A Matter of Authority

Democracy is essentially about recognizing the majority as the authoritative voice that determines policies and administers governmental functions based on an agreed set of rules such as equality before the law. It may seem neat and fine on paper, but it becomes muddy and complex in practice.

Laws are enacted through the rule of the majority. These laws embody the policies of the government, and like the government itself, are subject to change. The act of voting separates the majority from the minority, making democracy inherently divisive. Without proper management, democracies are susceptible to the risk of spiraling into anarchy. As a result, the most crucial role of the political elite is a democratic society is to maintain a balance that prevents the destruction of the polity in the process.

According to a 2022 Pew Research survey regarding Americans' views of members from the opposing party, 63% of Democrats (liberals) view Republicans (conservatives) as immoral, a significant increase from the 35% in 2016. In contrast, 72% of Republicans now consider Democrats as immoral, up from 47% in 2016. These findings indicate that both liberals and conservatives harbor a similar level of aversion toward each other.

The mutual antipathy between liberals and conservatives in the US might be dismissible if not for the reality that the country boasts the world's largest economy and holds the status of the foremost military power. Any instability in American society directly correlates to instability within the global order.

American polity differs significantly from the political landscape in the Philippines. Nonetheless, the Filipino people's historical connection with their former colonial rulers still exerts direct influence on the trajectory and trends of the nation's politics. In this context, many could benefit from comprehending the ideological divide between liberals and conservatives in the US.

Liberalism is founded on the idea that the individual is the ultimate authority. In contrast, conservatism is rooted in the belief that God or similar entities, such as societal norms or tradition, hold the authority.

In market terms, liberalism asserts that the customer is always right, whereas conservatism maintains that what is right is determined by societal norms or God. In the realm of politics, liberalism contends that the individual, as an indivisible component of society, holds the final authority, while conservatism asserts that authority lies with the people guided by norms and tradition.

The fundamental divergence between liberalism and conservatism lies in their perspectives on the foundational authority that human civilization should be built upon. A true liberal must support same-sex marriage if that aligns with an individual's desires, while a true conservative would oppose it due to its departure from tradition and societal norms.

Interestingly, in practice, individuals are neither strictly liberal or purely conservative. Most liberals hold beliefs in God, much like many conservatives. Similarly, while most conservatives respect an individual's right to choose a partner, their hesitation towards accepting the concept of same-sex relationships is evident.

Understanding the spectrum of perspectives within our democracy involves acknowledging that people often fall somewhere in between the extreme ends of liberalism and conservatism.

Understanding the spectrum of perspectives within our democracy involves acknowledging that people often fall somewhere in between the extreme ends of liberalism and conservatism. This is how we should approach if we are to grasp the authoritative voices in our democracy.