Democracy and meritocracy don't always run in tandem...

I know... a democracy and meritocracy running in tandem is the wish, but it's not necessarily so. A democratic nation doesn't always mean a nation ruled by talent, pragmatists, or people of superior intellectual status. Consider yourself lucky if you have one, but taking your democracy for a silver bullet is in my view a misunderstanding of the principles of democracy.

For what it's worth, I want these things just like we all do, but even I know that our political model is such that it'd be difficult if not impossible to limit access to power to people of marked intellectual ability, because ours is based more on popular election... it's the majority that decides.

That's why where due processes of election are followed and a knave gets elected president, you cannot say it's undemocratic, because the person represents the will of, even if you think is the foolish majority, and therefore becomes the most powerful man in the country. Resistance to or disregard for that political authority is itself a violation of the dictates of democracy.

While it's perfectly understandable to get incredibly irked by what politicians do, and whilst it's our right to disagree, being disagreeable at it can cause us to go entirely out of line, like I think it's out of line to declare with so much assurance that the President and his are not our leaders but Public Servants and Chief Servant respectively; even implying that they shouldn't just be imbued with good shock absorbers for criticism, but also be punching bags for every Jack and Shinaynay... I think that's a very condescending downplay of the presidency.

I'm of the belief that anyone who happens to be in a position of leadership that affects your life is your leader; even I never vibed with our high school prefects but I recognised their leadership, not to mention someone who presides over a national cabinet and commands the armed forces.

That's why when we express a disagreement with a president in person, even though respect is earned, protocol and basic discipline demand that we start with the word “respectfully,” and use "Your Excellency" or "Mr. President" in lieu of holder's name, because it's the office (of the president) that demands that respect, even if we cannot vibe with the incumbent.

Again, for what it's worth, I respect those who have the courage to sincerely speak truth to power, especially when speaking truth to power is neither popular nor easy. They must be heard and respected. If the powers that be are not ready to hear such feedback, then they’re not ready for growth.

However, today, whether all who speaks such truth is motivated by deep belief is what I doubt. Been here, seen a lot of trash and bravado, I can tell that some go bonkers just for the heck of it, and perhaps disinclination to give credit where credit is due, which diminishes the credibility of the critic, therefore, hard to take seriously. I hope the things we say and do out of love for country will not cause us to lose our way.