When Athenian citizens, during the period of Pericles, in the 5th century BC, gave wide knowledge to the concept of “democracy”, the understanding was of a unique conception of the relationship between the governed and the governors.
It was a contrast to the monarchy regime, where the government (king) ruled everything and everyone; and also to the oligarchy, where the few prevailed over the many. let’s give means people or many, while
kracia means government or authority. Thus, as Plato and Aristotle observe, democracy would be a form of government exercised by many.
No Art. 1, sole paragraph of our constitution, this concept was transcribed: “All power emanates from the people, who exercise it through elected representatives or directly, under the terms of this Constitution”. In 1988, when the question was settled that we would live in a Democratic Republic, the agreement was formed that the people would be the rulers of this country. The people as the real and true ruler of the policies, laws and public affairs that will determine the paths to be followed.
We see in the present day, claims of maturing of this concept, where “entities”, “institutions”, “artists” and some self-proclaimed “intellectuals”, feel empowered to determine what subjects can be discussed, what sciences should be followed, which religions are more or less worthy of respect.
The true people want their right to have doubts, questions, positions, beliefs, superstitions and even ignorance about this or that subject. These people want to decide for themselves.
These “anointed ones”, due to their arrogance, are absolutely certain that they are representing a people, who may even pay respect and admiration for their music, poems, theatricality or knowledge, but they have never been elected to anything. The real people, those who pay their taxes, take the crowded bus, who are not entitled to two or three annual vacations, those people who do not have the “prerogatives” of having meals washed down with expensive wines and lobster, who do not have security guards. armed, who do not have cars at their disposal, who cannot go to international tennis tournaments and shout their political opinions, these people are the demos of democracy. This people is what determines what are the subjects and the true “prerogatives” of the “kracia”.
The true people want their right to have doubts, questions, positions, beliefs, superstitions and even ignorance about this or that subject. These people want to decide for themselves, they want to buy one, two or ten television sets, they want to have an ugly house and a nice car, they want to have a nice house and a bicycle, they want to have no house and no car, that is, they want whatever they want. What the people do not want is for self-proclaimed holders of the absolute truth, hiding through “institutions” made up of people who do not even have their names and functions known, saying that they speak for the people.
These “institutional” anointed ones who claim to defend democracy seem to have been wrong in their original concept, after all, few that overlap many, is not democracy, but oligarchy. The people have no way of speaking on the national network, in the media and in communication consortia. The people have only two options left, the ballot box, for the election of those to whom they entrust their representation; and the street, where its expression can take shape and be diffused. If the first option causes distrust or insecurity, or the elected officials do not show aptitude or respect to voters, the people will take to the streets to express their will and those who opposed such an act will be going against true democracy.
And how do I know how the people feel? I’m not an intellectual, I don’t have millions of fans on social media, I didn’t write songs that became the anthems of a generation, I never wore shorts to the STF, nor ate a lobster. I wake up early every day and go to work. I try to give the best I can for my family. I am shaken by the suffering of my neighbor. I have debts. I make a payment to buy another TV. I am more of a João, a José or a Maria. I am the people.
Tiago Marian is a small business owner and has a degree in Business Administration from Tuiuti University of Paraná.
