Reason and Democracy Are Tied Together - Essay Example

Democracy and Reason The basic tenets of democracy are that every person under democratic space must have a say in how the leadership governs. At the ancient periods of democracy when it was introduced by societies of Greece, each member of that society was given an opportunity to have a say in the government operations. In those days, democracy was taken as the choice of many and thus even a mob justice could be confused for democracy. Therefore, it is paramount to have a reasonable democracy that respect all irrespective of their numerical strength. The ideas of democracy and reason should be tightly linked together in a way that it is impossible to believe in one idea without also believing in the other idea for rational democracy make humankind enjoys democratic fruits. However, every country that practices democracy as its system of governance has its way of interpreting it which might not appear always rational in other societies based on their actions, culture and beliefs. Unlike before, nowadays people’s opinions are forwarded to the government by elected representatives elected by that society as the population is much higher for every person to directly address the government. This has increased the much needed transparency and reason which must accompany the decision of a representative, for one would appear a fool to present an idea before thinking about its end results even though being the choice of majority (President Obama). The majority are not always right for a decision made by many uninformed people does not always auger well for them and the society they live in, hence the leadership even though democracy must put a reason in their governing to yield better results for all. Successful democracy must not be ultimate system where the majority of the people is entitled to make all the opinions regardless of the minority groups which in many circumstances might end up being mobbed rule. A good example of worst mob rule confused with democracy is the Nazis Brown Shirts from Germany. A mature democracy must observe ethics, reason and morals which are formulated by the majority citizens (President Obama). The ideas of democracy that do not observe reasons are tantamount to oppression or hypocrisy of the great order as the rulers who do not engage in reasonable ideas yet they purport to practice democracy manipulate the population to consent to their selfish deed while critics are suppressed. Just as President Obama comments in his speech delivered at Cairo University on June 2009 states that, ‘elections alone do not make true democracy’ (President Obama), democratically elected leadership must adhere to reason in its execution of its assigned duties if truly it follows a democratic system of governance. It is said that absolute power corrupt absolutely and if a government however determined to be free to its people remain unchecked by other organs within its rank, it will slowly transform into a tyrannical regime. The ideals that tie together democracy and reason in a democratic society are the ingredients approved and means well for the people being governed. These rational democratic ingredients that a leader must maintain are placing the interest of the people and legitimizing political working process beyond party politics, respecting the right of minority groups, maintaining power through consent instead of coercion and allowing compromise and tolerance. The ideas of democracy and reason are also tied together because freedom must be tolerated without being biased toward a leader believes. For example, it would be a violation of democracy to allow a certain religion to be practiced in your area as a leader while you bar others. Lack of religious tolerance would lender a leader dictatorial as he/she would be violating the right of minority groups toward their rights of worship of which would lead to animosity and conflict in the barred groups (President Obama). Reason must be applied to all laws where all people all catered for equally without being subjected to their political affiliation. If a leader believes in the ideas of democracy he/she must have ideas of reason in the way he/she runs the government not to be swayed by irresponsible acts that might lead to his/her downfall. Reason dictates respect for religious and cultural diversity and so is democracy. A person who believes in the ideas of democracy also support ideas of reason such as that every person irrespective of gender must enjoy his/her rights. Democracy just as reason craves for prosperity and peace and thus denying a person for example a girl her educational right just because your culture does not allow is being unreasonable and thus being partially committed to the democratic system. Democracy is about equality for all and not about selected few and thus a reasonable and truly democratic government should strive to better the living standard of its entire population including women to achieve leadership positions. One can claim to be democratic yet he/she lacks to see the reason behind educating girls as well as boys and empowering them to advance desired prosperity. Since democracy is the government of the people by the people, it involves competition during the electioneering period where rival parties call each all form names as a way of appeasing voters. Nonetheless, most likely it is only one group that emerges the winner, it is in this period that the winning team must exercise caution and reason in uniting the populace it anticipate to read. A government that does utilize the ideas of reason can end up creating more enemies that are unifying the country (President Obama). It is basics of democracy to respect every person as every citizen in a democratic society has fundamental dignity and worth. Moreover, the ideas of reason maintain that one must respect and sacrifice for another just as in a democracy where people pay taxes to deliver services used all citizens irrespective whether they contributed or not. Again reason just democracy allows individual freedoms where citizens are allowed to pursue their interests as long they are within the governing laws. Another reason that makes the ideas of democracy and reason to be intertwined is their characteristics of allowing comprise. Free will decisions are made through comprise as comprise yield diverse views where every group gives and takes to allow an amicable solution that is acceptable by majority. Just like the ideas of reason, democracy are known to highly value the free expression of ideas as majority must give space to minority to either criticize them or sway their opinion so that finally the concluded issues to be better for many in not all. When we use the ideas of reason, we do so to provide measures and check to our extreme sides, this is replicated in a democracy where a reasonable democracy aims at balancing authority and freedom as too much freedom is chaotic where extreme power is corrupt. Both democracy and reason are tied together in action and remedy for isolating one ideal to perfect another does not auger well at all. A reasonable democracy does not allow room for violent extremism of whichever kind of its end results is mass destruction which starts with mistrust and discord (President Obama). Where the ideas of reason are implemented democratically, everyone knows in that society that the killing of innocent women, children and men is illegal. Therefore, a leader cannot argue that because most of his people approve capital punishment of innocent people he/she will continue implementing their choice. A wise leader who exercises ideas of democracy knows wells that reason must be adhered to in governance for it is not always right that the mob is correct but with reason majority come to an amicable solution. Reason and democracy are also tied together because a decision made democracy must have used the ideals of reason before all the parties involved consented to it. Leadership under democratic system use reasons to honor signed treaties and promises made for the masses. In addition, it is through reason that democracy comes in where one respects the will of the majority by not coercing them over your opinion. Peace in a democratic society is achieved when ideas of reason are integrated with democratic principles thus everyone is able to justice an action being undertaken. It is the absence of free will and choices that make people hate others and who try to use them as proxies in furthering their self interest. To make concrete decision that appeases majority, one must use ideas of reason in a democratic manner to allow participating or involved parties to speak their mind and contribute to how they would like to read. Eliminating one of these ideas mean translate to tyranny which sow seeds of discontent and revolutions. Work Cited President Obama. “Obama’s Speech in Cairo.” Timeless City. Cairo. 4 June 2009. Keynote Speech. Read More