For I am a concerned citizen of Togo, a country whom I cherish very dearly and whole heartedly. Rather to stay on the side of the debate of our form of government and the new political development of the past 20 years in the country, I could not wait any longer to throw out there my own opinion in the midst of so many debates around the country itself. Today we do have a multiplication of political parties in the country. All of them claiming to have the right answers of the political and economic fallout of the country. Really! I do mean really? Governing a country is a duty to serve, to protect and to defend the constitution put forward by designated and respected law makers. A country without constitutional laws is a country of anarchy and chaos; hence a country of lawless criminals of all sort. Still, I am searching my soul; I have been searching my soul on the political divide in Togo, because charity begins at home. I have listened for over 15 years the political flight and plight in Togo. It has been a matter of fight or retrieve. Many lives have been lost during the course of this fight of many ideas of political stability, good governance and a government of people, for the people and by the people. Then we choose a form of government that suit our ways of life and how we intend to live our lives bearing the responsibility of good citizenship governed by constitutional laws in which we ought to obey without any discretion. Because we are never being absolute, optimistic of human behavior to govern well beyond any expectations, ability dually invested in our leaders; we always say: “SO Help US God”. It is always being a solemn moments of joy, grief, optimism and pessimism, amongst all other concern that society has from the beginning of its existence. Many countries choose different form of structural leadership call government to lead a nation, a community of people. The people invest trust in these chosen ones to be their guardian and gate keeper in the daily lives in term of security; to provide needed basic but optimum public services to the people or its citizens. The well-being of such political choices depend of the ability of its citizens to understand the choice they have made or about to make for their governance; a system to govern them for an unforeseeable future.
Nowadays, we all talk about the good things that a democratic system brings to its citizens. It has become a fairytale everyday story and discussion of every kitchen table or home of Togo and everywhere in the world. This political dream bear the effects of violence, despair, false anticipation, destruction and even human loss to families. In all we ought to have an informed solution to our protracted desire to better political structure that serves and protects all but not the fewest among the population. I said early that I have been searching my soul for better understanding of “world of democracies”. I have not arrived yet. I am still confused in my endeavor of uncertainty. More I deepened myself into this idea of democracy my perception and reflection shut down my optimistic view of the world of democracies. There are so many forms of government around the world so much so that I am confused of what democracy means for the world. Just like religion denomination, everyone after careful consideration of other options that deem appropriate and vital which fit well to his own dimension; would declare to his opponents and proponents his bittersweet or better sweet ideas of good governance. Depending on the beliefs of its constituents; he may or may not succeed at all odds.
There are two major forms of democracies: religious democracy and constitutional democracy. Which democracy are we choosing in Togo?
There Christian Democracy – constitutional Democracy (USA) – Mixed systems of Democracy – Bourgeois Democracy – Democratic Dictatorship (China) – all sort forms of democracies around the developed world. In the 90’s USA declared to the world a “New World Order” that proved to be disastrous and detrimental, chaotic to the rest of the world, especially the poorest countries of the globe. Then we ought not to forget the effects of the World Bank and its affiliate IMF on the poorest countries in the name of democracies. We have become beggars, subjects and objects of these two financial institutions of the rich countries around the globe which with all efforts; is to undermine the economic, political, and social development of the poor, underdeveloped and undeveloped world countries. It is pity for their hierocracy and hypocrisy! For the rest of the world has been paying for their greed, lack of empathy toward others, self-gratification and their bottles of champagnes, GIN and Whisky; and fine wines in their so-called G7 or G8 summit; where they usually plan their next financial attack on the rest of the world while pretending to be the savior of the rest of the world.
In continuation of my previous article, the opinion; I really believe that citizens of the third world and particularly the political opponents of all sort ought to stop or cease the blaming games, the games of division, of bigotry, of ethnicity, of incitement of political divide. Rather they ought to inform the citizen about the truth of participating, an informed decision making to stand on our own feet, bearing the price of any political system we intend to reside in or desire to promulgate in the society. Tell them the truth, tell them the reality that they face in determining their political journey with no horizon on sight. Democracy bears good governance through taxes and collections of dues from its citizens. The people of developed world pay heavy taxes on their incomes and revenues from which their respective government donate, borrow to the third world. These citizen most often get nothing in return from their government; except social services to whom it deems necessary and appropriate; but not all the tax payers. Again I am emphasizing on the right to contribute to the wellbeing and functions of our government. By contributing to our society we are standing tall against any political betrayal, demeanor. Hatred, division, bigotry, selfishness and self-gratification. We become a garden of flowers whereas our government becomes our gate keeper, defender and protector; because we pay our dues for our political and economic independence. When we were called next time on the table vis-à-vis to the developed world; we can declare to them, we know how to clean our own backyard and help is no longer needed. Thanks, but no thanks; and do have nice day yourself. All working Africans in USA, Europe and elsewhere in any developed world are paying taxes to support these liars, most fictitious, vicious governments, undermining the development, integrity, security, prosperity, and dignity of Africa. If indeed we wake up; if indeed we realize the true face, facts and side effects of our approaches to the developed world, time would be on our side soon or later. China rose from his own aches and ashes; and now is flooding every market of the mother Africa for its economic and social independence. Africa should not be forever the fishing pond of the rest of the world. Africa is the last frontier of the world economic fight. We should not let that happen to us again just like the ignorance and naivety of our bearing fathers let slavery destroyed the human nature of the Africa. We have had colonialism. Are we ought to again let the “neocolonialism” destroy the will of Africa! Again! I would say no this time around and God forbidden it!
As Africans, we are called upon to fulfill our duties in contributing to the wellbeing of our government by honoring our dues and obligations to the state. These are our obligations. By paying our dues and by supporting our government, we are distancing ourselves from the development of injustice and conditionality of the World Bank and IMF; their bearing burden; their structural adjustment of economic injustice and political infirmity. I called that “The Triangular Side Effects of Africa”.
There are two main distinctive types of democracy: direct and representative. • There are three systems of democracies: parliamentary, presidential, and mixed. • Parliamentary systems are distinct because of the power that they place in the hands of the legislative branch. In such systems, the executive is split between.
Again, my firm beliefs on the issues:
First, a citizen in a democracy should have the duty to vote. If it were up to me, voting would be a requirement. What is wonderful about a democracy is that we choose who will represent us. There is no point to a democracy in which we do not participate.
Second, a citizen in a democracy should have an obligation to understand the powers and duties of the government, generally set forth in a constitution. If we do not know this, the government that does not act properly has no checks upon it and can avoid carrying out its duties.
Third, a citizen in a democracy should have the responsibility of knowing his or her rights, which are also generally set forth in a constitution. If we do not know what our rights are, they are meaningless.
Fourth, a citizen in a democracy should always know who his or her representatives are. If we do not know who is representing us, we do not know whether or not that person is representing us properly, to whom we should complain if that is the case, or to whom we should state our own opinions and preferences.
Fifth, a citizen in a democracy should assume the responsibility of being informed about the issues that affect the country as a whole, for example, the economy, immigration policy, environmental policy, and foreign policy.
Sixth, a citizen in a democracy is also a citizen of the world and as such, should be informed about the major issues that affect other countries. These inevitably have an impact on the citizen. A drought in one country might mean providing foreign aid or might mean a rise in prices of a commodity that the citizen needs.
Seventh, a citizen should be concerned and informed about local conditions, those that affect him or her most directly, what a city is doing about urban blight or homeless people. This is one of the most important aspects of living in a democracy when a citizen is informed, since the information closest to home is usually the best information, and this provides one's greatest opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
Eighth, a citizen should be willing to pay taxes, since without taxes to provide a democratic government, there would be no democracy. A democracy must provide for all of its citizens.
Ninth, a citizen must have a duty to obey the law. A democracy cannot exist in a lawless society, and without the willingness of citizens to obey the law, which is really a social contract, no government has the wherewithal to police a nation of lawbreakers, and anarchy results.
Tenth, a citizen must support public education in every way possible, through the payment of taxes, through local volunteer efforts, through affording this system the respect to which it should be entitled. Public education is the foundation of democracy, meant to educate children to be responsible and knowledgeable participants in the democratic process. Education and an informed decision making are our power to perpetuate the democracy.
Kokou Hermann Attiogbe
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