No
Virtuous Leader of a Nation Can Stand
Against
a Corrupted Democracy
By Apolinario Villalobos
Democracy was conceived with a noble
purpose of providing a comfortable life for its adherents, and was given
substance by freedom, free will, liberty, equality, and many other principles
that stand for anything “free”. It is unfortunate, however, that the looseness
brought by freedom has caused its decadence today. The systems of all
democratic nations are practically loop-holed with omissions and defects giving
corrupt government officials the chance to commit frauds at will. Democracy has
been so abused lately, that its image has been deformed beyond recognition.
America which is considered by other
nations as the cradle of world democracy is showing signs of decadence as
abusive acts have practically become part of its citizens’ daily life. Guns can
be easily purchased and even youngsters can carry them around. Muggings are
prevalent making stringent laws seem useless. Parents are humbled by their
children who talk back at them every time their attention is called for
committed faults, and the former cannot do anything, as they will be reported
to the police. These undisciplined children later grow up to become young
single moms, muggers, gun-toting students, rapists, etc. It is true that
similar crimes are committed in any democratic nation, but the degree of
incidence in America is beyond expectation.
Nations that are
internationally-acknowledged as strictly disciplined like Japan, South Korea,
and Singapore are not free from the abuse committed by their supposedly,
equally well-disciplined constituents, at the first sign of opportunity.
Corruption in their government is also a ubiquitous happening just like in
other countries of their level. Along this line, the onslaught of corruption is
such that not even a spiritual nation like Vatican is free from it. No less
than the new pope himself, Francis, has called the attention of the erring
clerics to mend their ways. In other words, no amount of discipline and spirituality
can match the evil of corruption that has become deeply-rooted in humanity.
It must be noted, however, that the
uncontrollability of corruption even by a virtuous leader does not free him
from the liability for any commission by his officials. On the contrary, as a
leader, he is expected to exhaust all means and exert an extra effort in
preventing the fraudulent acts, or make necessary corrective moves, and not
just look the other way every time they are committed. Tolerance on his part
makes him liable or a party to the act.
Not even his assertion of purported ignorance makes him innocent.
Somehow, the preventive or corrective effort of the virtuous leader, though how
futile they may seem, can at least, minimize the incidence or effect of corruption…a
consolation that can appease the victims.
As for the seemingly “unblemished”
constituents of the corrupted democratic nations, perhaps, they can exert an
extra effort in persisting to be consistent in acting as expected of them…
law-abiding citizens, an act that can somehow resuscitate Democracy as it
grasps for precious breath.
