Quotes: Crisis in Politics (Srila Prabhupada)

(The imposition of a materialistic civilization) Talk During Massage. June 11, 1975, Honolulu. That is their defect. They cannot understand that "We are simply creating problems in the name of advancement." Our Siddha-svarupa was telling that the Hawaiians, they don't want this American life of material happiness. They don't want. And they are being forced to accept this type of civilization, and they will realize. They want open field, agriculture. They welcome, a simple host, and their civilization, their mode of life has been killed by these Americans. They are very unhappy, but they are powerless. They do not like this. Nobody likes. I also personally do not like it. I come for preaching, not for enjoyment. But I do not like this very much. And this is not happiness, what is happening here. Everything.

(cause of discord) Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 1.5.11, purport. “When there are too many materialistic activities by the people in general all over the world, there is no wonder that a person or a nation attacks another person or nation on slight provocation. That is the rule of this Age of Kali or quarrel. The atmosphere is already polluted with corruption of all description, and everyone knows it well.” https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/1/5/11/

(suffering from sinful leaders) Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 6.2.5-6, purport. “Therefore, how regrettable it is for the government itself to cause a breach of trust and put the citizens in difficulty for political reasons. We actually saw during the partition days in India that although Hindus and Muslims were living together peacefully, manipulation by politicians suddenly aroused feelings of hatred between them, and thus the Hindus and Muslims killed one another over politics. This is a sign of Kali-yuga. In this age, animals are kept nicely sheltered, completely confident that their masters will protect them, but unfortunately as soon as the animals are fat, they are immediately sent for slaughter.” https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/6/2/5-6/

(selfish politicians) Light of the Bhāgavata, 44, purport. “But in a democracy no one is trained like a prince; instead, politicians are voted to responsible posts of administration by diplomatic arrangements… There are a number of parties—political, social, and communal—and there are party whips, party whims, and so on. But no one is well enough trained to look after the factual interests of the governed. In a so-called democratic government, corruption is even more rampant than in an autocracy or monarchy… They are like the kumuda flowers, which do not take pleasure in the sunrise. The word ku means "bad," and mud means "pleasure." Persons who want to exploit the administrative power for their own self-interest do not like the presence of a good king. Although professing democracy, they want to be kings themselves. Thus they compete for votes by bad propaganda and take pleasure in having politics but no king. Thieves and dacoits also take no pleasure in the presence of a good king, but it is in the interest of the people to have a well-trained king as the head of the state.” https://vedabase.io/en/library/lob/44/

(the cause of wars) Morning walk, May 25, 1974, Rome. “This is the civilization - cheating, bluffing, that's all. They don't care for the citizens. And as soon as there is some agitation, they declare war, so that they can be engaged, attention is diverted. This is going on.” https://prabhupadavani.org/transcriptions/740525mwrom/

(nationalism) Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Preface. “The whole world is very eager to satisfy the dormant propensity of love for others, but the various invented methods like socialism, communism, altruism, humanitarianism and nationalism, along with whatever else may be manufactured for the peace and prosperity of the world, are all useless and frustrating because of our gross ignorance of the art of loving Kṛṣṇa.” https://vedabase.io/en/library/kb/preface/

(centralization and bureaucracy) Letter to Karandhara, Dec. 22, 1972. “Krishna Consciousness Movement is for training men to be independently thoughtful and competent in all types of departments of knowledge and action, not for making bureaucracy. Once there is bureaucracy the whole thing will be spoiled… Forget this centralizing and bureaucracy.” https://vedabase.io/en/library/letters/letter-to-karandhara-54/

(politics without God) Lecture, 29 Jan 1973. This is going on, in the whole world. Everything is taken dishonestly, and when there is a question of division, the United Nations honestly divides it. The association of honest men, United Nations. All plunderers, rogues, thieves, and they have made an association, United Nations. Basically they're all rogues and thieves; as soon as there is an opportunity, they’ll commit all criminal activities.4 Conversation, 22 May 1975. This United Nations is a failure, and it will be a failure because there is no God consciousness. First thing is that everyone should be convinced or understand clearly that everything belongs to God. But they have no conception of God even.16

(divisions due to personal interests) Conversation, 22 May 1975. They are going to be united, but everyone is thinking, “First of all my interest.” All cheating. They are outwardly [stating], “Now we have come to the United Nations,” but no one is going to be united. Everyone is thinking, “It is my interest first. I must give veto if it is Real United Nations opposed.” This is going on. Therefore for the last twenty years or more, they are trying to be united, but it is becoming disunited. The flags are increasing. In New York they have got their headquarters. When I pass through, I see that another flag has increased.6