Democracy and Mass Media

What is Democracy?

 

When trying to define a word it is often best to begin with its etymology, its linguistic origin. The word Democracy is derived from two Greek words: Demos meaning "People", and Kratos meaning "Power". Autos means "Self" in Greek. So we have "Autocracy", or autos-kratos meaning "Power to the Self" or Dictatorship, and we have "Democracy", or demos-kratos meaning "Power to the People". 

"Power to the People" means that "The People" decide the institutions and the laws which will govern them and their land. 

 

Democracy is not a government; it is a way of thinking, a responsibility. In a democracy there is no corruption in power because it is a transparent system: the governing doctrine states that citizens have the right to access the documents and proceedings of the government, which allows for effective public oversight.

In life there is no greater pursuit than that of equal voice. Every day people are fighting for the right to be heard. Democracy is that right on a grand scale. Democracy is not only being heard, but being listened to. Democracy is when you are given an equal vote on decisions that directly affect you. And when given this tremendous responsibility, people will surprise you. They rise to the occasion and educate themselves on the issues at hand. They also work hard to ensure that the next generation is knowledgeable.

In a democracy, the youth are educated. From birth they are taught that their voice matters and their vote counts. These are rights they must fight to maintain and will prosper from. No, democracies are not free of flaws; some say that there is no way that something as simple as a popular vote could null the evils of unlawful power or social inequality. These woes are valid, but democracy can work. There are still consequences to right wrongs, and laws to help keep peace and balance. There is a difference between freedom and chaos.

Democracy, like a car, gives you what you put into it. If you build it to be unhealthy, then it will pollute the air with poison. If you do not maintain its engine, it will fail you. The power of education fuels it forward, and most importantly, people decide its fate.