result, he created space in the BJP for market liberals, and the BJP has matured into a full-fledged right-of-centre party with a clear division between an economic and a cultural right. Modi, however, is not a classical liberal like Thatcher, with ideological commitment to economic and institutional reforms. He is closer to an East Asian moderniser and he reforms on a pragmatic basis. It is still early to say if Modi will deliver, but if he wants to retain his liberal supporters, he will have to keep the cultural wing of his party under tight control. As it is, the latter is unhappy with him for not pursuing Hindutva vigorously.

I feel sad that a liberal party does not have a future in India or elsewhere. Liberalism has driven political action in the world in the past three centuries. It has won much of the political argument in the 20th century, says Barun Mitra of the Liberty Institute. It won Indias fight for freedom from colonial rule; it was responsible for the collapse of communism; and it drove Indias economic reforms. But liberals did not take credit for these reforms and hence we continue to reform by stealth. Liberals are no saints but it is a shame that emotional appeals to race, religion and caste identities still matter more to voters than rational arguments for prosperity and governance.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

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Why classic liberals don't win elections, and populists do - Times of India (blog)

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Democrats Elect Thomas Perez, Establishment Favorite, as Party Chairman New York Times Thomas E. Perez, a former labor secretary, was elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee on Sunday. He addressed the party's meeting in Atlanta, presenting himself as the leader to overcome "a crisis of confidence, a crisis of relevance". Former Labor Secretary Tom Perez Elected To Lead DemocratsNPR Perez wins DNC chairmanshipCNN Former Labor Sec. Perez elected as Democratic National Committee chairmanFox News Washington Post -Los Angeles Times -Chicago Tribune all 1,271 news articles »

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Democrats Elect Thomas Perez, Establishment Favorite, as Party Chairman - New York Times

Tensions emerged Saturday between Democratic and Republican U.S. governors over a GOP-led proposal for a major overhaul to Medicaid, with Democrats saying the changes would take away people's health coverage to finance tax cuts for the wealthy.

GOP governors intend to present Congress with a plan that they say would give states more flexibility to administer health coverage for poorer residents while protecting states from absorbing the costs of repealing the Affordable Care Act. Democratic governors said Saturday that their Republican counterparts were being dishonest about the effects of their plan.

"They want to spend less money on people's health care so they can do tax cuts for the rich. They've tried to put this camouflage on it that somehow they're giving governors flexibility. We've got plenty of flexibility," Democratic Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said. "This is not what we are asking for."

While major changes to former president Barack Obama's signature health care law appear inevitable with Republicans controlling the White House and both houses of Congress, Inslee said there's still a chance that Democrats can win over GOP lawmakers who've been facing angry constituents at town hall meetings.

"People are madder than hops about this. Look, there's four Republican members of the House in the state of Washington, and they're now in the witness-protection program," Inslee said. "We think churches are going to offer them sanctuary at some point, given how mad people are about this."

Inslee, whose national profile is rising as Democrats look for new leaders following Hillary Clinton's loss in November, led a successful legal challenge against President Donald Trump's ban on travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

The angry rhetoric about health care reform brought a dose of political reality to the nonpartisan National Governors' Association's winter meeting, where governors otherwise spend time praising each other and participating in panels on noncontroversial topics, such as early childhood education, a cause that got a boost from actress Jennifer Garner.

On Saturday afternoon, the governors met behind closed doors with Health Secretary Tom Price, who according to several governors said the Trump administration wanted to partner with states to reform health care but did not provide specifics.

Meanwhile, at the White House, Trump met with two Republican governors, Wisconsin's Scott Walker and Florida's Rick Scott, and discussed "how best to solve the problems" of the Obama-era health law, with "special emphasis" on states' role in health care, according to a statement by his press secretary.

The entire governors' group will meet with Trump and congressional leaders on Monday.

The governors also listened to a consultant's report about the fiscal impact of a Medicaid overhaul on states. The report, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, predicted that Medicaid reforms being proposed by House Republicans would result in tens of thousands of people losing their insurance coverage in an average-size state.

Inslee and Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia called the report "disturbing." Republican Gov. Matt Bevin of Kentucky said if Democrats were disturbed, they haven't been paying attention.

"The kind of conversation that's being had now sobering, shocking, surprising as it might be to some is the conversation that we must have because the piper has to get paid at some point," Bevin said. "People are looking at reality, and that's good."

The GOP governors' Medicaid proposal, a draft of which was obtained by The AP, urges Congress to change Medicaid from an open-ended federal entitlement to a program designed by each state within a financial limit. Medicaid provides insurance to more than 70 million low-income Americans, and states had the option of making it available to more people under Obama's health care overhaul.

Some of the GOP governors behind the reform proposal, including Ohio Gov. John Kasich, opted to expand Medicaid in their states despite pressure from conservatives.

Another GOP governor in a Medicaid expansion state, Doug Ducey of Arizona, said Democrats are failing to acknowledge the shortcomings of Obama's health law and the need for urgent reforms.

"We don't want to see any citizen have the rug pulled out from underneath them, yet we know Obamacare is failing," Ducey said. "We're working hard to put together a plan that will replace Obamacare and actually be an improvement for health care, be a real reform of the Medicaid system."

It's not clear whether House Republicans will accept the GOP governors' proposal. Many congressional Republicans want to rewrite the basic financial contract for Medicaid, offering flexibility to states in exchange for limits on future federal funding. Budget hawks including House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., support the kind of program flexibility Republican governors are seeking, but chiefly want to spend less on Medicaid.

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll shows that 8 in 10 people nationally say lawmakers should preserve federal funding that has allowed states to add coverage for roughly 11 million low-income people. Almost 7 in 10 Republicans agreed, according to the survey by the nonpartisan group.

Follow Ben Nuckols on Twitter at https://twitter.com/APBenNuckols.

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Democrats, GOP spar over Medicaid reform at govs' meeting - ABC News

Molly Murray and Matthew Albright, The News Journal Published 3:47 p.m. ET Feb. 25, 2017 | Updated 8 hours ago

Candidates explain why it's important to vote Molly Murray/ The News Journal

Stephanie Hansen talks to Rebecca Walker of Pike Creek, a campaign volunteer, at Olive B. Loss Elementary School in Bear.(Photo: DOUG CURRAN/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS JOURNAL)Buy Photo

Democrat Stephanie Hansenwonthe special election for the 10th District Senate seat Saturday, capturing58 percent of the votes cast andpreserving her party'scontrol of the Legislature.

The race drew national attention and donations from across the country. Former Vice President Joe Biden and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley both campaigned on Hansen's behalf in the weeks leading up to the election.

Stephanie Hansen and Dr. Debbie Harrington of Middletown react as numbers from the polls come in at a watch party at Odessa Fire Hall.(Photo: Doug Curran, DOUG CURRAN/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS)

"This was the first swing election in the country since the inauguration. It was the first chance for voters to rise up with one voice to say were bigger than the bullies," Hansen said during her victory speech at the Odessa Fire Company. "It was the first chance for voters to declare with one loud voice that were better than the politics of fear and division.What we accomplished together will have implications for our entire state and country, and I think tonight theyre hearing us loud and clear in all corners of this country and certainly in D.C. and in Dover."

The picture perfect weather andheavy spending in the race between Hansen, Republican John Marino and Libertarian Joseph D. Lansendorferhelped draw a higher than typical special election crowd. Temperatures reached into the mid- to upper 70s in most of the state, until about 4:30 p.m. when a thunderstorm swept through the region.

As of 5 p.m., 11,203 votes were cast 31.37 percent ofregistered voters, said Anthony J. Albence, director of the New Castle County Department of Elections. There are 35,673 registered voters in the district.

"That's a pretty good turnout," he said.

Thanks to donations from all over America, Hansen's campaign was able to spend more than $251,525, and an allied political action committee, First State Strong, dropped another $497,482, according to the Department of Elections.

That's a total of $749,008 $102.40per person who voted for Hansen.

Those numbers reflect the spending only from the latest reporting periods, so the final tally could be higher. They also don't count spending by unions and other groups that backed Hansen.

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The 10thSenate Districtincludes Middletown, Glasgowand southern Newark.

Hansen's victory keeps Democrats in control of the state Senate and ensures President Pro Tempore David McBride, D-Hawks Nest, his job.

"As president pro tempore, I'm committed to working with all senators for the good of all Delawareans," McBride said.

He attributed the win in the 10th District to an outstanding candidate.

"She supported jobs, talked about the environment and education," McBride said.

Hansen, who lives in Middletown,is an environmental attorney in Wilmington. She served as New Castle County Council president from 1996 to 2001 and before becoming an attorney was an environmental scientist and hydrologist at the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Voting in the Delaware Senate District 10 race takes place at Glasgow High School on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.(Photo: JOHN J. JANKOWSKI JR./SPECIAL TO THE NEWS JOURNAL)

Democrat Stephanie Hansen campaigns Saturday in Middletown with her husband (in white shirt) and House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach.(Photo: MOLLY MURRAY/THE NEWS JOURNAL)

The seat was previously held by now-Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long. Herinauguration in January triggered Saturday's election and left the Senate split 10-10.

State Republican Chairman Charles Copeland, in a statement, commendedMarino and his entire team.

"It's been truly amazing to watch this grassroots effort come together to work for a common cause in an effort to make our state better," Copeland wrote in the statement. "This evening, Delaware citizens have been able to see just how politically bankrupt Delaware is. Delaware Democrats, administratively, changed Delawares campaign finance laws in the middle of this campaign so that they could go on to raise $1 million to buy the 10th Senate District seat.

"Delawares Democrats spent over $100 per vote in a district that they already had a 60-to-40 registration advantage. Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, you should be outraged that this kind of unethical behavior occurred. Once again, we are seeing what happens when one political party has absolute power ... corruption."

Sen. Greg Lavelle, R-Sharpley, said the Republicans knew it would be difficult to win the seat.

"John and his family ran a great race," he said. "We knew it would not be easy."

It was even more challenging because "from their side, it was absolutely a national race," he said.

Hansen's win could have major consequences for state policy.

Democrats will retain their majorities on all Senate committeesand keep control of the Joint Finance Committee, which writes the state budget.

Stephanie Hansen receives a phone call from Joe Biden congratulating her on her win at a watch party at Odessa Fire Hall.(Photo: DOUG CURRAN/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS)

Democrats will have an 11-10 majority in the Senate on top of their comfortable control of the House. That means progressive policies like a minimum wage increase could still pass. Republican-backed policies like "right to work" laws, which would make union membership optional, will remain unlikely to pass.Marino and Hansen clashed on right-to-work laws during the campaign, with Marino arguing the policy would bring jobs and Hansen saying it would lower wages. Unions fiercely supported Hansen.

The stalled appointment by Gov. John Carney ofShawn Garvin, former federal Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator, to head the state environmental agency could also move forward. Senate Republicans blocked the nomination.

Hansen blasted Republicans for blocking Garvin, saying it showed the GOP wanted to bring Washington-style gridlock to Dover.

The race captured the attention ofnational news organizations. The New York Times and the Huffington Post wrote about the race, interviewing Democrats across the country who saw it as one of their first chances to fight back against an ascendant GOP and President Donald Trump. National Democrat-aligned groups like the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and EMILY's List solicited donations for Hansen.

Republicans didn't come close to matching Democrats financially. Marino's campaign spent $96,156 and a supportive PAC, FirstStateFirst, spent $40,785.

Stephanie Hansen and her husband, David Marturana, campaign at Olive B. Loss Elementary School in Bear.(Photo: DOUG CURRAN/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS JOURNAL)

Both sides accused the other of breaking campaign finance laws, but Elections Commissioner Elaine Manlove ruled that neither side acted illegally.

The massive political spending meant residents of the district were deluged with mailers, calls and advertisements online and on TV.

Two complaints werelodged with election officials Saturday. Election officials received a report Saturday morning that voters in the district received phone calls advising them that Hansen had withdrawn from the race. That was untrue, and the complaint was turned over to the state Department of Justice for review.

The second complaint came from Lavelle.

He said voters under 18 were permitted to cast ballots in the race.

"This is outrageous," Lavelle said.

John Marino shakes hands with Steve Beaston, a campaign volunteer from Delaware City, at Everett Meredith Middle School in Middletown on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.(Photo: DOUG CURRAN/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS JOURNAL)

Under state law, people under 18 are allowed to register to vote if they will be 18 by the next general election.

That allows them to vote in special elections even if they aren't already 18, said Howard G. Sholl Jr., deputy director of the New Castle County Department of Elections.

Lavelle said the legislation that allowed 16- and 17-year-oldsto register when they got their driver's licenses was not intended to allow voters under 18.

"This was not the intent," he said.

Lavelle said he was unsure how many voters cast ballots in the under-18 categoryby 12:30 p.m., but"I don't know what we can do. I guess we'll wait and see."

He complained that the state Elections Department was favoring the Democrat in this race through decisions that were made.

Marleen Oetzelof New Castlesaid she, for one, was sick of cronyism.

Voting in the Delaware Senate District 10 race takes place at Glasgow High School on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.(Photo: JOHN J. JANKOWSKI JR./SPECIAL TO THE NEWS JOURNAL)

She runs ananimal rescue agency and was upset when former Sen. Patricia Blevins was picked to lead the state's animal welfare operation after she lost a re-election bid in November. She feels Blevins wasn't qualified.

"I'm beyond furious," she said. "You can't complain to anyone" because Democrats control the governor's office and the General Assembly.

"And did I mention I'm a Democrat," she said.

The race is high stakes for both parties, and that word got out to Hansen supporter Chad Masso.

He said he is a regular voter but "all the hype" with this election raised his interest.

Thanks to donations from all over America, Hansen's campaignspentmore than $251,525, and an allied political action committee, First State Strong, dropped another $497,482, according to the Department of Elections.

Those numbers reflect the spending from the latest reporting periods only, so the final tally could be higher. They also don't count spending by unions and other groups that backed Hansen.

Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, Senator Bryan Townsend, Stephanie Hansen and Senate Majority Leader Margaret Rose Henry react as numbers from the polls come in at a watch party at Odessa Fire Hall.(Photo: DOUG CURRAN/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS)

STORY CONTINUES BELOW MAP

The campaign also saw volunteers flock into the district to knock on doors and place signs. Before Saturday, both campaigns were confident they had knocked on the door of any resident who was likely to vote for them.

Democrats have held a majority in the Senate for 44 years.

Contact Molly Murray at (302) 463-3334 or mmurray@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter@MollyMurraytnj.

Early warm weather could spell trouble later

State Senate 10th District Total Votes Percentage

Stephanie Hansen, Democrat 7,314 58.13%

John Marino, Republican 5.127 40.75%

Joseph D Lanzendorfer, Libertarian 139 1.12%

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Hansen wins, preserves Democrats' control of Senate - The News Journal

The Democrats who don't dare face voters at town halls New York Post Recent weeks have seen a flood of media reports on Republicans facing angry constituents at town-hall meetings, so it's nice to see the Associated Press point out that many Democrats have been dodging town halls altogether. Specifically, AP's Steve ... and more »

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The Democrats who don't dare face voters at town halls - New York Post