An opinion by Sage Moncio
…it is at best reckless and at worst dangerous for any group of citizens to retain in power a government that is manifestly grotesque, immeasurably incompetent, prominently corrupt and disreputable, egregiously insensitive and reckless, and profoundly visionless.
It follows the view espoused by philosophers Hobbes and Voltaire that democracy provides rights and choices, but at the same time imposes obligations. Citizens have the right to vote for the persons of their choice but equally, bear the duty to vote wisely and responsibly to entrust the best people with power and authority to govern over the country. ‘Best’ in this circumstance refers to the quality of people citizens elect to power.
Drawing on the precepts of democracy and its corresponding obligations, I, with will and conscience, form and argue the view that the right to vote is absurdly meaningless if citizens don’t apply such a powerful right effectively and efficiently, to put their country on the irreversible path of greater heights in the prism of burgeoning socioeconomic transformation and the dignity of all citizens.
Nations should not permit utter mediocrity and fundamental laziness in the parameter of national leadership. When a government fails on its promises and impedes national transformation thereby depriving citizens of the benefits of better socioeconomic conditions, it must categorically face a civil reprisal, which in a democratic context would mean citizens decisively voting out such failed and bereft government.
The United Kingdom no doubt has a reputation for reprimanding dumb leadership and nations must emulate its good examples. The most recent being Prime Minister Liz Truss who would spend only 44 days in office for failing the British people with her doltish and fatal economic policy that plunged the UK economy into the abyss of economic uncertainty.
Rather than coveting and adoring bad leadership, citizens, irrespective of their political and ideological leanings, MUST despise and reject bad leadership because it severely hurts countries and citizens themselves.
Franklin D. Roosevelt stated and I couldn’t agree more and more, “Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.”
