Fortune News | Apr 22,2022
Apr 24 , 2021
By Halima Abate (MD)
It is not easy to describe democracy in just one sentence, but the phrase “majority rule and minority rights” comes close. Its fundamental layout encompasses the equality of human beings, the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Hence, democracy is a course of action where individual’s self-rule exerts collective harmony, creating a political unit that attains socio-economic progress.
As a principle, a healthy political environment includes the right to the ballot as a way of influencing public policy and governance. Elections are critical for choosing our representatives in government and giving a temporary but stable mandate for the exercise of power. But every time citizens opt not to exercise their right to vote; democracy is severely diminished.
No one disputes that voting is a fundamental right, where the notion that we govern ourselves by free choice is affirmed. Voting represents the beginning; everything else in our democracy follows. We sometimes imagine that voting involves nothing more than showing up at the polling booth for a few minutes and putting our voice in the ballot box.
However, the process comes from and is guided by our feelings, values, principles, assumptions and knowledge. Many of these stem from our backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. It also arises from our conscious decisions about what is right, the virtues that we aspire toward, and the beliefs that motivate us. The goal of political discourse is to inform our conscious decision-making beyond what backgrounds and cultures we come from – it is an appeal to reason-based self-governance.
Political parties have an expanded role to play in this. They are positioned to promote policy alternatives on key issues affecting public administration and governance. They also have a sizeable influence in the productiveness and fairness of the exchange of ideas. An example of how a lack of this could negatively affect national discourse was evident in the conduct of former US President Donald Trump during the 2016 and 2020 elections.
Bridging gaps and being accountable in conveying one's ideas to the public is necessary for the democratic process. It creates goodwill between parties and allows them to express themselves in a manner that would not automatically turn off the other side.
Thus, how should we conceive of and discuss the right to vote and its associated controversies?
Differentiating between protecting an individual's right to vote and merely ensuring equality among voters has both theoretical and practical consequences. If we believe that everyone should have a voice in our democracy, we should also eliminate avoidable burdens that might affect all voters. As the first-line actors in the election process, governments should better protect the individual right to vote by guaranteeing an opportunity to participate for all voters.
When some citizens fail to exercise their right to vote, observers must question the degree to which government by the people exits. The phrase “free and fair elections” has two critical components. “Free” has mainly to do with the integrity of ballots, and almost entirely concerns the electoral body. "Fair" is another matter. It relates to the independence of democratic institutions. The courts, security forces and public media should be perceived to be autonomous enough for voters to have confidence in the electoral process.
Political participation will be most effective when there is awareness created regarding democratic values. A citizenry that participates only by occasionally voting in elections will not cut it; it will be a knee-jerk reaction that fails to comprehend the full extent of the country’s political life. Direct engagement in debating and deciding public issues is the civic virtue that sustains democracy. The key aspect of that virtue is for citizens to look beyond their individual self-interest to the larger needs of the community.
PUBLISHED ON
Apr 24,2021 [ VOL
22 , NO
1095]
Fortune News | Apr 22,2022
Commentaries | Jul 06,2019
Viewpoints | Feb 08,2020
My Opinion | May 04,2019
Verbatim | Oct 10,2020
Verbatim | Jan 07,2023
My Opinion | Aug 07,2021
Commentaries | Nov 29,2020
Verbatim | Mar 19,2022
Agenda | Dec 05,2018
Photo Gallery | 97550 Views | May 06,2019
Photo Gallery | 89786 Views | Apr 26,2019
My Opinion | 67441 Views | Aug 14,2021
Commentaries | 65855 Views | Oct 02,2021
Editorial | May 02,2024
Feb 24 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
Abel Yeshitila, a real estate developer with a 12-year track record, finds himself unable to sell homes in his latest venture. Despite slash...
Feb 10 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
In his last week's address to Parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) painted a picture of an economy...
Jan 7 , 2024
In the realm of international finance and diplomacy, few cities hold the distinction that Addis Abeba doe...
Sep 30 , 2023 . By AKSAH ITALO
On a chilly morning outside Ke'Geberew Market, Yeshi Chane, a 35-year-old mother cradling her seven-month-old baby, stands amidst the throng...
May 2 , 2024
For successive generations of Ethiopia's tax authorities, the chore of tax collection...
Apr 27 , 2024
The Prosperity Party (PP) - Prosperitians - is charting a course through treacherous...
Apr 20 , 2024
In a departure from its traditionally opaque practices, the National Bank of Ethiopia...
Apr 13 , 2024
In the hushed corridors of the legislative house on Lorenzo Te'azaz Road (Arat Kilo)...
May 3 , 2024
The feel-good life coaching industry would have people believe that success is not only about showing up in the swirling whirl of modern lif...
May 4 , 2024 . By BERSABEH GEBRE
Brook Taye (PhD), the director general of the newly established Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA), has issued a stern warning to com...
May 4 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
Dreams of an agriculture sector unshackled from the whims of rain remain tethered to the struggling Minis...
May 4 , 2024
Large public projects exceeding 250 million Br will be required to use Building Information Modelling (BI...