Answer:
The 22nd and 24th president of the United States of America Grover Cleveland said, "Officeholders are the agents of the people, not their masters." Even though this former president passed away over 100 years ago, this quote seems to fit the current political situation like a glove. Several countries around the world are going through crises and, as we can observe in real time, it is in moment of crisis that the government tends to become more authoritative.
When a nation's morale is plummeting, people's fear of losing whatever they have overcomes their ability to judge calmly. That is unfortunate, although understandable. When threatened, we tend to respond in an instinctive manner, desperately trying to protect ourselves, our family, possessions and safety. However, the aftermath of desperate decisions can lead - and often does - to unpredicted consequences. In aspects relating to the government, that means our lives will be affected in ways we didn't wish for in order to maintain the status quo that we've grown accustomed to.
These authoritative figures are usually elected by a distressed population after abusing a speech that claims they'll work for everyone's best interest. When in power - and many believe power shows the true colors of a person -, they begin to find enemies to blame and attack. The common enemy is a strategy as old as time: having a common enemy is what caused people to work together and build the society we now have. Fighting forces of nature, and land invaders, building and planting, all of those challenges were easier if we were in larger numbers. Living together, as a big community, was a matter of survival. Nowadays, since those challenges won't be convincing enough, authoritative figures will choose from countries with different economic policies to minorities in their own nations to crucify.
However, as we evolve, it becomes easier to see past the claims they make through to what is really taking place. In authoritative governments, the ones in power wish not only to stay there, but also to amplify their own freedom to do as they see fit, even if that means harming someone else's liberty. That is not the purpose of the government. When people elect a representative, they are making a statement that says, "We trust you as a human being and a leader. We believe you will work to keep us happy and free, healthy and educated." When officeholders no longer work for the good of all the people, but for their own interests, that statement is tread upon.
President Grover Cleveland's words make for a simple sentence which carries a heavy truth. A government's purpose is to serve the people. Officeholders are in fact given a lot of power, but one that should be used moderately, reasonably. When about to exert such power, they should recall who gave it to them in the first place and remember that those are the true masters.
Explanation:
Because
