The incentive game?
The topic of this blog is based on the choices we make in life at different stages in terms of age, the base instincts, nurture, knowledge, power or lack of power and finally the basis of intellect. Now the reason why this idea of writing on this struck me when I heard a story of choices made by a householder in different times. Once, in ancient India a householder was told by a corrupt minister of a King to lie on oath to protect him by lying to the King about his mistake. Since those were the days when moral values took center stage in life and most of the people were God fearing the idea that such an act will not only invite retribution to the individual lying and to his family in turn. Therefore he will refuse to lie for the sake of his family. The householder will say cut to a similar situation in 2025 if a politician forces one to lie on oath and in turn threatens him today he would lie on oath and justify in going so for the same reason to protect his family.
I think the incentives have changed. In the seventies when we were aspiring doctors the reason and incentive to become a doctor in more than 80 percent of cases was to primarily serve people by alleviating suffering and to cure disease. There were also the usual doctors children who wanted to emulate their parents. Even here it was more in the nature joining a respected profession. While many saw the hard work and sacrifices their parents made, they were witness to the respect and am sure the satisfaction and the gratification their parents experienced. Those were the days when medicine was an art practiced using detailed history taking, a thorough clinical examination from head to toe, followed by ordering pertinent investigations with a detailed explanation to the patient about the plan of action. There was a great bond of mutual respect and trust and the patients literally remained loyal to the treating doctor. So there are many examples of two or three generations of doctors in the family. However, as the demand supply gap widened in terms of aspirants vs the opportunities available to become a doctor, two things happened, the standard of teaching started declining and the commercialisation of medical education began. This resulted in the incentives changing dramatically and when medical education and seats were sold to the highest bidder it became a question of an investment and a return on investment. Getting the degree and the qualification by hook or by crook became an end in itself rather than a means to an end. The incentives to maximise earnings by over investigating cases and getting referral fees became normalised. Even use of specific drugs, implants was a means to earnings. Still to remain competitive skills were needed but with increased technological support and use of AI and algorithms with standard treatment guidelines, this too may become unnecessary.
Since I am in healthcare I can comment on the same but the same cycle is seen in IAS which became a means to attain power literally the Lal Batti car, which gave status and allowed them the liberty to command huge dowries. The incentives to please political masters, get plum posts and the so called "upar ki kamai" became the norm rather than exception. The IAS exams are such torture but once cracked opens the way for status and power which is meant to be used for public good but lands up being abused for private gain. There are rare bureaucrats who buck the trend and do good but they are sooner than later transferred to insignificant postings. This goes on till the guy joins the gang or quits. Aruna Roy, Jayaprakash Narayan, Harsh Mandar and even Arvind Kejriwal have quit these jobs to try and genuinely serve society.
The transactional nature of society has reached such proportions that getting titles and positions to enhance the profile are more important than actually looking for long term prospects and good working environments. Career choices are based on earning capacity and easier life rather than taking jobs which are on the frontline of service delivery.
The incentives of politicians is the game of power and winning the next elections and the incentive of the bureaucrat is getting a plum post and of the judge is to secure a post retirement governorship or head of some commission and so on. This list is endless.
The social media, twitter and WhatsApp platforms are an exercise in creating false images and tribalism leading to an approach where there is an incentive to take extreme adversarial positions. These are prompted by the lowest common denominator and shrill battles. The majoritarianism and othering of minorities which creates hate for those not like us are different from the reality of shared existence and interdependencies in society.
Coming to the war and hostilities between two countries and the conflicts in say Russia Ukraine, Israel Palestine and India Pakistan. These incentives of terrorists and extremists on both sides is to justify their existence by othering those that are different from the majority. Then the politician who thumps his chest and vows to flush out the terrorists at any cost or collateral damage to show he is different from his predecessors, little realizing that the combination of Singh and Musharraf were more close to resolving the conflict than any of the leaders of the past or present. The cost of weapons and the incentive to make money drives such decisions.
War causes losses, untold misery, economic slowdowns and creates an unending cycle of hate and destruction and is a zero sum game. I think we need to create a climate of peace because when we relate to one another as human beings in the concrete all adversaries are alike and there is no incentive for war. But in the abstract we will paint a nation bad because a few persons indulge in acts of terror designed to provoke.
The extract from Dhammapada Twin verses illustrates this very phenomenon.
All that we are is the result of what we have thought: we are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy whenever they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them.
“He insulted me, he struck me, he cheated me, he robbed me”: those caught in resentful thoughts never find peace.
“He insulted me, he struck me, he cheated me, he robbed me”: those who give up resentful thoughts surely find peace.
For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love. This is an unalterable law.
There are those who forget that death will come to all. For those who remember, quarrels come to an end.
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