Analysis: Cash Handouts in US and India Undermine Accountability

Shiv Sena (UBT) used its Saturday editorial to draw a comparative analysis of cash‑handout policies in the United States and India, suggesting that the two democratic systems are converging on a similar, potentially harmful playbook. The piece described Trump’s suggested "Trump Dividend" – a guaranteed $5,000 credit for every adult American – as a move that would strain the U.S. budget by more than a trillion dollars, adding to an already massive $40‑plus‑trillion sovereign debt and a $1.8‑trillion annual deficit. The editorial noted the uneasy reaction from within Trump’s own Republican ranks, including statements from senior party officials who warned that the plan could trigger legal challenges and public backlash. On the Indian side, the column referenced Modi’s unfulfilled 2014 pledge to deposit ₹15 lakh in every citizen’s bank account, as well as a series of state‑level cash schemes targeted toward women, seniors, and farmers that are timed to create electoral momentum. By juxtaposing these examples, the article argued that the reliance on free‑gift distribution erodes the principle of policy‑driven voting, reduces transparency, and compromises the financial health of both nations. The editorial concluded that such tactics, while politically expedient, represent a growing global trend that jeopardises the core values of representative democracy.