It is convenient to blame politicians for every failure of governance. Roads remain broken, public services falter, corruption festers, and we point upward in indignation. Yet the uncomfortable truth is this: poor government is not sustained by leaders alone. It survives because citizens allow it to. Responsibility lies not only with those who govern, but equally with the governed.
A society that lacks will and conscience cannot expect principled leadership. When citizens grow passive, disengaged, and indifferent, they create fertile ground for incompetence and corruption. Elections become rituals rather than instruments of accountability. And you know how elections are conducted in this part of the world. Public outrage fades into private complaint. The corrupt and the inefficient thrive not because they are strong, but because the public is weak in vigilance and lazy in participation.
Democracy is not self-executing. It demands effort, scrutiny, and moral clarity from ordinary people. Active citizens question authority, vote responsibly, demand transparency, and reject bribery in all forms. Passive citizens shrug, look away, and rationalize decay as inevitable. The former strengthen institutions. The latter hollows them out. Which one are you?
The danger of apathy is not merely stagnation but exploitation. When people surrender their role as watchdogs, they effectively invite mismanagement. Weak oversight produces weak leadership. Corruption flourishes in silence. Poor performance goes unpunished when voters lack the will to demand consequences. In such an environment, governance deteriorates not by accident but by permission. Yes, you permitted it. In other words, you get the government you deserve.
A functional society requires an engaged, morally responsible public. Conscience is not optional in democracy. Without it, civic life becomes transactional and shallow. Without will, reform remains a slogan.
If we desire better leaders, we must first become better citizens. It is as simple as that. Poor governance is simply the reflection of a citizenry unwilling to insist on excellence. Blame may begin at the top, but it does not end there.
