Letters | Trump, Bolsonaro, Duterte: counter the rise of populists with this
- Where public education has failed, power-hungry leaders learned to keep the masses happy cheap entertainment. Education can help prevent societies falling prey to populist democracy
A recent trend in global politics has been the rise of dictators and populist democracy that undermines liberal values and adherence to the constitution. This has been the case with Donald Trump in the United States, Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, and Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines.
Oftentimes, their populist bases are located in areas where public education has failed, and trash television and films have been allowed to fester. Dictators love these conditions as it helps them maintain their grip on power.
As Roman poet Juvenal put it: panem et circenses (bread and circuses). Even during the time of the Romans, if you simply fed your people and provided entertainment such as the gladiator duels in the Colosseum, your hold on power was secure.
These days, failed public education and the availability of entertainment about mistresses, mass murder, and other forms of cheap entertainment keep the masses happy.
Why question the hand that feeds their needs? Why would there be a need for a public accounting of funds or an audit? Everything is safe and secure in this world, whether it be a false sense of assurance for the deluded citizen, or the national leader who feeds on their ignorance.
01:24
Trump asks if light and heat can be used to treat coronavirus patients
Even if someone in this situation wanted to “think critically” to select their democratically elected leader, how could they do it if, with their limited education, they are constantly bombarded by trash films and television shows? They can’t.