NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY ODISHA

CASE ANALYSIS: PLEASE VOTE FOR ME

SEMESTER IX

COURSE INSTRUCTOR

MR. K. K. DASH

MR. KANISHKA

NAME OF STUDENT

DEEPANKAR DIKSHIT (13/BA LLB/012)

DEMOCRACY, ELECTION LAW AND INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THE MOVIE ............................................................................................................ 2

IDENTIFIED ISSUES ............................................................................................................. 3

I. Democracy as a novel idea ................................................................................................ 3
II. LIBERTY AS A NATURAL RIGHT ........................................................................................... 3
III. The idea of curroption and power ..................................................................................... 4

An Analysis of please vote for me

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 ABOUT THE MOVIE

For the first time ever, the students in grade three at Evergreen Primary School in Wuhan, China
have been asked to elect a class monitor. Traditionally appointed by the teacher, the class
monitor holds a powerful position, helping to control the students, keeping them on task and
doling out punishment to those who disobey. The teacher has chosen three candidates: Luo Lei
(a boy), the current class monitor; Cheng Cheng (a boy); and Xu Xiaofei (a girl). Each candidate
is asked to choose two assistants to help with his or her campaign.

To prove their worthiness, the candidates must perform in three events. First is a talent show,
where each candidate plays an instrument or sings a song. Second is a debate, in which the
candidates bring up the shortcomings of their opponents as well as their own personal
qualifications. And finally, each candidate must deliver a speech, an opportunity to appeal
directly to classmates and ask for their votes.

At home, each of the children is coached by his or her parents and pushed to practice and
memorize for each stage of the campaign. Although their parents are supportive, the candidates
feel the pressure. Tears and the occasional angry outburst reveal the emotional impact. At
school, the candidates talk to classmates one-on-one, making promises, planning tactics
(including negative ones) and at times expressing doubts about their own candidacies.

For all three children, the campaign takes its toll, especially for the losing candidates and their
assistants. Viewers are left to decide if the experiment in democracy has been successful and
what it might mean for democracy education in China. PLEASE VOTE FOR ME challenges
those committed to Chinas democratization to consider the feasibility of, and processes
involved in its implementation.

An Analysis of please vote for me

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 IDENTIFIED ISSUES

I. DEMOCRACY AS A NOVEL IDEA

Most striking is some of the dialogue between the candidates and their parents in the lead-up to
the election. They speak truths about the nature of freedom and liberty that are all but forgotten
in Free America. They grasp the idea of liberty as something inborn, while we seem content to
let ours be taken, incrementally, by regulation and legislation.

The teacher writes the word "democracy" on the board. She says "Democracy. Isn't this new?
You will choose your own monitors."

One of the candidates, Cheng Cheng, gets home and asks his father, "What kind of thing is
democracy?" His father's response is concise, but powerful: "Democracy is when people are
their own masters."

II. LIBERTY AS A NATURAL RIGHT

One of the candidates, Cheng Cheng, gets home and asks his father, "What kind of thing is
democracy?" His father's response is concise, but powerful: "Democracy is when people are
their own masters."

Next, another child, Luo Lei, is shown describing the election process to his parents. They are
both police officers, and not surprisingly, they attempt to brainstorm for ways to coerce the
other classmates into voting for him. The father says, "You must have a trick." Luo is adamant
in rejecting such help. His father says, "You need some tricks to let you win." Luo responds
with "No! I don't want to control others. I think they should think for themselves."

This part has to be observed and analysed properly. It speaks to something incredible about our
nature. We are built for liberty. These children, who in their totalitarian country have no training
or education by which to even identify the democratic process or the value of freedom,
recognize its essence instinctively. It is to be free to make up our own minds to choose for
ourselves what we will do and who we will be.

An Analysis of please vote for me

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III. THE IDEA OF CURROPTION AND POWER

lesson I took from this film is the allure of corruption the corruption that feeds on power. As
the election approaches, the children's civility breaks down and they explore bribery and scandal
to win votes.

But I was greatly encouraged by this film. It seems like we see our rights threatened every day.
All that "shall not be infringed" is infringed upon constantly. Our government takes what it
wants, and speech is increasingly less free. As government continues to seize civil liberties, we
witness the death throes of the republic. India would do well to remember the two truths found
in this film:

1. Democracy is when people rule themselves. Not "the people," but individuals.

2. Being an elected official does not grant the right to control others; we all retain the right
to manage our own affairs.

An Analysis of please vote for me

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