It's "Fast" Becoming A Trend

I wouldn't be surprised if a child suddenly tells his mother that if he doesn't get the next super-hero action figure he'll fast unto death. Somehow, everyone that has a problem and the resources and patience to take it to the media ends up fasting for the "cause". What I don't understand, among many things, is why the fast? All the time that one wastes sitting on a platform vowing not to drink or eat till one's conditions are agreed to, can be invested in strategy making, investigation, gathering proof, besides other things, like actually staying alive to fight the battle.
 Anna Hazare decides that he's going to fast for the Lokpal Bill. Do the majority of people supporting such causes in rallies, public protest marches etc, even know what they're rallying for? The spirit of rebellion is infectious yes. But it's also extremely useless if the rebellion is a one night stand.
  It's very credible, what Anna Hazare did and the number of people he reached out to. But just because one man decides he's had enough, it suddenly becomes a trend for potential protesters. Our very own Saffron-clad Baba Ramdev decides to go international with his "jump-aasan" being telecast across the globe [whether for the lack of better news or for sheer entertainment, I do not know].
  The point I'm trying to make here is, it is foolishness to point fingers at the Congress and the BJP and saying to one that it is corrupt. Merely saying "the government is corrupt" yields nothing. The government is not made up of only Congress men and women. Yes we have an atrociously inefficient, inconsiderate and complacent government, and yes this is the worst it has ever been for several existing generations, but if the last bunch of elected candidates wasn't enough to give us an idea, how will we learn from this bunch that these people are up there because the citizens are equally complacent?
  Why do we still think that the person standing behind us in line at the voting centre will make a responsible choice while we can afford to "play safe"? Why are we still so scared of responsibility? Why are terrorists who bombed our cities, killed our people, living smugly in a high security prison with first class facilities? Why is the government spending crores on keeping Kasab alive when that money could easily be utilized for renewable energy, food and shelter for the homeless, education for the poor, employment opportunities? Why do we outgrow scams that would make us hang our heads in shame? Why do we make India look so helpless, so weak?
   A hero died. A hero fasting for keeping the river Ganga clean, lay in the same hospital as Ramdev and yet, the saffron-swami got away with all the glory. 9days without food or water, and Ramdev suddenly became saviour. But pitch that against a 115 day-long fast for withdrawal of mining companies from the Ganges' banks, and it barely qualifies as a joke. Politically inclined or not, Ramdev has had media focus for so long now that it's getting nauseating.
  I genuinely hope that someday soon, sense will prevail and this "fast" trend will go slow. With rampant corruption in all leading political parties, and their off-shoots as well, I hardly think pointing fingers at ONE party is going to help the situation.