One of the deputies was building a road in his village “within the scope of vote-buying”. But his money perhaps was not enough to be elected, and after the elections he not only did not continue the road-building but also blocked both ends of the road with stones, so nobody could use even the half-built road. Another failed candidate declared that he will no longer help poor students to pay their tuition fees, and said, “Ask for it from whomever you have elected”.
Can you tell that what these failed as well as “successful” deputies did was charity? I am sure you could not. I conceive charity as acting in all sincerity without expecting any compensation. I think the charity is flawless when nobody knows about it. The rest is investment. If I expect someone to thank me for my good work, then I calculate “buying” that person’s good attitude or gratitude. If I help those in need a week or five years prior to the elections with the hope that these people will vote for me, this means I invest my thousands or millions of dollars to purchase the deputy’s mandate. Of course, investments may also be for benevolent and honest purposes. For instance, I have an “extra” million, and I contribute to the educational system of Armenia by investing the money into it. It is not only for me but for all the citizens of Armenia. This investment is worth to be mentioned about (of course, discreetly, without beating the chest and reproaching), so the other millionaires follow my example. When Bill Gates spends a billion annually to contribute to the fight against cancer, he does it not for becoming a US congressman, and nor expects any US citizen to fall down at his feet and shout, “Oh, you are our king”. Gates merely wants to succeed in the fight against this disease with other investors. And those who now reproach the voters saying, “I gave you money, and you did not vote for me”, they are neither benefactors, nor even businessmen, otherwise, they would know that not all investments are 100 % reimbursed. And what about morality? Recently one of my friends asked me, “Why is that you have helped the man constantly attacking you at his difficult time”. My answer was, “I have done it not for gaining a good treatment”.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
