It is terrible misconception that US and India are just Democracies. They are Republics too. In a Republic the minority is protected from the tyranny of the majority because majority always gangs-up and muffles the voice of the minority so as to get things done "their way". We should understand what "republic" means. We seem to be under this illusion that we are a democracy only and the view of the majority always trumps. It is incorrect.
Anyone remember why we have a bicameral parliament/congress (2 houses)? Lower house is the voice of people (democracy in action) as they represent the people, the upper house is the voice of reason composed of thinkers. Lower house, representing the people, can recommend things from the citizen's point of view but upper house needs to consider the bigger picture. The upper house needs to deliberate it from all angles and decide whether a tabled proposal is good for the country, and whether it upholds individual rights and liberty. Did you know that the US senate is considered the world's most deliberative body for exactly that reason? But a rational debate of any issue based on this framework is dismissed as partisan politics and a hindrance to progress. The majority always wants us to be an "Yes Man" for everything.
One might say that societies have become way too corrupt for such idealistic thinking. Then, it is the duty of citizens to correct these mistakes rather than exacerbate the situation with more draconian measures. That is when we slip into authoritarian rule. This is not a movie where the hero cleans up the whole system by beating everyone left and right. People should limit dependence on government and stop considering the government to be the "One" that will will solve all problems. If you rely on the government for everything you tend to give it unprecedented powers and resources, and they are invariably wasted and misused. To prevent this misuse you then create another body of governance fitted with a massive bureaucratic machinery granting it even more power. But there is insufficient guarantee that this new body won't be influenced and infiltrated by politicians and their vested interests eventually (think long term). So now you have two problems instead of one.
So next time, someone touts democracy and asks you to fall in line with the majority, it is time to explain the idea of the republic and let your opinion be heard.
Anyone remember why we have a bicameral parliament/congress (2 houses)? Lower house is the voice of people (democracy in action) as they represent the people, the upper house is the voice of reason composed of thinkers. Lower house, representing the people, can recommend things from the citizen's point of view but upper house needs to consider the bigger picture. The upper house needs to deliberate it from all angles and decide whether a tabled proposal is good for the country, and whether it upholds individual rights and liberty. Did you know that the US senate is considered the world's most deliberative body for exactly that reason? But a rational debate of any issue based on this framework is dismissed as partisan politics and a hindrance to progress. The majority always wants us to be an "Yes Man" for everything.
One might say that societies have become way too corrupt for such idealistic thinking. Then, it is the duty of citizens to correct these mistakes rather than exacerbate the situation with more draconian measures. That is when we slip into authoritarian rule. This is not a movie where the hero cleans up the whole system by beating everyone left and right. People should limit dependence on government and stop considering the government to be the "One" that will will solve all problems. If you rely on the government for everything you tend to give it unprecedented powers and resources, and they are invariably wasted and misused. To prevent this misuse you then create another body of governance fitted with a massive bureaucratic machinery granting it even more power. But there is insufficient guarantee that this new body won't be influenced and infiltrated by politicians and their vested interests eventually (think long term). So now you have two problems instead of one.
So next time, someone touts democracy and asks you to fall in line with the majority, it is time to explain the idea of the republic and let your opinion be heard.
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