Democracy and Rule of Law
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (28389)
Singapore
May 7, 2016 9:38pm CST
Who can ever forget the soulful words "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth"? Ironically after one hundred and fifty years of the stirring speech many countries are grappling to balance democracy and freedom with rule of law. There are the few who seem to be above law or justice seems to be applied selectively. Such an approach makes the common citizens lose hope.
When we see the reality in many countries it is more of democracy and freedom without rule of law and the result is anarchy. India is the largest democracy going by the number of voters but enforcement of law is surely lacking. Recently a wealthy and flamboyant businessman fled the country owing banks over a billion dollars. While a person with limited means is anxious to clear the dues many rich are able to find excuses and indulge in delaying tactics and even act as victims.
It is so much better that countries put the big fish under their scanner than go after those who are minor players. Garnering resources and going after the big defaulters should make others toe the line. Now the poor save whatever they are able to only to see they are lent to those who have no intention to repay.
Why such double standards? Is democracy a real stumbling block to the enforcement of law and justice? I feel these are issues that have to be tackled as justice delayed is justice denied. It will be tough to find a solution as political leaders are hardly trusted in most countries.
How to make democracies really function? I feel greater transparency is the way forward with technology playing a crucial role.
What is your take on making democracies work so that some are not more than equal, even above law?
7 people like this
6 responses
@annierose (21977)
• United States
13 May 16
It seems that true democracy is just an illusion. When people already have the power, they tend to be self-centered. They become selective of who are those they are going to help. In our country, the rich becomes richer and the poor becomes poorer.
2 people like this
@annierose (21977)
• United States
14 May 16
@Shiva49 I suggest one of the reasons why some people keep on doing stupid things is that they lack the education. Poverty is rampant especially in the third world country like the Philippines. Many cannot afford to study and just prefer to look for jobs in order to survive.
2 people like this
@annierose (21977)
• United States
14 May 16
@Shiva49 It is true but it is easier to hold grudges than to let go. It is same here in our country. Politicians always blame one another instead of doing what needs to be done. They all talk and talk but no actions at all.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (28389)
• Singapore
13 May 16
We need a higher awareness to come out of the rut.
Now it is more of whoever we elect the boss remains the same!
While changing leaders we have also to understand what others need be changed to make democracy work. By merely changing the color of the bus it is not going to run faster if the roads are same.
It is sad that the rich become richer at the cost of the poor almost everywhere - siva
2 people like this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
13 May 16
Democracy can only work when you have smart people who care for the good of the majority voting for smart politicians who care about the people.
That is not possible in this world.
In every country, the rule of 80/20 ensure that the majority of the people (80%) are selfish and short-sighted in nature.
If you ask them to vote for politicians who promise long term benefits and short term pain, they will not do that.
They will vote for politicians who promise immediate gain to them, even if that means the country will be worse off in the future.
2 people like this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
14 May 16
@Shiva49 The best democracy is in Switzerland.
Whenever someone has a good idea, and gets enough support, the whole country goes to vote on the idea.
So far, Switzerland has turned down on a lot of leftist idea, such as increasing the minimum wage.
That is good.
It shows that democracy can work when people are wise.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (28389)
• Singapore
13 May 16
When I think of democracy and its state of affairs in most countries, Lee Kuan Yew's wise words come to mind "Democracy and freedom without rule of law is anarchy"
I see in many countries people take it as free for all - democracy comes with caveats for it to benefit people. I cannot swing my arms around in a busy street taking advantage of the freedom I enjoy.
We need to find a via media so that the majority benefits. But they should work for a living. Earlier Russians use to say " they pretend to pay and we pretend to work". I recall also Deng Xiaoping's famous words " It does not matter whether the cat is black or white, it has to catch mice!
To get dedicated leaders is tough. In most countries politics is a cesspool of corruption and people do not want to step in as their motives become questionable ie to make a fast buck.
We need a complete overhaul and modern technology can help in getting people more involved to decide on crucial matters and to break political gridlocks/deadlocks - siva
2 people like this
@karjatwala (1120)
• Pune, India
8 May 16
Now democracies have become - Government for the rich and influential, of the rich and influential and by the rich and influential.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (28389)
• Singapore
11 May 16
It is indeed a sad commentary on the progress we have made or lack thereof.
The state of the rich and poor are the same, democracy or otherwise in many countries.
We are left to choose from what we think is the best from the worse list and they prove worse than those they condemned and replaced! siva
2 people like this
@innertalks (23741)
• Australia
23 May 19
If we compare Earth to Heaven, God rules, but not with an iron fist.
God appoints or creates various posts upon which various gifted people can sit and do their thing to allow Heaven to work, connectly so.
When people ignore their God-given gifts, democracy fails, and falls prey then to greed, rather than to love.
We should live our dreams, not kill other peoples!
Picture Credit:
This picture belongs to this writer.
@innertalks (23741)
• Australia
23 May 19
@Shiva49 Yes, but then if we make our bed, we often think then that we are the ones who must sleep in it.
The truth is though, once made, we can change that bed for a better one.
We can try many different beds over a life-time.
Some are lumpy, some hard, some too soft. Every bed that we lie in teaches us something new and different. We should not religiously hang onto our bed!
Yes, you are right there, when you said, "This life can well be a testbed to test us of our resolve."
Over time, we learn best what type of bed was made for us by God.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23741)
• Australia
24 May 19
@Shiva49 Yes, it's hard for the stiff-necked and hard of heart to be flexible though, especially, if they also hate change, or are afraid of the things needing to be changed, from the normally comfortable bed that they sleep in now.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28389)
• Singapore
24 May 19
@innertalks When we get too comfortable with a bed, we are told to change it with a hard one! The best is the Goldilocks zone for our spine - neither too soft nor too hard!
There are the few who seem to have every material comfort but are unable to have a restful sleep! They have gone against the basics of what suits them, led astray by all that glitter.
Yes, flexibility is the key and I admire the few who are comfortable wherever they are placed in life. For them, it is all about giving and the reward is the very blessing of another day - siva
1 person likes this
