Perception vs. Reality: The Illusion of Democracy in Crisis
January 24, 2025
You’ve likely heard the saying, "Perception is reality." This notion drives much of human behavior, particularly in politics. A prime example is the perception of corruption, often equated with actual corruption. It’s also why political parties work tirelessly to create the impression that they are winning before elections, leveraging the so-called bandwagon effect to sway undecided voters.
However, perception has another curious quality: it can persist even when reality has long shifted. Many people, for instance, still believe democracy works—not perfectly, of course, but well enough. Yet, there’s mounting evidence that democracy in many nations, in-cluding the United States, is more a façade than a functional system. The American media—and global observers—are finally acknowledg-ing that the United States operates more like an oligarchy than a de-mocracy. The irony? This oligarchic reality has existed for years if not decades.
This brings me to our own elections. On our island, 80% of the population lives on a maximum of 3,000 guilders per month. With skyrocketing prices—especially for necessities—people aren’t living; they’re merely surviving. Under these conditions, the perception that democracy is a rational process where voters carefully weigh their decisions before casting a ballot is inadequate.
It’s a fact that poverty fundamentally alters the way people think. When survival is the priority, long-term decision-making takes a back seat. This makes it incredibly difficult to find solutions to the is-land’s—and the world’s—biggest challenges through democratic means. Yet, as flawed as democracy is, a non-democratic government would likely be far worse.
Here’s the troubling paradox: democracy can—and has—been used to elect non-democratic regimes. History offers us stark warn-ings: Germany in the 1930s, Venezuela in recent decades, and even El Salvador and the United States today. In Singapore, this phenomenon has been institutionalized since the 1960s, where a semi-authoritarian system thrives under the guise of democracy.
This year, our elections present a similar danger. They are some of the most challenging elections we’ve ever faced. Only one party has released an election program so far, and it wasn’t even shared with me upon request. Few candidates on the ballot demonstrate vision, com-petence, or even the perception of integrity. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
Our island’s unsustainable policies, high levels of perceived cor-ruption, and dwindling democratic values must be addressed. The growing fear among people to express themselves is toxic for democ-racy. Yet, even amid these difficulties, I urge you to think carefully when you vote.
This year, voting will not be easy. But it is essential. The future of our island—and democracy itself—depends on it.
Miguel Goede
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