We the people are made to think that democracy is as fundamental to our existence as food or air and that it is a ‘cure-all’ for all problems. Furthermore, we are also made to believe that democracy exists as long as people have the ‘right to vote’ – and that the ‘right to vote’ is what ‘freedom’ essentially means.
Clearly, that’s not the case. Our society is too full of inequality, injustice, corruption, prejudice – and there seems to be no silver lining in view.
However, do we ever try to decipher the true meaning of democracy?
Dictionary definition of democracy#1: “A system of government by the whole population or by elected representatives.”
Since the time democracy was emerging, thinkers like Aristotle and Plato have expressed their concerns against it. Many modern-day thinkers have debated extensively on the topic, but I will try and simplify things using some analogies.
If you are to choose the players for the Olympic soccer team of your country, you should be an expert in the game. That is why random people from the street do not get to choose the country’s soccer team. Now, you’ll all agree with me that running the country is a little more complicated than a game of soccer – and to put it mildly, not everyone is an expert on the topic.
So, the ‘right to vote’ suddenly seems like a flaw in the system, despite its supposed promise of ‘freedom’. If it is unwise for random people to pick the football team, just imagine the level of cognitive bias at play if random people choose the team which will run the country. No wonder everything is falling apart in our country and the entire world!
Dictionary definition of democracy#2: “Rule of the majority”
Assuming that the majority will always choose the right course of action is clearly a cognitive bias. History is testament to this fact. During the Nazi era in Germany, a large number of Germans were in favour of genocide. That did not automatically make genocide the correct course of action. And a game of football is definitely not a democracy for obvious reasons.
Dictionary definition of democracy#3: “The practice or principles of social equality”
Now, social equality is a desirable state for any society. However, ‘social equality’ and the ‘rule of the majority’ seem to be two ideas in opposition to one another. Equal right to vote will not guarantee equal right to resources when the balance is in favour of the majority. Democracy does not solve our social problems – and neither will any other political system because our issues are not political.The problems faced by the society are of a social, technological and scientific nature and we need scientists, educators, thinkers and so on; people with expertise in various fields to fix these problems.Old outdated systems such as nation-state, monetary system and irrational faith based systems must fall.We have to use science and technology to eradicate scarcity from our society and with no scarcity, there will be no competition and in a truly civilised society, cooperation should replace competition.
Companion Video: https://youtu.be/9vqJpAJxeBs