Critical Outcries Silenced, Democracy Collapses
Democracy is not merely a system and mechanism for openly, honestly, and fairly electing leaders. It is more than that. Democracy is a guarantee of popular sovereignty, which forms the core of human dignity.
Democracy in this context is not just a political institution, but a guardian of the spirit and essence of humanity, namely sovereignty.
One form of that sovereignty is the right to speak, to express opinions, and to voice one’s conscience.
The right to state one’s position, including disagreeing with those in power and authority. The right to cry out and turn away from the side of those in power.
Anyone who obstructs the exercise of these elementary rights is anti-human dignity.
That is why Winston Churchill firmly stated, “Democracy may not be the best and most perfect system we have, but up to now, democracy is far better than other systems.”
However, because power is so tempting and provides comfort, all good processes are trampled by the boundless lust for power.
Democracy that brings someone to leadership, once power is in their grasp, systematically crushes democracy instead.
The ways to silence democracy are varied. It can take the form of suppressing the people’s voices. It can involve threats and intimidation from those in power. In many cases, it even involves disappearances neatly packaged.
Even if someone is elected through a good and proper democratic process that is moral, ethical, and legal, they can still become a monster against democracy. Unbounded power is democracy’s greatest enemy.
What more if that person is elected through methods deficient in morals, bankrupt in ethics, and excessive abuse of power? They will surely become an absolute tyrant.
Why does democracy require voices that oppose power and rulers?
Critical voices are the antidote to arbitrary power. Critical voices are reminders of undignified conduct by those in power.
Critical voices are indicators that in society or national life, there is something that needs to be reprimanded, even sharply criticised. Without reprimands and sharp criticisms, such conduct by those in power harms the lives of the people as a whole.
It is in this context that we should view the recent proliferation of critical voices. These voices should not be perceived as intentions to undermine power. These voices actually aim to safeguard the dignity of power so that it does not become oppressive.