Who complains

The world is afire with revolt, but a new kind of revolt, befitting our young century: The revolt of the middle class.

While their complaints are all different, the specifics only magnify what they have in common: All of these protests and rebellions are being led by comparatively well educated, affluent citizens upset about their government’s violation of liberal principles and the rule of law.

These words, from http://aholeofthecentury.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/the-revolt-of-middle-class.html, provoked a realisation within me.  It seems that a vital ingredient in the process of democracy lies in having reasonably educated people with sufficient wealth to power the protests of the masses.  People who read and think and feel for the underprivileged, and want to do something to help.

Do you think so?

The minorities would be trodden down, if nobody stood up to defend them.  And when the oppressors are the government voted in by the majority, it takes the power of the voters to get it right again when they realise the harm they have caused.  People who repent of their earlier voting, or who see that the people that they have voted for abusing the power that they have been given.  People who wish to correct the wrong in society.

While the media may influence the thinking of the people, while religious leaders and moral crusaders may tell people what to think and how to vote ... the power ends up with the educated who have enough wealth and muscle pulling the masses with them to voice their protests.

Is this how God works?  Is this how democratic society works?

I think it was so in the days of Jose Rizal in the Philippines.  Of Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma.  And perhaps several more.  But perhaps there is more to democracy and how the people think and drive their protests than this simple statement.

What do you think?