Black & White Cats

I don't care if it's a white or black cat. It's a good cat so long as it catches mice.
-- Deng Xiaoping

Turns out this is one of the well known quotes of Deng Xiaoping - father of modern China,  who brought prosperity to China. But I came to learn about it from a very unlikely source - a spam email. It had this quote and wanted me to invest in some stocks.  I hit the spam button, but couldn't help but think more about this quote.

And I thought about Nepal - about the political parties and political systems we have. People discuss about the party names, ideologies - the good and bad - but really - what does it matter as long there are only words and no action? All kinds of cats - but no mice.

Communists. Socialists. Congress. Interesting names. But what do these parties really stand for? What matters are the issues of the nation and the people. What people really care is how to take the country from poverty to prosperity in the shortest possible time. What is the best way to solve the basic needs of the people - so that people can at least have a decent life? So many parties - almost each one of them had a chance to rule the country. We have wasted years - and where are we as a nation? One of the poorest countries. Soon to labeled as a failed state. Corruption everywhere. No water. No electricity. Pollution. Dust. Smoke. So many problems and no solutions.

We have a country which is run by parties that have to consult the foreign embassies in each and every issue. Big projects and resources are handed over to foreign corporations - and everyone seems to be OK with that. A country full of anarchy. Anything goes in the name of democracy.

So what really matters is where do these parties stand for regarding the burning issues of the country. It can have any name and any color - who really cares? What we care is if their bombastic words are proven through actions.