SECOND GENERATION BLUFFING: PEOPLE ARE MERELY REMINDED
James Hakobyan

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 24 2007

It is difficult to say that in any country the construction of a
church, which is not an aspirant to the wonders of the world or the
book of records, would aspire to be the hottest news on TV. It is
also difficult to say whether the reason why it happens in Armenia
is because our country "was the first to adopt Christianity as
an official religion", therefore the TV channels controlled by
the government but formally private and public start their news
programs with the story of a church built in one of the communities
of Yerevan. Or maybe Christianity has nothing to do with it? Instead
politics has to do with it because the presidential candidate of the
country, the prime minister of the country Serge Sargsyan took part
in the ceremony of laying the foundation of the church. But did the
participation of the prime minister make the foundation of the church
that important? Finally, did the broadcast media of the Christian
country televise the church or the prime minister? The hero of the
film would say love culture in yourselves, not yourselves in culture.

So, love church in yourselves, not the prime minister in the church.

Perhaps this refers to everyone who deals with the propaganda of
Serge Sargsyan. Intentionally or unintentionally, they are doing their
best to have people get bored with Serge Sargsyan and turn over the
ballot as soon as they read his name on it on February 19, thinking
they are switching the channel. On the other hand, the motivation
of this tactics is clear. The point is that it is difficult to use
another way of propaganda in a country where the difference between
words and actions of the government is striking.

It is difficult to carry out another type of a campaign when before May
12 people’s brains are crammed with the second generation reform, and
afterwards celebrating an allegedly absolute victory, nothing is done
over six months to make the launch of the second generation reforms
at least noticeable. The second generation reform suggests a second
generation parliament and government, meanwhile, the Republican Party
led by Serge Sargsyan is likely to carry out reforms through people
who need a reform. In other words, those who need to be reformed are
carrying out reforms.

Logically, it would not ensure a visible result for people, because
there was no breakthrough in this direction, which would make the
intention of the government to be reformed credible. Meanwhile,
the new Constitution gave such a possibility to the Republican Party
because it has granted more powers to the government and the National
Assembly, and the president is not a key post in tactical issues of
public administration any more, let alone that Serge Sargsyan has
never complained that Robert Kocharyan prevents him from carrying
out the second generation reforms or from launching them. There were
some appointments to government, which inspired hope in people that
there was a tendency of real reforms. However, these appointments
were followed by statements which crushed all hope and expectations,
proving that the new appointments were but the continuation of the old,
and mere formality.

When the result of governance is seen, the governor need not appear on
TV every day, there is no need to remind people about him every day
and every second because results are more tangible and appreciable
for people. And if there is no result but the governor is shown all
the time, it means people are reminded every day and all the time
who rules the government and whose rule is the cause why no essential
changes take place.