By Oliver Mills

Our world today seems to
be undergoing transformations at an accelerated pace. We read of and
view street demonstrations happening on almost every continent at
levels never before witnessed. Even in countries with previously some
semblance of stability now face social challenges to do with the
distribution of wealth, unemployment, freedom of expression, human
rights, and the ever president evil of corruption.

In Hong Kong, a
millionaire involved in the marches there, when asked what his reason
was, when he was so wealthy, replied, “What’s the use of money
when you are not free?”

At first glance, economic
issues seem to dominate as the trigger for the demonstrations. But
spilling from this are political concerns about government becoming
more authoritarian, corruption in government, and political elitism
that ignore the plight of those not so well endowed. These issues are
at the centre of calls for more democracy

What is interesting here
is that these demonstrations involve citizens of various persuasions,
who have collectively and spontaneously taken to the streets to vent
their feelings about governance and its failure to deliver.

Social and political
pressures have produced political consciousness to the extent where
citizens are willing to brave even the most extreme measures the
state has unleashed on them, to make their voices heard. Events have
triggered their thinking into taking practical action to restore the
values of democracy and human and economic rights.

Here, the thinking citizen
has become the standard-bearer of the values of democracy, and an
activist for the democratic cause.

But what characterizes the
thinking citizen which makes him or her a standard-bearer of
democracy?

The thinking process
enables citizens to view issues critically and creatively. This is
particularly the case when their elected representatives abuse their
authority, show disrespect and disregard for the country’s core
values, and use the institutions of government for their private
purposes. Here, the citizen evaluates these behaviours, shares their
concerns with others, and this creates an environment of awareness
where a critical mass is fostered which enriches the consciousness of
the ‘body politic.’ From this point collective democratic action
is taken to either restore the traditions of the country, or
positively seek to solve the issues which brought about social action
in the first place.

This kind of critical and
creative thinking which is actually problem-solving, could further
result in the resignation from political office of those whose
improper actions caused the crisis.

The thinking citizen is a
standard-bearer of democracy because he thinks for himself in a
responsible way, making judgments that are carefully considered. This
means that this citizen is not a casualty of fake news, ‘politricks,’
or alternative facts. This individual analyses what is read or said
and comes to an independent conclusion based on a careful assessment
of what is presented, and arrives at his or her own interpretation,
not influenced by the ideas of political operatives, or “group
think.”

As a result of these
thinking skills, ideas are deprived of a single view point, or the
necessity to achieve a result beneficial to power holders. The
situation is reversed where power is now exercised by majority
involvement, and this is one of the corner stones of democracy, and
an important trigger for change. The new, critical thinking then
becomes embedded in how institutions are structured, and how they
should operate. In addition, how to assess alternatives, and arrive
at workable democratic solutions, now pervade the process of decision
making.

The citizen who thinks,
develops the capacity to explain differences and disagreements that
inevitably arise in social discourse, in a reasonable way, so that
everyone becomes a winner, because a wider social objective aimed at
societal transformation is involved. And real democracy requires this
to achieve a consensus. When explanations are clear and not
ambiguous, a greater understanding is possible. And harmony can
prevail.

The citizen who thinks and
uses his critical faculties is a positive asset to society in that he
is able to determine what is not working, and how it could be made
right before challenges arise. He can present different points of
view about an issue, and conclude which is the best way forward. He
also has the tools to enable fellow citizens to come to their own
conclusions about matters, and not become the victims of the
self-interests of others.

Oliver Mills is a former lecturer in education at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus. He holds an M.Ed degree from Dalhousie University in Canada, an MA from the University of London and a post-graduate diploma in HRM and Training, University of Leicester. He is a past Permanent Secretary in Education with the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands