EMBRACING DISCIPLINE OVER DEMOCRACY

Lord John Dalberg Acton once quoted, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. This may be true in most cases, but not always.

The late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore may be an exception - one of those remarkable individuals who rose to the pedestal of greatness through his resolve to “put things in order” for the general welfare. Of course, his successful leadership may have meant occasionally adapting a strongman’s tactics, but it seemed that he wielded that power for the greater good. Today he is generally revered for his work in transforming Singapore from third world city-state to first world status in one
generation.

The Philippines needs a benevolent dictator - a selfless leader who is willing to bite the bullet in order to restore social balance and discipline first, over any so-called democracy. A leader who will not be swayed by temptations of power and riches. A leader who won’t be cowed by the affluent elite or the contemptuous minority. A leader who is willing to use strongman’s tactics just so he can “put things in order”. So that we may be able to progress, our society needs discipline and resolve, over democracy.