Based on the short story Harrison Bergeron by celebrated author Kurt Vonnegut, 2081 depicts a dystopian future in which, thanks to the 212th Amendment to the Constitution and the unceasing vigilance of the United States Handicapper General, everyone is finally equal… The strong wear weights, the beautiful wear masks and the intelligent wear earpieces that fire off loud noises to keep them from taking unfair advantage of their brains. It is a poetic tale of triumph and tragedy about a broken family, a brutal government, and an act of defiance that changes everything.
Too often, our leaders don’t abide by this basic, yet important, principle and seem to forget that they have to abide by the rules of the game before they can implement the political vision they have.
In democracies we have outlined a few basic rules: you need to get elected by a fair and transparent process to access power, when in power you are bound by the constitution and other laws, the authority of the courts and the legislative body is granted by law and should be respected and, finally, a leader cannot have control over the mechanisms meant to prevent abuses of power. These are the rules that help us protect our societies from political abuse. These are the rules that help every citizen in a democracy dream of accessing power, regardless of colour, income level or where they were born. These are the rules, my friends, that help guarantee freedoms and rights to all of us. Finally, these are the rules that help maintain peace, order and good government.
The pursuit of freedom has cost too many lives. It has taken generations and it is not worthy of abandoning. The pursuit of justice has taken too many lives. It has taken generations and should never be abandoned. Let’s remember this next time a President closes a congress. Let’s remember this next time a court is closed or judges fired for disagreeing with a leader. Let’s remember this next time a citizen is imprisoned for speaking his mind. Let’s remember this next time the press is censored because it is critical and, please, let us remember this next time anybody wants to govern by instituting fear rather than by doing what they have to do to do what they want to do…
Something to think about my friends. Have a wonderful weekend.
Too often, our leaders don’t abide by this basic, yet important, principle and seem to forget that they have to abide by the rules of the game before they can implement the political vision they have.
